Storing Incense Sticks
Some people just enjoy the scents of incense. Burning incense has a spiritual significance for others, adding to worship and helping to create a special environment that involves the sense of smell. Incense sticks are long and thin, crafted from resins that release strong aromatics when burning. Store incense sticks carefully to keep them fresh and full of rich aromas. Stale incense sticks or sticks stored improperly may detract from burning and produce an inferior burning result.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Check the jar to ensure that it is clean and dry inside. Because incense absorbs odors, if you use a jar with food residue or other ingredients on the inside surfaces, it can contaminate the incense.
-
2
Place the sticks of incense into the jar, fitting as many in the jar as you can fit without damaging the incense.
-
-
3
Seal the jar tightly with the screw-on lid to keep air from seeping into or out of the jar.
-
4
Place the jar in a cool, dark location to store the incense.
-
5
Keep incense in a tightly sealed jar for up to two to three years.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Incense experts at Gryffon, Dragon & Wolf recommend against storing incense sticks in plastic bags because the incense may absorb the smell of the plastic.
If incense sticks become gummy and adhere themselves to other sticks, Orthodox Resources.org recommends placing the affected incense in the freezer for about eight hours. Remove the incense from the freezer and carefully pull the sticks apart.
If you have a glass jar with a cork top, the cork will not provide an airtight seal in the jar. In this situation, melt some wax and dip the bottom of the cork into the wax. Allow the wax to harden on the cork and the cork will provide an airtight seal in the glass bottle.
References
- Photo Credit Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images
