gs saturated in sugar syrup) to more than 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark.

“Bukhur” also contains several medicinal properties when burned in the home on a regular basis. Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory ailments.

Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided

The closest thing we have to “Bukhur” in the USA are flimsy little incense sticks that burn out in 5 minutes flat. They produce more of a smoky stench than aromatherapy. So, you can imagine my surprise when I entered an Arab neighbor’s home recently and saw streaks of smoke floating through the air. I knew it could not be incense because the smell that wafted into my nose was deliciously intoxicating. I immediately asked my neighbor what the strange new smell was. She nonchalantly said “Bukhur,” as she pointed to a small square hunk of wood that was sitting on her bookcase.

My lesson in ‘bukhur’ had begun. The only details that my neighbor could provide me with were that ‘bukhur’ is a natural wood from the bark of trees called ‘AgarWood” and she told me where I could buy supplies (burner, charcoal, and bukhur). But that was not enough. I needed to know more about these strange little bits of wood. I hit the worldwide web with an eager mind and anxious fingers. Not only did I have difficulty pronouncing the name of it, but I was not even sure if I was spelling it correctly. I tried several versions of the word from “Buhoor” to “Bukhoor” before I found the proper spelling. Information about ‘bukhur’ is quite scarce on the internet. It is kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack. I did learn that “bukhur” originates from Yemen and it is a form of indirect burning incense, which means you need a heat source in order to burn it. I also discovered that it comes from trees grown in Southeast Asia in countries like India, Pakistan, China, and Indonesia, to name only a few. High quality ‘bukhur’ actually comes from trees that have been dead for centuries and this makes it a very rare and precious commodity. It also makes it very expensive. The price of ‘bukhur’ ranges from between 1KD (for bukhur shavings saturated in sugar syrup) to more than 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark.

“Bukhur” also contains several medicinal properties when burned in the home on a regular basis. Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory ailments.

Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided

smell was. She nonchalantly said “Bukhur,” as she pointed to a small square hunk of wood that was sitting on her bookcase.

My lesson in ‘bukhur’ had begun. The only details that my neighbor could provide me with were that ‘bukhur’ is a natural wood from the bark of trees called ‘AgarWood” and she told me where I could buy supplies (burner, charcoal, and bukhur). But that was not enough. I needed to know more about these strange little bits of wood. I hit the worldwide web with an eager mind and anxious fingers. Not only did I have difficulty pronouncing the name of it, but I was not even sure if I was spelling it correctly. I tried several versions of the word from “Buhoor” to “Bukhoor” before I found the proper spelling. Information about ‘bukhur’ is quite scarce on the internet. It is kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack. I did learn that “bukhur” originates from Yemen and it is a form of indirect burning incense, which means you need a heat source in order to burn it. I also discovered that it comes from trees grown in Southeast Asia in countries like India, Pakistan, China, and Indonesia, to name only a few. High quality ‘bukhur’ actually comes from trees that have been dead for centuries and this makes it a very rare and precious commodity. It also makes it very expensive. The price of ‘bukhur’ ranges from between 1KD (for bukhur shavings saturated in sugar syrup) to more than 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark.

“Bukhur” also contains several medicinal properties when burned in the home on a regular basis. Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory ailments.

Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided

hit the worldwide web with an eager mind and anxious fingers. Not only did I have difficulty pronouncing the name of it, but I was not even sure if I was spelling it correctly. I tried several versions of the word from “Buhoor” to “Bukhoor” before I found the proper spelling. Information about ‘bukhur’ is quite scarce on the internet. It is kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack. I did learn that “bukhur” originates from Yemen and it is a form of indirect burning incense, which means you need a heat source in order to burn it. I also discovered that it comes from trees grown in Southeast Asia in countries like India, Pakistan, China, and Indonesia, to name only a few. High quality ‘bukhur’ actually comes from trees that have been dead for centuries and this makes it a very rare and precious commodity. It also makes it very expensive. The price of ‘bukhur’ ranges from between 1KD (for bukhur shavings saturated in sugar syrup) to more than 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark.

“Bukhur” also contains several medicinal properties when burned in the home on a regular basis. Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory ailments.

Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided

indirect burning incense, which means you need a heat source in order to burn it. I also discovered that it comes from trees grown in Southeast Asia in countries like India, Pakistan, China, and Indonesia, to name only a few. High quality ‘bukhur’ actually comes from trees that have been dead for centuries and this makes it a very rare and precious commodity. It also makes it very expensive. The price of ‘bukhur’ ranges from between 1KD (for bukhur shavings saturated in sugar syrup) to more than 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark.

“Bukhur” also contains several medicinal properties when burned in the home on a regular basis. Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory ailments.

Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided

gs saturated in sugar syrup) to more than 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark.

“Bukhur” also contains several medicinal properties when burned in the home on a regular basis. Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory ailments.

Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided to search for my “Bukhur Kit” in Kuwait City this past weekend. My search began and ended in Souk Al-Kuwait. It was not hard to find a shop carrying all the essentials I needed. My total investment was about 3 KD. This bought me a cute little wooden burner with an aluminum pot in the middle, a box of charcoal, and a glass jar of ‘bukhur” shavings (I cannot afford to spend 100KD!) soaked in sugar syrup. When I got home, I immediately began setting up my burner. I lit a match and began roasting the charcoal. It would not ignite. Frustrated, I turned on my stovetop burner and, using steel tongs, I put it right in the flame. A-Ha…I saw a tiny ember begin to burn brightly. I excitedly tossed it into the aluminum pot of my burner and then covered it with a small spoon of my ‘bukhur’. Nothing happened, there was not even a tiny thread of aromatic smoke rising into the air. Something was wrong. I had smothered the coal. I had to start all over again. But this time, I let the charcoal rest in the pot for about 10 minutes until it was a complete smoldering red ember. Perfect! I placed another spoon of ‘bukhur’ on top of the charcoal and the irresistible smoke began to rise. I placed the burner on top of a high shelf in the living room and just let the smoke fill the room. My kids had been busy playing video games in their room, but the ‘bukhur’ had drawn them into the living room to see what the new smell was. I was on my way back to the kitchen to put away the charcoal and ‘bukhur’ when I heard my son shout, “Fire!”. I giggled to myself because I knew that the smoke was from the ‘bukhur’. “It’s not a fire dear, it just ‘bukhur’, “ I yelled back. “No, there IS a fire Momma,” he frantically replied. I raced back to the living room and sure enough the little burner had a big flame on the topside of it. I managed to blow it