How to Burn Myrrh

Co-authored by Bess Ruff, MA

Last Updated: September 25, 2022 References

Myrrh is a sap-like substance that comes from the myrrh tree. Myrrh has been used for thousands of years for treating wounds, flavoring food, and even embalming! Some burn Myrrh as incense for ceremonies in various religions, and others even argue that it has medicinal properties. It seems like folk healers were on to something, though. As one 2018 study in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology points out, burning myrrh can actually reduce the amount of bacteria floating around in the air.^{[1]
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Go to source} If you want to give it a shot, all you need are the right supplies. To burn myrrh, this means access to a censer and charcoal tablets.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Getting the Right Supplies

1
Acquire a censer. This is a container that you can use to burn incense. Censers come in wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles. They can be made of metals, like brass or steel, or other non-flammable materials like ceramic. The material and style you choose is personal preference, and won’t affect the censer’s performance.
- If you don’t want to buy a censer, you can use various items around the house for burning myrrh. You just need to make sure it’s non-flammable and can hold the charcoal. A simple ceramic plate or bowl can do just fine.^{[2]
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- Never burn myrrh or any other type of incense in a plastic container. This could melt the plastic and release noxious fumes.
2
Buy self-lighting charcoal tablets. These round pieces of charcoal typically have a recessed circle on top. This is to stack incense, whether it’s powdered or in chunks. These charcoal tablets are found wherever you can buy incense, such as health stores. You can also buy them online.^{[3]
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3
Get myrrh in gum or powder form. You can get this substance in either of these forms from any store that sells incense. You can also buy myrrh from online health stores.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Burning Myrrh in an Incense Burner

1
Put a layer of sand in your censer. You’ll want this layer to fill no more than 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) of the censer. It will help disperse heat from the charcoal so your censer doesn’t get too hot. It will also make the myrrh burn longer.
- If you don’t have sand, you can use cat litter or fine gravel in your censer.^{[4]
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2
Place your censer on a heat-resistant surface. The censer can get quite hot, and the last thing you want is burn marks on your nice wooden table. If you have pets or children, make sure to place the censer somewhere they can’t reach it, since the incense will burn for about 30 to 45 minutes.
- If you do wish to use your censer on a surface that is not heat-resistant, such as a wooden coffee table, put a ceramic coaster or tile down on the surface first. Then, you can place your censer on top of the coaster or tile.
3
Light the charcoal. Turn on your stove and use tongs to place the charcoal tablet on the burner. You’ll want to use the tongs to flip the charcoal once it starts turning red and sparking. Leave it on the stovetop until the bottom is completely red and flames start to rise from it.
- You can light coals on an electric stove by setting them directly on the burner, as long as your burners have exposed coils. If you have a gas stove, you can light the coals by resting them against the edge of the burner and letting them sit directly over a low flame for a few minutes.^{[5]
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- Don’t do this if you have a glass or ceramic stovetop. You might burn black marks onto it or worse, shatter the glass and risk injury.
- Alternatively, you can use a match or lighter to light the charcoal. Be warned that it’ll take a bit longer to light it this way.^{[6]
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Place the charcoal on the sand. Once the charcoal is lit and flames start to come up from under it, use tongs to transfer it to the censer. If your charcoal has a small recessed “dish,” make sure it’s pointed upwards.^{[7]
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5
Add a quarter teaspoon (1.2 ml) of myrrh to the censer. Place the myrrh on top of the charcoal, whether you’re using dust or gum. You shouldn’t add any more myrrh until it’s completely burnt up, and no more than a quarter teaspoon (1.2 ml) at a time.
- If you want the myrrh to burn for longer, you can fill the charcoal tablet with salt before putting the myrrh on top.^{[8]
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