I keep burning my wood fast

#1
I have bought some small sample packs of various woods and I’m just burning them. I started with just coal and I’m guessing the coal is too hot for the wood. So I ordered a electric heater it has 5 settings and again the wood just burned but i did have it on the highest setting.
Is this because the wood i have is of poor quality or is the heat too high for the wood ? Also seen these glass plates some people use, would i be better getting some of these ?
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#2
I have bought some small sample packs of various woods and I’m just burning them. I started with just coal and I’m guessing the coal is too hot for the wood. So I ordered a electric heater it has 5 settings and again the wood just burned but i did have it on the highest setting.
Is this because the wood i have is of poor quality or is the heat too high for the wood ? Also seen these glass plates some people use, would i be better getting some of these ?
A temperature that is too hot will crisp your wood in no time, especially if it's just a small sliver. The key to using coal, is patience... I find that it's best to allow the coal's heat to wane, meaning the coal is completely grey, before placing any aromatic on it. You can also use mica sheets as a medium to damper the heat although at the peak of its heat several sheets will be needed to mitigate the temperature.

Starting at low heat ensures you experience the top notes of the wood, without simply charring them. With an electric heater you can start at low, and work your way up. A single granule can last for 45 minutes to an hour at low temperature, if your purpose is personal enjoyment. When looking to 'fumigate' your wardrobe or house, that's a different story and would be approached with a different technique.

The duration of the burn can indicate the quality of wood to some extent, although like cooking, no matter how valuable the ingredients are if you throw them in a scorching oven they'll come out just burnt... But at a reasonable temperature ouds that have a dense resin content, what Ensar calls Seah, will burn for a much longer time than lower quality oud which will turn to a firewood smell very quickly.

Mica plates are excellent mediums to mitigate the heat, although when in a pinch ;), you can use a thin layer of salt on the electric heaters too.
 
#3
Thank you for the detailed reply. Ill order some of the mica plates today they sound great and try out the coal after its gone grey. I was just putting the wood on right way and not getting much scent except burnt wood lol
 

~A Coburn

Well-Known Member
#4
If and when you have a good amount of wood and you'd like to try fumigation hot coals are okay because the scent that you're after actually unfolds over the next week or so after all the smoke is gone, not actually during the session. Wood like Pinoy Privee are excellent for this.

Unfortunately with most coals you'll still get their scent lingering along with the profile of the wood. But for me, undoubtedly low temp is the way to go, and not just for oud... how many grams of frankincense resin can melt away in a single session on high heat, yet a single tear can last an hour when gently heated...