If you are wondering how to use frankincense and the other Omani bakhoor products then this is the place for you!

Before making the decision to burn some bakhoor, you need to make sure you can commit to it.  It is not unusual for the bakhoor to burst into a flame if it is in a well ventilated area, but even if it isn't, you are creating a potential fire hazard in your home so be sure you have the time to give it your full attention to the end.  And in the end, always extinguish the contents of the burner with water to make sure the burn is completely out.

To get started, it's helpful to have the following

• a charcoal pot which has openings along the bottom so that when filled with the amount of charcoal you desire, the flames from your stove top burner will lap up through the openings and heat the charcoals rapidly. (If you have an electric stove top then you probably have to put the charcoals directly on the heating element, I've seen this done before. It's messy but do-able!)
• tongs to move the charcoals and bakhoor around. Kitchen tongs are sufficient but not as much fun to use as ours!
• an incense burner that keeps the heat away from the surface upon which it is sitting.
• charcoal to heat the frankincense and/or bakhoor.  Omanis use a wood charcoal called Samr, a tree that grows wild here in Oman.
• incense of your choosing.

Incense from Oman usually comes in one of two forms; cake or powder.  The powder form tends to burn up faster than cake, however, the cake can sometimes get too hot and start to scorch.  Experienced persons have no problems using the cake. Personally, I prefer to crush any of my resins or cake bakhoors. It adds to the experience and I prefer the way it burns.

A common question is how much is enough.  There is no one answer.  Charcoal depends in part on how much bakhoor (I'll use that one word now to refer to all products that can be burned) you plan to burn and how big your incense burner is.  I tend to make sure I have enough bakhoor to line the bottom of my burner.  (I also line my burner with foil to make clean up easier and to keep the burner looking nice when it's not in use!)  As for how much bakhoor to use, that is such a highly personal question that I can only say for you to experiment and see how much you like to use. 

Omanis use enough bakhoor to literally fill their house with smoke.  Those who still cling strongly to traditions have said that if the bakhoor can still be smelled on your clothes after washing, then you're doing it right.  Now, most of us aren't traditional Omanis so that "measure" of enough is not going to work for you. So let's just say to start with 1 teaspoon (or 5 ml) and adjust according to your preference.

So the charcoals are heated up in the pot. You know they are done because they are glowing red.  While they were hating you would have turned them in the pot every now and again to get them hot all around.  Upon completion they are transferred to the incense burner so that they line the bottom of the burner.  If you have enough to double layer, go ahead as the powder bakhoor is going to fall through the top layer anyway so better it hits a second layer of hot charcoals and then none is wasted.

You can add the bakhoor with your fingers.  We suggest dispersing it evenly over the coals.  A thick layer in one spot is not desirable as it's not certain that the middle and outer layer will have a chance to burn off.  So as thinly as possible.

I'm not a great person to ask about this next part because I don't manage it as easily as some others do but now that the bakhoor is on the coals and burning, you want to make sure it continues.  This requires a gentle fanning.  Some set burners in the draft of an a/c vent or fan, just make sure the draft isn't so strong as to blow the hot cinders out of the burner.  It will be hot enough to start a fire!  Also, as stated in the beginning, such a continuous draft can also fan the burn right into a flaming fire so keep an open eye. When and if that does occur, you can literally just blow it out (how odd that adding even more breeze would extinguish it!)

At this point I would only add the following comments; relax, have fun and feel free to experiment!  Blend your powders, crush your resins, mix them up.  I love to use frankincese and myrrh combined!

So there you have it, instructions on what you need and how to use bakhoor.  Good luck!