This terracotta incense burner comes from southern India and releases plant and resin scents in a particularly gentle way: not over a direct flame, but with the warmth of a tealight, through a fine stainless steel sieve. The burner measures 9 × 7.5 centimetres and weighs 387 grams. The material is classic, natural terracotta, which holds heat nicely and does not interfere with the aroma.
How the tealight burner works
You place a tealight in the lower part of the holder. The flame warms the inside of the vessel, and the fine stainless steel sieve rests on the upper rim. You set resin, a loose herb mix, powdered incense, palo santo granules or finely crushed white sage onto this sieve. Because the plant is only warmed, not placed on an ember, far less smoke is produced – you get a warm, scented cloud instead.
Who will appreciate this gentler method
We recommend it to you if you are sensitive to dense, smouldering smoke, or if there is a small child, an allergic family member or a pet at home. The tealight method is quieter and more subtle. It is also useful if you live in a rented flat where open-flame ember burning is not always practical. Many people who care only about the scent, not the visible smoke, choose this approach.
What you can use in it
You can place resins (such as frankincense, myrrh or copal), finely chopped palo santo, powdered incense blends, dried herbs, spices and a few drops of essential oil on the sieve. One round of scent lasts about as long as a tealight, roughly 2 to 4 hours depending on the amount of plant material. Stirring the mix on the sieve with a small stick refreshes the aroma from time to time.
Safety and placement
During use, both the terracotta and the metal sieve warm up. Set the burner on a heat-resistant base – a ceramic tile or stone coaster – and in a spot where curtains, books and pets cannot reach. A tealight is not included; we recommend a good quality, unscented tealight. Never leave a burning tealight unattended.
Cleaning
Once the tealight is cool, lift off the sieve and remove the residue with a soft brush or a dry paper towel. Wipe the inside of the terracotta vessel with a dry cloth. If stubborn resin sticks to the sieve, soak it briefly in lukewarm water, scrub with a soft bristle brush and dry it thoroughly. Terracotta does not like long soaks.