Beginner’s Guide to Resin Burning: Cauldrons, Charcoal, Ritual Sand, Herbs + Resins

Resin burning is a simple, powerful way to shift the energy of your space, set intentions, and create a sensory ritual you can return to anytime. If you’re new to working with resins, herbs, and charcoal, this guide walks you through the basics—what you need, how to use it safely, and easy beginner rituals.

Start Here: What You Need (Beginner Setup)

A basic setup is easy to build:

A heat-safe vessel: a cauldron, resin burner, or heat-safe incense burner (ceramic, metal, or stone)
Charcoal briquettes (quick-light discs are easiest for beginners)
Ritual sand (regular or colored) to protect your burner and help extinguish
Resins and/or dried herbs (frankincense, myrrh, copal, rosemary, lavender, etc.)
Tongs (for handling hot charcoal)
Lighter or matches

Safety note: Always burn on a heat-safe surface, keep away from pets/kids/curtains, and never leave burning charcoal unattended. Use good ventilation.

Resin Burner vs. Incense Burner vs. Cauldron

Each option works—it’s about what you’re burning and how you like to practice.

Incense burner: Often designed for sticks or cones. Some heat-safe burners can work for charcoal + loose materials if they’re deep, stable, and heat-safe.
Resin burner: Designed to hold sand + charcoal safely. Great for loose resins and herbs.
Cauldron: A favorite for ritual work because it’s sturdy, symbolic, and usually deep enough for sand and charcoal. It’s ideal for burning resins, herbs, and blends.

Beginner tip: If you’re using a cauldron, make sure it’s on a heat-safe surface and filled with enough sand to create a strong heat buffer.

Why Ritual Sand Matters (Regular + Colored)

Ritual sand isn’t just decorative—it’s functional.

Heat protection: Sand creates a buffer between the charcoal and the burner/cauldron.
Stability: It helps cradle the charcoal so it doesn’t roll.
Extinguishing: You can safely smother charcoal by covering it with sand.
Ritual symbolism: Colored sand can represent intentions (protection, love, prosperity, cleansing) and becomes part of the working.

Using Colored Ritual Sand Intentionally

Choose colors based on the purpose of your ritual. Keep it simple—your intention matters most.

White: cleansing, clarity, peace
Black: protection, banishing, boundaries
Red: courage, passion, vitality
Pink: love, self-love, friendship
Green: abundance, growth, luck
Gold/Yellow: confidence, success, joy
Purple: intuition, spiritual work

Charcoal Briquettes 101 (Quick-Light for Beginners)

Charcoal discs get very hot and are the “engine” that burns resins and herbs.

Quick-light charcoal is easiest because it lights fast with a flame.
You’ll know it’s ready when it stops sparking and turns gray/ashy across the top.

How to Set Up Your Cauldron (or Burner)

Place your cauldron/burner on a heat-safe surface.
Add a 1–2 inch layer of ritual sand.
Make a small, level “nest” in the sand for the charcoal disc.

How to Light Charcoal (Step-by-Step)

Hold the charcoal disc with tongs.
Light the edge with a lighter/match until it starts to spark.
Place it on top of the sand and let it fully heat (usually a few minutes).
Once the top looks gray, you’re ready to add resin, herbs, or a blend.

Beginner tip: Start with less than you think. You can always add more.

Burning Resins vs. Burning Herbs (What to Expect)

Both are wonderful—just a little different.

Resins

Stronger aroma and often more smoke
Best used in small pinches
Great for intention work where you want a clear “shift” in the room

Dried herbs

Often lighter smoke (depending on the herb)
Great for gentle daily rituals
Easy to blend and customize

Tip: If smoke is too heavy, use less material and open a window.

Beginner-Friendly Resins (Common Uses)

Frankincense: cleansing, clarity, uplifting energy
Myrrh: grounding, protection, deeper spiritual work
Copal: bright cleansing, fresh-start energy
Dragon’s Blood: protection, strength, boosting intention work
Benzoin: comfort, sweetness, soothing atmosphere

Note: Traditional meanings vary by practice. Use what resonates with you.

Beginner-Friendly Herbs to Burn (Common Uses)

Use culinary-grade or ritual-grade dried herbs. Avoid anything sprayed with fragrance or chemicals.

Rosemary: cleansing, protection, clarity
Lavender: calm, peace, gentle home energy
Sage (common sage): clearing, protection (use lightly)
Mugwort: dreamwork, intuition (use lightly)
Bay leaf: wishes, intention-setting (great for short rituals)
Cinnamon chips: warmth, prosperity vibes (use lightly)

How to Burn Herbs and Resins (Without Over-Smoking Your Space)

Add a small pinch to the hot charcoal.
Let it burn down, then add more if you want to continue.
For blends, start with mostly herbs + a tiny pinch of resin for a balanced burn.

Easy Beginner Blends

Quick Home Reset: rosemary + a pinch of frankincense
Calm Evening: lavender + a pinch of benzoin
Protection + Boundaries: sage + a pinch of myrrh or dragon’s blood
Wish Ritual: bay leaf + a tiny pinch of cinnamon

How to Extinguish Charcoal Safely (Using Ritual Sand)

When you’re done, don’t use water on hot charcoal.

Use tongs to move the charcoal (if needed) into the center of the cauldron/burner.
Cover the charcoal completely with sand to smother it.
Leave it alone until fully cool (this can take a while).

Important: Charcoal can look “extinguished” but still be hot inside. Treat it as hot until it’s completely cool.

Choosing the Right Cauldron or Burner (What to Look For)

Heat-safe material (ceramic/metal/stone)
Stable base (won’t tip easily)
Depth for sand + charcoal
Enough bowl space so resin/herbs aren’t crowded

Need Help Choosing? We’ve Got You

Stop by the shop and we’ll help you choose the right setup based on your goals (cleansing, protection, calm, or intention work). We can also recommend beginner-friendly resins, herbs, charcoal, and ritual sand that fit your style.

Visit: www.themysticalmoons.com