Incense

[Jacob21]

Ok so I’m stumped. I decided to buy a small censer and some charcoal and insence to burn during LOTH. However I can not get it to light. Any times? I hold the lighter on the charcoal and it will spark but thats it. What am I doing incorrectly?

 

[jakasaki]

As soon as you light the black round charcoal, it will start to spark but you have to blow on it for a few secods to get it going & at the same time, place your incense on it.

 

[Netty1]

Hi Jacob,

I don’t think you’re doing anything really wrong, they are just very hard to light and once lit you have to leave them for a while to burn to a red and then white heat.

Also, when they are lit they throw off some rather noxious fumes that cloud the scent of the incense.

What I’ve found better is a mesh tray (made from metal, about 2.5 inches across) which stands over the flame of a small tealight candle and then you lay the incense on it and the heat from the flame does the rest. You get the pure incense then and no charcoal fumes. It’s so much easier.

I got mine from a “new age” shop (though they do Christian things too) and they do mail-order, and will probably send overseas.

bell-book-candle.co.uk/acatalog/Incense_and_Resins.html

http://www.bell-book-candle.co.uk/acatalog/smallpot.jpg

 

[Jacob21]

I think I’m not meant to use this haha. I hold the flame to the Charcoal and it won’t even spark.

I’ll have to look into the mesh tray!

 

[Ridgerunner]

As soon as you light the black round charcoal, it will start to spark but you have to blow on it for a few secods to get it going & at the same time, place your incense on it.

I’ll add that you need to be very watchful when you do this, because if you light the charcoal while you’re still holding onto it, that little “ring of fire” can go around the charcoal very quickly and burn the thunder out of your fingers. It’s tempting to hold it, and I agree with blowing on it, but it’s best left in the censer when you do.

I might add that some of those censers don’t let enough air in to keep the charcoal lit. That could be a problem in your situation. Not much cure for it except to get another censer with more holes in it.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

My former purchases of charcoal would spark and ignite. The current batch does as you note - spark and nothing. While it is sparking the CO2 will blow out any flame. I have to wait until it gets done its sparking, then hold it over a candle, with tongs, until it is well ignited.

Over time a glassy residue builds up on the holes in the censer. These will choke the burning if not removed. I ream them out with a letter opener. They may still show a fair amount of opening and be choking. The boundry layer on the edges is of significant depth and slows the flow. Mine shut off when about half closed.

 

[archangel04]

Don’t mean to hijack the thread, but is there a specifice incense we are to use? I had heard that we canno’t use the same incense that is used at Mass?

 

[Netty1]

Don’t mean to hijack the thread, but is there a specifice incense we are to use? I had heard that we canno’t use the same incense that is used at Mass?

I don’t know about whether using the same sort used at Mass is allowed or not, but I use incense made by the Benedictine monks at Prinknash Abbey.

It seemed to me to be a good idea that if I was going to use incense then buying it from them would help support their lives.

It has a wonderful rich and evocative smell and burns cleanly.

They have a special arrangement for US customers:
prinknashabbey.org.uk/IncenseUSA.htm

History of Prinknash Incense
prinknashabbey.org.uk/HistoryIncense.htm

 

[Netty1]

I think I’m not meant to use this haha. I hold the flame to the Charcoal and it won’t even spark.

I’ll have to look into the mesh tray!

I should have mentioned that with the mesh tray method, you will need a small wire brush. The shop does sell them, but any wire brush will do to get the gummy residue out of the mesh after use. The mesh is robust and can stand really regular use, I’ve had mine a couple of years now and the wire brush does no damage.

 

[malphono]

Ok so I’m stumped. I decided to buy a small censer and some charcoal and insence to burn during LOTH. However I can not get it to light. Any times? I hold the lighter on the charcoal and it will spark but thats it. What am I doing incorrectly?

I think I’m not meant to use this haha. I hold the flame to the Charcoal and it won’t even spark.

I’ll have to look into the mesh tray!

You’re probably not doing anything “wrong” as such. The problem described is common and depends on the charcoal used. Some charcoal (even if labeled “quick light” etc) is nearly impossible to get going. Holding it with tongs over an open flame (and blowing on the coal periodically) normally works, and it may or may not spark. The trick there is to make sure a good portion of the goal is glowing red before imposing incense. This can take some time, kind of like lighting a charcoal grill without the help of lighter fluid. I’ve had this problem even in church when the pastor made a big mistake and bought the wrong coals. We ended up throwing them out.

Some “ethnic” stores (Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, etc) have foil-wrapped rolls of charcoal (each about the size of a quarter). These normally have a raised lip on the circumference creating a “well” in the middle to hold the incense. They’re very inexpensive and if you find the right brand, they light in a jiffy, (sparks and sizzle and all) just with a match (stick matches are still best). These can also be found in Orthodox church-supply stores. You could also get the larger “5-point” coals (slightly larger than a US dollar coin) that are often used in church. Those can be broken (in thirds, or in half then in half again – but always gently so they do not crumble too much and lose the “starter”), and they usually light without much problem.

Don’t mean to hijack the thread, but is there a specifice incense we are to use? I had heard that we canno’t use the same incense that is used at Mass?

Any incense is fine. It’s strictly a matter of taste. To get the “churchy” effect, though, I would recommend a church blend, available at any church supply house and even on-line. Just do a google and see what comes back.

 

[archangel04]

You’re probably not doing anything “wrong” as such. The problem described is common and depends on the charcoal used. Some charcoal (even if labeled “quick light” etc) is nearly impossible to get going. Holding it with tongs over an open flame (and blowing on the coal periodically) normally works, and it may or may not spark. The trick there is to make sure a good portion of the goal is glowing red before imposing incense. This can take some time, kind of like lighting a charcoal grill without the help of lighter fluid. I’ve had this problem even in church when the pastor made a big mistake and bought the wrong coals. We ended up throwing them out.

Some “ethnic” stores (Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, etc) have foil-wrapped rolls of charcoal (each about the size of a quarter). These normally have a raised lip on the circumference creating a “well” in the middle to hold the incense. They’re very inexpensive and if you find the right brand, they light in a jiffy, (sparks and sizzle and all) just with a match (stick matches are still best). These can also be found in Orthodox church-supply stores. You could also get the larger “5-point” coals (slightly larger than a US dollar coin) that are often used in church. Those can be broken (in thirds, or in half then in half again – but always gently so they do not crumble too much and lose the “starter”), and they usually light without much problem.

Any incense is fine. It’s strictly a matter of taste. To get the “churchy” effect, though, I would recommend a church blend, available at any church supply house and even on-line. Just do a google and see what comes back.

Ok awsome because I love the smell of the incense of the TLM I attend. I am going to ask what kind they use.

 

[Phemie]

Buy Three Kings charcoal. It lights easily and burns thoroughly. It doesn’t smell. A box of 10 rolls of 10 disks will set you back less than $20. That’s what I always order for our parish and it works perfectly.

 

[5Loaves]

…Some “ethnic” stores (Greek, Middle Eastern, Indian, etc) have foil-wrapped rolls of charcoal (each about the size of a quarter). These normally have a raised lip on the circumference creating a “well” in the middle to hold the incense. They’re very inexpensive and if you find the right brand, they light in a jiffy, (sparks and sizzle and all) just with a match (stick matches are still best). These can also be found in Orthodox church-supply stores. You could also get the larger “5-point” coals (slightly larger than a US dollar coin) that are often used in church. Those can be broken (in thirds, or in half then in half again – but always gently so they do not crumble too much and lose the “starter”), and they usually light without much problem…
.

Most of the other descriptions here don’t match my experience. I use charcoal similar to what you’re describing malphono which I get at my church bookstore, or one of the Orthodox Churches bookstores. I’ve also occasionally used the “5-point” coals which my Latin Church parish uses.

I usually break one of the disks into thirds or even smaller, take a match, I use a wooden match, hold the match to one edge and wait for what you are calling “sparks and sizzle”, kind of points of light that travel inside the charcoal. I’ve never had any trouble with it getting hot enough to burn my fingers because as soon as those little sizzle lights begin inside the charcoal I put it down and place a couple of beads of incense on it. They tend to stick to the hot surface. That will burn for half an hour or so. I’m not really interested in burning longer than that.

I’ve gotten the same sort of disks in foil at Greek festivals a little cheaper than at the bookstores and they’ve been inferior. I only buy from an Eastern Catholic or Orthodox bookstore now. A roll lasts a long time in you’re breaking the disks in thirds or quarters. If there’s no Eastern Catholic or Orthodox bookstore around people can go to one of the Orthodox Monasteries on line. Most sell such supplies.

I have several “burners”. The one I use almost exclusively is like this. I do put the lid back on and the smoke goes through the lid. It can eventually get hot as will any burner so I always use it on a heat proof surface.

I use Holy Cross incense because it’s what the local Orthodox Cathedral bookstore and my parish bookstore sells. I like it very much. We use Rose incense a lot for Divine Liturgy so I tend toward that, and Lily of the Valley

P.S. I see Phemie posted while I was writing. I agree about Three Kings - Self Lighting Incense Charcoal being good stuff.

Fr. Brendan told a story a few weeks ago in his holy icons class about having his luggage searched at the airport and this charcoal seized. I forget what he said the combustible is that makes it light.