Resins for Magic & Ritual Work

Resin incenses are the top of the line in incense burning. Using incense charcoal as a base you can release the intense fragrance of these fine resin granules  without the dilution or alteration of scent caused by a burning base or the fixatives typical in man-made stick or cone incense.

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Resins for Magic & Ritual

For thousands of years, resins have been burned as offerings, for purification, and to open the gates between worlds. Drawn from the living sap of sacred trees, these powerful substances carry deep energetic signatures that many magical traditions have worked with since ancient times.

Unlike stick or cone incense, loose resins allow you to work with greater intention. When placed on a lit charcoal disc, they release thick, fragrant smoke that can be used to cleanse space, raise power, make offerings, or create the right atmosphere for ritual and spirit work. Many practitioners also blend resins with herbs to create custom incense tailored to specific workings.

Popular Resins and Their Traditional Uses

• Frankincense — One of the most ancient and widely respected resins. It is used for cleansing, consecration, and elevating spiritual energy. Many consider it essential for temple work, meditation, and general ritual practice.
• Myrrh — A deeply grounding and protective resin. It is traditionally used for emotional and spiritual healing, ancestral connection, and creating a sacred boundary during ritual.
• Dragon’s Blood — A potent resin associated with power, protection, and manifestation. It is frequently used in workings that require strength, command, or the amplification of magical intent.
• Copal — Bright and purifying, copal is valued for clearing heavy or stagnant energy and for opening communication with spiritual forces. It is especially popular in traditions that work closely with ancestors and spirits.

Whether you are performing ceremonial magic, making offerings, or crafting your own ritual blends, resins offer a direct and powerful way to work with scent and smoke as part of your practice.

How to Use: Place a charcoal disc in a heat-safe resin burner and light it until it glows. Add a small amount of resin on top and allow the smoke to rise. Always work with proper ventilation and fire safety.

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Advanced Resins: Going Beyond the Basics

While Frankincense, Myrrh, Dragon’s Blood, and Copal are the most commonly used resins in magical practice, serious practitioners often explore a wider range of resins found in classical grimoires, ceremonial magic, and traditional systems. These resins can offer more specific energetic qualities or align more closely with particular traditions.

Below is a helpful guide to some of the other resins you may encounter when working with older magical systems or when seeking more specialized tools.

Grimoire & Ceremonial Resins

These resins appear in classical texts and are favoured in structured ceremonial and Solomonic work:

• Storax (Liquid Storax): Often used in planetary and ceremonial magic, particularly for Jupiterian and solar workings. It has a rich, balsamic scent and is valued for protection and spiritual elevation.
• Galbanum: A key ingredient in the famous Abramelin incense. It is traditionally used for protection, exorcism, and commanding work. It has a sharp, green, somewhat bitter aroma.
• Mastic (Gum Mastic): Mentioned in some Solomonic and ceremonial traditions. It is used for protection, healing, and facilitating spirit communication.
• Opoponax (Sweet Myrrh): Distinct from regular Myrrh. It is used for deeper spiritual work, protection, and underworld or chthonic workings.
• Aloes Wood (Agarwood / Oud): Referenced in the Grimorium Verum. It is considered a high-vibration resin associated with spiritual power and offerings.

Banishing, Protection & Stronger Work

These resins are often sought for more intense or specific protective and banishing operations:

• Asafoetida (Devil’s Dung): A powerful banishing and protective substance used in Hoodoo, some forms of black magic, and certain demonolatry practices. It has a very strong, pungent odour and is traditionally used to drive away negative forces or unwanted spirits.
• Labdanum: A sticky resin from the rockrose plant. It is used for grounding, protection, and some underworld or ancestral work.
• Sandarac: A harder resin sometimes used for warding and protection. It appears in some traditional European magical blends.

Other Notable Resins

• Elemi: Used for purification, healing, and raising spiritual energy. It has a bright, citrus-like scent when burned.
• Burgundy Pitch (Spruce Resin): Occasionally used in folk magic and winter or ancestral workings for protection and grounding.
• Balsam of Peru: Found in some folk magic and Hoodoo traditions. It is used for healing and protective work and has a warm, vanilla-like scent.