A Guide to Bakhoor: Scenting Your Home the Right Way

Bakhoor is part of Arabian hospitality, and used well, its scent stays in a room and on clothes for hours. Start with a charcoal that has burned through until it is covered in white ash, or use an electric burner on a gentle heat. Place a small piece of bakhoor on top: a little is enough for a whole room, while too much burns fast and gives heavy smoke. Carry the burner around the room and near curtains and cushions, since fabric holds the scent longer than air. To scent clothes, hang them a safe distance from the smoke for two or three minutes. Keep bakhoor in an airtight box away from heat and humidity, and clear the ash from the burner after each use so the scent stays clean.