How to Use Bakhoor Sticks

Bakhoor, or bukhoor, is a the Arabic name for scented bricks or chips made mostly of wood. They are usually handmade using cooking methods, in which the wood chips are soaked in fragrant oils, then mixed with other natural ingredients such as resin and sandalwood. These are not directly burned; they are instead heated on an incense burner called the mabkhara. Popular in Arab countries, Yemen and Oman, bakhoor can be used to perfume the house, get rid of bad smells or perfume clothes. It also is used for romantic occasions, during weddings and as signs of hospitality.

Bakhoor
Electrical or charcoal incense burner
Charcoal discs

Instructions

- 1
  Close all the windows in the house to make sure that no perfumes will escape the room.
- 2
  Turn on the electrical incense burner until it indicates that the plate is very hot. Proceed to Step 4 for burning the bakhoor. If you are using a traditional charcoal burner, begin with Step 3.
- 3
  Burn the charcoal discs in a separate container until they start to glow. You can use ceramic pottery, special metals or anti-burn plates.
- 4
  Place the charcoals in the designated place in your charcoal incense burner.
- 5
  Place the bakhoor chips on top of the electric plate or on top of the charcoal discs, depending on which type of incense burner you are using.
- 6
  Allow enough bakhoor to burn so that the smoke fills the room with a clear fragrance, but not so much as to use up too much of the oxygen in the room.
- 7
  Directly expose clothes to the smoke for three minutes to perfume them.

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