The story of Monastery Incense
is as unique as the incense itself
OVER FORTY YEARS AGO some Eastern Christian monks in Oklahoma were looking for an alternative to the liturgical incense commonly available -- something truly worthy to present in their worship. So much of what was on the market seemed to be variations of a mixture of frankincense of doubtful quality with some other aromatics, yielding a choking and unappealing fragrance.
It was their good fortune to meet one of the few “incense geniuses” in America. Living quietly in rural south Texas, behind his unassuming and quiet manner was a wealth of technical and practical information about the world of aromatics, and an astonishing creativity for blending them to create a unique and exquisite result.
Building on his unique formula, he and the monks created a type of incense like no other, that has become the favorite of clergy and parishioners over the decades. Bringing the monastic ideal of excellence to this project, the monks searched for the highest quality ingredients: frankincense from Somalia, sweet benzoin from Indonesia, and other aromatic powders and natural fragrance oils. And we have continued to settle only for the best, never compromising quality for convenience or profit.
The proof is in the pudding - and the proof of our incense is in its fragrance and burning qualities.
Even and consistent burning
What priest or deacon hasn’t had a pool of melted frankincense smother the charcoal in his censer with “incense plaque”? By contrast, Monastery Incense burns down to a residue of small grains and powder, without putting out the charcoal.
A helpful tip for getting the best performance from our incense
When you spoon the incense onto the charcoal, make sure you have a combination of fine grains and larger grains. That way you’ll quickly get clouds of fragrant smoke from the fine grains and a long-lasting burn from the larger grains, with a sustained pleasant fragrance throughout.
Is Monastery Incense “hypoallergenic”?
There are so many types of fragrance allergies, it is impossible for us to guarantee our incense is absolutely allergy-free. But for decades clergy have told us that the pleasant and unique qualities of our incense are truly “parish-friendly.” Parishes that had minimized or banned incense from their services because of parishioners’ reactions have been able to reintroduce incense to a very happy congregation. Monastery Incense can be the solution to your parish’s “incense problem.”
A wide variety of exquisite fragrances
Nothing is so evocative as fragrance. Enhance the atmosphere of a particular service or parts of the liturgy by offering the Monastery Incense fragrance most suited to it - the rich bouquet of our ever-popular Damascus Rose, the pleasant and regal scent of Sweet Myrrh, the more somber notes of our Byzantine Blend, or the joyous fragrance of Russian Gardenia. Try our Sampler to find your favorites among the twelve fragrances that parishes like yours have been offering in their worship since 1985.
Browse our full selection.
Suitable for small chapels and large cathedrals
Father Peter G. of Wisconsin tells us: “I’ve used Monastery Incense in small churches and large cathedrals, and it is my experience that it always works well, regardless of the size of the sanctuary. Many parishioners who have complained about other brands of incense have commented on how pleased they are with your incense.”
Don’t forget your charcoal
Specially made from high-density wood, Swift-Lite Charcoal is the best way to burn our incense. Available in small and large sizes. Shop now!
