The things is - I’ve never used a brass burner. Stick incense is my go-to and this is new territory for me. The original plan was to ask the shop owner, but I got carried away talking about other things and completely forgot to ask how to use the burner while I was checking out
I assume I just put a cone incense inside, cover it, and the smoke will come out through the top. Still, I’d love to call on the coven - do you have a burner like this?
My Mom used to, many moons ago. I remember her using it, but I have no tips for you, sorry. I think she would put the occasional stick incense in the little vent in the top? Not sure if that was a thing, or if she just did it though. I hope you enjoy your new burner!
I’ve used brass burners before. They do get hot, so put them in a dish of salt or sand. After the incense cone burns, it leaves a gooey oily tar. Very hard to get off. I tried washing with hot water, soap, anything I could think of. Back then I didn’t have Goo Gone, so try that. If that doesn’t work, simply call it a “patina” and keep on keeping on.
I never tried charcoal and loose herbs in mine. If the charcoal fits, go for it.
Using the holes on top to hold a stick of incense works, but don’t expect all the ashes to fall on the lid.
Another tip is that the base of the burner doesn’t always get enough oxygen to burn the cone completely. Plan on pulling off the top (protect your fingers! Hot hot owies!) before the cone is completely burned if you find you have this issue.
These tips work for brass genie lamp incense burners, too. It’s just harder to get inside to clean the genie lamp, so don’t bother.
Either will hold your ashes for black salt or ink, if you so choose!
Enjoy your fun purchase! Let us know what you think.
So you put the cone in the cup and put the ‘funnel’ over it?
I don’t have that particular one but I do have a brass burner. I like it a lot. Brass will get hot but mine is only hot on top. Got it from Amazon. It will use back flow or regular incense. I like the back flow versions.
Since it is hot, I use a pair of tweezers to snag the burnt cone if I’m in a hurry. I drop it into a small jar of water. Pictures are from Amazon site.
Oh - that’s a neat idea! It’s like a little chimney and would definitely work for holding a stick. Thank you, Amethyst!
Thank you! It is a cute little thing - if I can’t figure out how to use it, it can always just be a decoration
That’s good to know - I haven’t managed to burn a whole cone yet, but I’ll look for any oily residue. It’s also good to know about the base not getting enough oxygen - it definitely doesn’t burn as well when the lid is on, so that’s something to consider.
Thank you very much for your tips and wisdom, Georgia!
That’s a beautiful brass burner! I love that the cone sits in a little lotus flower. Watching the steam flow down into the pond must be mesmerizing. This looks like a lovely accompaniment for meditation
Thank you for the tips - I hope you enjoy your brass burner too!
UPDATE: I’ve been playing around with the brass burner (thank you again for the advice - it does get hot!) and found that the standard size incense cone does not actually fit inside the brass burner - or rather, it fits, but it’s such a tight squeeze that it can’t burn
Rather than saw incense cones in half, I’m leaving the lid off while it burns to halfway, then covering it for the rest. That seems to be working for now. I’ll continue to experiment with it!
This space will remain open - if anyone else has any tips (or wants to share their brass burners), please feel free to do so!
If the incense cones don’t fit well, I wonder if it’s meant to be used with resin instead of cones… that might be something to explore, too! It does look like a small charcoal disc will fit there, but I can’t tell if it would get enough airflow to burn.
That’s a good idea! I don’t currently have any resin to burn, but I’ll put it on the list
There were three sizes of this incense burner at the shop, and I imagine the bigger ones wouldn’t have the same problem. Me being me I couldn’t resist the teeny little cute one haha. Oh, how we suffer for our aesthetics!
From the picture, it looks like it might be! Does it open up and have a place to put incense inside?
@Ostara The only drawback is that sometimes it can be a bit messy… thr incense don’t always burn all the way in the dish. Sometimes the remnants get on my altar cloth. I still love it though.
@Ostara@MeganB That is a good idea! You want to know who makes a royal mess each time I light a candle for each ritual HECATE! Oh golly does she make a mess! Purple or black wax all over the darn place ! It seeps out and the candle holder is stuck to the table and cloth! I am like Hecate again?!?
That’s a great tip! If my teeny little burner was any bigger, I’d give it a shot - but since the cone barely fits, I’m afraid this one doesn’t have room for sand Still, I appreciate the advice - thank you!
that might be something to explore, too! It does look like a small charcoal disc will fit there, but I can’t tell if it would get enough airflow to burn.
! It seeps out and the candle holder is stuck to the table and cloth! I am like Hecate again?!?
