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Weight: 0.5 oz. (14 grams)
Manufacturer: Native Scents

The copal tree is originally believed to have grown in Mexico, but now it can be found in a range of places, including western Africa, India, Central and Southern America. It's the resin that's considered most precious and in ancient times it was even more so if it came from trees that had been hit by lightning. The Mayans regarded copal resin as extremely sacred, only daring touch it on their altars with special instruments, not their bare hands.

As incense, resin is best burned on charcoal or in a fire and emits a high quality, pure aroma - something that can come as a surprise, as prior to burning there's practically no scent at all! Copal resin from Central America comes in three varieties - white, gold/golden and black.

Copal white: The white form has a light, bright, fruity scent. It's said to be cleansing for the spirit and can help with mental and spiritual work. Unlike the other forms, white is harvested as a liquid then left until it's dried out.

Gold or golden copal resin has a richer and smoother aroma than white, with warmer, more exotic overtones. It's believed to help open the soul and can stimulate imagination, intuition and creativity. Due to its golden yellow colour, the Mayans typically burnt it at sunrise to honour the sun god.

Black or night copal, as it's sometimes called, has the heaviest fragrance. It's often described as mystical and mysterious and is said to carry the 'secret energies of the night.' It's regarded as a grounding and calming fragrance, helping people connect to the deeper levels of their soul. It's burned a lot in Mexico, but particularly on the Day of the Dead, when it's said to be used to help souls find their way back home.

Each of the copal resin types is useful in a healing capacity. They can be used on their own or combined together.

Incense resins such as in this tin are completely natural. They have been used in incense making and also by themselves for centuries. To burn the resin as an incense you need to have a heat source. Most people use a charcoal disc that is designed specifically for this purpose. The disc should be placed inside a heat resistant container with earth inside if required to shield the strong heat. Once alight the resin can be spooned gently onto the charcoal and the resin becomes an incense and the delightful aromas are released. You can then add more resin as required. For information on how to burn resins on charcoal discs please click here

Safety note: Never leave unattended. Do not place container on flammable surface.