Sunday Scent Experience
Nobody can beat the Arabs when it comes to perfuming their house and dwellings. Their secret - Bakhoor!
Bukhoor or Bakhoor is the Arabic name given to scented bricks or a blend of natural traditional ingredients, mainly woodchips, soaked in fragrant oils that can be burned to release their intoxicating fragrance.
These scented chips/bricks are burned in charcoal burners to perfume the house and clothing with the fragrance rich smoke. This is used specifically on special occasions like weddings or on relaxing times and love occasions or generally just to perfume the house or store, and to boost positive energy.
In Arab countries it is traditional to pass Bukhoor among guests as a gesture of hospitality. In my work as customer service staff aside from offering Arabic coffee to passengers or guests we do offer also Bokhoor as part of welcoming visitors. They wave their clothing above the smoke so that it picks up the amazingly very long lasting scent.
It is usually burned in a traditional incense burner (known as Mabkhara) using charcoal of wood or manufactured charcoal discs and briquettes. The Mabkharas can be made from wood, ceramic or metal.
The appearance of Bokhoor can take many forms - it can be chips, blocks or balls.
Bakhoor can be used in many scenarios including:
- Perfuming the house,
- Perfuming clothing and/or hair,
- For welcoming special guests,
- For weddings and other special occasions,
- To boost positive energy,
- To dispel unattractive smells that may come from cooking etc,
- To attract customers to a store and enhance their buying experience,
- Used in old medicines,
- To enhance one's mood and increase creativity, or
- To create a romantic atmosphere for a couple's bedroom.
Having said that though, Bukhoor is not completely alien to the rest of the world. Christians are frequently seen using Bukhoor and burning it in the same method as the Arabs do, during church services and at Christian homes as well, for blessing.
That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
This is my contribution on #sundayscentexperience hosted by @dutchess.
All images were taken through my Smartphone in Abudhabi.
Nice Bokhoor
Thank you. Yes it is.
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Thank you. No worries my loyalty remains.
very interesting post! Thank you. I often saw this in the Arab market in the Old City of Jerusalem. now I know what it is :)
I see. I only experience using bokhoor everyday when i came here in Abudhabi even in the office where i'm working we do prepare in the morning to spread the scent the whole office. It's a must.