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kayla
Guest
What kind of incense is burned during mass?
It’s a very wonderfull smell…kind of hypnotic
It’s a very wonderfull smell…kind of hypnotic
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Deacon_Ed
Guest
Kayla,
Unfortunately, there’s no way for us to know what was being used. There are literally hundreds of different types of incense that are in use, and each produces a different scent. Your best bet is to ask the priest/deacon/sacristan at the parish where you found an incense that you liked.
Deacon Ed
Unfortunately, there’s no way for us to know what was being used. There are literally hundreds of different types of incense that are in use, and each produces a different scent. Your best bet is to ask the priest/deacon/sacristan at the parish where you found an incense that you liked.
Deacon Ed
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flick427
Guest
I think the most popular (traditionally speaking) scents are frankinsense and myhrr. I have also had a Mass where we has rose scented and that was a nice change.
There are different ones simply called “Monastary Inscence” on the canister and they are what we used when I was serving.
You can shop around on some of the church goods websites and find some for home use with prayer and they sell a little inscense burners also.
There are different ones simply called “Monastary Inscence” on the canister and they are what we used when I was serving.
You can shop around on some of the church goods websites and find some for home use with prayer and they sell a little inscense burners also.
J
Joe_Kelley
Guest
The rose scent may be Damascus Rose. It is a little more expensive, but I think it is great.
Many parishes try to save money on the incense. They don’t use that much, and a good incense is well worth the little extra.
D
DJJG
Guest
I buy the incense at our church, that way I get the incense I like 
. I usually buy natural frankincense or natural myhrr. The natural being hard lumps of resin (sap from a tree), in contrast to powered mixed with sawdust or fine wood falkes, which burns faster and easier and looses (name removed by moderator)e of its’ fragrence :crying: . The myhrr is a sweeter smelling incense. :yup:
. I usually buy natural frankincense or natural myhrr. The natural being hard lumps of resin (sap from a tree), in contrast to powered mixed with sawdust or fine wood falkes, which burns faster and easier and looses (name removed by moderator)e of its’ fragrence :crying: . The myhrr is a sweeter smelling incense. :yup:
S
Servant1
Guest
Most people would not tolerate pure myrrh by itself. As someone has posted, it comes from the sap of a tree, and in “solo” form is often fairly large irregular lumps. It burns/melts with a very sharp, acrid odor that burns the nose. It was used in embalming, and is a bacteriostatic substance. It smells “mediciney”. Use in the pure form is a sure way to have folks in the congregation coughing, choking, and gagging, and complaining about having their allergies unnecessarily inflamed.
Frankincense, in its pure form, is also a sap. It does have some sweetnes to its odor, which myrrh does not. But, in pure form, it, too, can smell strong and irritating, and will frequently smell like strong pine resin burning. Kinds like a forest fire. Again, in pure form, something that most congregations would not tolerate unless they were doing penance.
Most incense that is tolerated by congregations may have SOME myrrh, and/or SOME frankincense in it, but not in the pure form, and not without other aromatic woods and saps being added to ameliorate the irritation, and to provide sweetness to the overall odor.
The incenses used by Eastern churches often are sweeter than what is more frequently used in Western churches. Their monasteries and suppliers developed different habits and customs, as well as natural variations caused by what natural substances were readily available in their regions.
I have found congregations generally to be much more tolerant of the sweeter, less aromatic/pungent varieties, such as Damascus Rose, and seversl of the ones with flower-baser fragrances added to the mix.
Frankincense, in its pure form, is also a sap. It does have some sweetnes to its odor, which myrrh does not. But, in pure form, it, too, can smell strong and irritating, and will frequently smell like strong pine resin burning. Kinds like a forest fire. Again, in pure form, something that most congregations would not tolerate unless they were doing penance.
Most incense that is tolerated by congregations may have SOME myrrh, and/or SOME frankincense in it, but not in the pure form, and not without other aromatic woods and saps being added to ameliorate the irritation, and to provide sweetness to the overall odor.
The incenses used by Eastern churches often are sweeter than what is more frequently used in Western churches. Their monasteries and suppliers developed different habits and customs, as well as natural variations caused by what natural substances were readily available in their regions.
I have found congregations generally to be much more tolerant of the sweeter, less aromatic/pungent varieties, such as Damascus Rose, and seversl of the ones with flower-baser fragrances added to the mix.
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