How to burn bakhoor safely at home

Burning bakhoor safely comes down to four things: a proper burner, a heat-safe surface, a small piece, and never leaving it unattended. Bakhoor is scented wood chips or paste burned for fragrance at home. It involves a lit coal, so treat it like any open heat.

This page is general safety advice, not a product guarantee. Follow the instructions that come with your burner and charcoal, and speak to a doctor if smoke bothers your breathing.

What you need

• A burner made for bakhoor, with a bowl and a base.
• Charcoal made for burners, often small discs.
• Tongs or a small pair of metal pincers.
• A heat-safe surface such as a stone tray or a ceramic tile.
• Your bakhoor chips.

Do not use a plain bowl or a plastic dish. Heat can crack ceramic that is not meant for it.

Set up

1. Put the burner on a stable, heat-safe surface, away from curtains, sofas and paper.
2. Add a thin layer of sand or ash in the bowl if your burner calls for it.
3. Light the charcoal with tongs, outside or by an open window. It sparks and smokes at first.
4. Wait until it is grey on top. That can take a few minutes.
5. Place it in the burner and add one small piece of bakhoor on top, not a pile.

Ruling: small piece, small flame, small room first.

How much and how long

Start with one piece. Bakhoor makes a lot of smoke and scent for its size. Most people find that ten to twenty minutes is plenty in a small room. Add more only if you need to.

If a room feels smoky or heavy, open a window. A lingering scent in cloth and curtains is normal, but heavy smoke is a sign you used too much.

Where to burn it

• A large, ventilated room is easier than a small closed one.
• Avoid bedrooms with the door shut.
• Do not place a burner near a bed, shelves or hanging cloth.
• Never carry a burning burner through a crowded space.

People and pets

Keep burners out of reach of children and pets. Smoke can bother some people, especially those with asthma or breathing trouble, and it can bother birds and small animals. If anyone coughs or feels unwell, put the coal out and open windows.

How to put it out

Let the charcoal burn down in a safe place. Or press it out with tongs into a metal or stone dish with sand. Do not pour water into a hot burner, since it can crack and make steam. Wait until everything is cool before you move it or empty it.

Common mistakes

• Leaving it burning while you go out.
• Using too many chips. More does not mean better.
• Burning on a wooden table. Heat marks and can start a fire.
• Emptying warm ash into a bin. Wait until cold.

Bakhoor and oud

Bakhoor often uses oud wood and oils. It scents the home and cloth, but it is not a skin product. For the skin version, see what oud smells like. If your home scent is for guests, think about giving Arabian perfume as a gift as well.

A worked example

Say you are hosting guests at six. At five, you set the burner on a stone tray on a side table, well away from the sofa and curtains. You light one charcoal disc by an open window, wait for it to turn grey and set it in the bowl. You add one small piece of bakhoor. The room smells warm by five fifteen. You take the burner to a safe place before guests arrive, and open the window for a few minutes. The scent stays in the room, and no one coughs.

This uses round times as an example. Use what works in your home.

Where the answer flips

If you live in a small flat or have a baby, a pet bird or someone with asthma at home, think twice. A different home scent may be safer. If you still want bakhoor, use a very small piece in a large, open room and keep the burner out of reach. If smoke makes anyone cough, stop and ventilate.

What to buy

A good burner is stable and has a heat-safe base. Look for a wide foot and a lid or a bowl made for hot coal. Tongs make handling safer. Check the maker's instructions for the charcoal you choose. Avoid anything that looks thin, plastic or unstable.

Storing bakhoor and charcoal

Keep bakhoor chips in a closed tin or jar, away from heat and damp. Keep charcoal in a dry place, since damp discs can be hard to light. Store both out of reach of children and pets. Charcoal and chips are not toys, and the ash can stay hot for longer than you expect.

If you are unsure about a burner, charcoal or a scented product, follow the maker's instructions. If smoke bothers your breathing, see a doctor, and consider a home scent that does not involve smoke.