Amber is among the loveliest of fossil resins: warm, honey-coloured, and when burned it releases a softly sweet, resinous scent. This loose, natural resin recalls an old tradition of incense.
About amber
Amber (Succinum) is an ancient, fossilised resin from conifers — cedar, fir, juniper, cypress — that hardened over 20 to 200 million years. In the North it was called "the gold of the land". Burned, it gives a warm, resinous, softly sweet smoke. Tradition knew it as a scent of warmth and cleansing.
How to use it
Resin is traditionally burned on glowing charcoal or on a dedicated sieve burner. Place a small piece on the heated charcoal or above the sieve, and the resin slowly melts, releasing fragrant smoke. Always use a heat-safe dish in a well-ventilated space.
Good to know
- Form: loose, natural resin
- Burning: charcoal or a sieve burner is needed
- Nature: a natural product; the size and shade of the pieces may vary slightly