Description
Red Gum Benjamin or red Jawi incense in Arabic, is a balsamic resin obtained from the bark of several species of trees in the genus Styrax. This particular resin is a common ingredient in incense-making and perfumery because of its aroma and fixative properties. When the early Arabic traders first reached Java they found the tree Styrax benzoin growing there and called its resin "Luban Jawi". Red Jawri or Jawi has a red colour and is the rarest of this particular type. Most benzoin is used in Arab Gulf countries and India, where it is burned on charcoal as an incense. Its strong aromatic smell is great to cleanse the house and spread natural positive energy.
Tips
Cut the Jawi incense into small pieces and use a bit to burn on a red charcoal. You can also mix it with other bakhoor resin incense for a denser aroma. Place the mabkhara (cooper burner) near an open window to let the smell in lightly without stiffling the room. Do not use porcelain burners to burn aromatic resin. Incense resins are vaporized on red hot charcoal tablets in a special incense burner usually made of bronze. How to burn incense: Burn the charcoal tablet in the incense burner and place part of the resin on it, wait a few seconds and watch the aromatic smoke rise. Always use caution, burning incense is hot stuff. Brushing against the glowing tip of a burning incense can cause a significant burn on the skin or ruin a favorite article of clothing. Always place your burner on a heat-resistant surface, such as a trivet or ceramic tile. Depending on what method you're using the outside of your censer may get very hot. Place your burning incense in or on a stable, non-flammable, heatproof burner. Some incense burners get very hot, especially if they're not insulated. Charcoal tablets burned in a glass container without the use of sand or ash can cause the burner to get extremely hot and even shatter.
