Do You Burn Scented Pine Cones?
The burning of pine cones for their aromatic scent dates back thousands of years and has been part of spiritual rituals and celebrations across many cultures. Pine cones contain natural resins and oils that provide a fresh, woodsy fragrance when heated. According to this source, ordinary pinecones have been used along with kindling for centuries to start fires. Pine cones were also historically burned during solstice celebrations and are still used today in various spiritual ceremonies.
Benefits of Burning Pine Cones
Burning pine cones offers several benefits that make it a popular practice. The main advantage is that it creates a pleasant, natural forest aroma that can help relax your mood. As the cones burn, they release a woodsy, earthy fragrance from the pine resin within that many find calming and soothing. The scent of pine can evoke feelings of peace and serenity. According to some beliefs, burning pine also helps purify the surrounding air and environment by removing negative energy (Source). Inhaling the pine aroma may provide stress relief and promote clearer thinking as well. Overall, burning pine cones creates a pleasant ambience and relaxed state of mind.
Choosing Pine Cones
When choosing pine cones to burn, look for ones that are fully opened and dried to a brown color. Green or closed pine cones will not burn properly. The scales of the pine cone should be intact and not falling off, which indicates the cone has thoroughly dried and will ignite well. Avoid cones with any mold, as this can create unhealthy smoke. Ideal pine cones for burning will feel hollow and lightweight when you pick them up, signaling their dryness.
Pine cones from pine varieties like Ponderosa, Lodgepole, and Pinyon tend to be best for burning. Their scales open up nicely when dried and the cones are a good size for arranging in a fire. Stay away from cones from firs, spruces, and other conifers, as their resin can spark and pop dangerously when lit. Foraging for pine cones in the wild or sourcing them from a reputable supplier are good options for finding quality burnable cones.
Preparing the Cones
Before burning pine cones, it’s important to properly prepare them. Start by gathering a bundle of closed, dry cones that have already dropped from the tree. Avoid picking fresh, unopened cones as these contain more moisture and sap, which can cause more smoke. Use cones that feel lightweight and make a hollow sound when tapped together (1).
Next, clean off any dirt, sap, bugs, or debris from the cones. You can do this by brushing them gently or rinsing with water if needed. Allow the cones to fully dry again before proceeding. To help them dry faster, place the cones in a single layer on a baking sheet and put in the oven at its lowest setting for 30-60 minutes (2).
Once dry, tie your bundle of cones together with jute twine, thin wire, or string. This will help keep them neatly contained and easier to handle while burning. You want the bundle to be loose enough for airflow, but tight enough to stay together. Aim for around 8-12 cones per bundle.
With the cones cleaned and bundled, they are now ready to burn whenever needed for a soothing, aromatic fire.
(1) https://homesteadhow-to.com/how-to-make-pine-cone-fire-starters/
(2) https://www.birdsandblooms.com/backyard-projects/diy-garden-projects/pinecone-color/
Burning Safety
When burning pine cones, it’s essential to do so safely. The best places to burn pine cones are in a fireplace, a chiminea, or an outdoor firepit. According to Hunker, burning pine cones in a fireplace allows the smoke to properly vent up the chimney rather than into your living space.
Never burn pine cones in an indoor wood stove. The resins and sap can build up inside the stove and increase your risk of a chimney fire. An outdoor firepit is ideal, as it contains the sparks and allows the smoke to dissipate.
Always keep a fire extinguisher or water hose nearby when burning pine cones. Be sure to fully extinguish any outdoor fire before leaving it unattended.
Lighting Technique
When the fire is burning and you have good embers established, place the pine cones directly on the hot embers to help them ignite. Using hot embers as the ignition source allows the pine cones to catch fire gently without the need to hold a flame to them, according to How To Make Pine Cone Fire Starters.[1] The embers heat the pine cones slowly and evenly, allowing the sap and oils to warm up and ignite at their own pace. This creates a self-sustaining flame as the fire progresses along the cone.
You can also use a long match or lighter as the direct ignition source if needed. Carefully hold the flame against an edge or tip of the pine cone until it begins smoking and ignites. Avoid holding the flame over the pine cone, as excess direct heat can actually put out the fire. Let the cone light gradually for best results. Allow the pine cone fire to establish and spread on its own after igniting it, recommends Pine Cone Fire Starters.[2]
[1] https://homesteadhow-to.com/how-to-make-pine-cone-fire-starters/
[2] https://www.instructables.com/Pine-Cone-Fire-Starters/
Enhancing Aroma
There are various ways to enhance the aroma of pine cones when burning them. One of the simplest and most popular methods is to add essential oils like cinnamon, peppermint, or eucalyptus to the pine cones before burning. According to the article How To Make Cinnamon Scented Pinecones – 2 Ways!, dropping several drops of a complementary essential oil onto the pine cones and mixing well can provide a lovely scent when burned.
Dried herbs and spices like cinnamon sticks, rosemary, thyme, cloves, and nutmeg can also be bundled with the pine cones to produce a wonderful smell. As suggested in How To Make Scented Pinecones, spreading the pine cones out on a baking sheet and sprinkling dried spices over them before baking infuses the pine cones with the aromatic scent. Stirring the pine cones halfway through baking helps distribute the spice evenly.
For a stronger aroma, you can apply a couple drops of essential oil onto the pine cones right before burning. Just be careful not to overdo it with the strong oils like cinnamon, as too much can produce an overwhelming or unpleasant smell.
Troubleshooting
If the aromatic scent from the burning pine cones seems weaker than desired, try adding a few more cones to the fire to strengthen the aroma. Pine cones can occasionally stop burning and go out if they’re small or tightly closed. Check on the cones regularly and relight any that have gone out using a long match or fireplace lighter tool. According to hearth.com, letting the pine cones fully open and dry out before burning can help prevent them from going out prematurely.
Disposal
After burning scented pine cones, it’s important to allow the ashes to fully cool before disposal. According to the Cottleville Fire Protection District, ashes can remain hot up to 48 hours after a fire[1]. Once cooled, there are a few responsible disposal options:
- Spread the ashes around your yard or garden. The minerals from wood ash can enrich the soil. However, avoid dumping ashes near plants as the ash may damage roots or change soil pH.
- Place the ashes in your normal household waste bin. Cold ashes are typically safe to dispose of with your regular garbage.
- Bring ashes to a local hazardous waste disposal site if available.
When scattering or dumping ashes, be mindful of wind direction to avoid ash blowing into neighbors’ yards. With proper cooling time and responsible dispersal, scented pine cone ashes can be safely discarded.
Conclusion
In summary, burning pine cones can provide a variety of benefits through their pleasant natural aroma. The piney scent can promote relaxation, improve mood, and create a comforting atmosphere. Pine cones are readily available in many regions and easy to prepare for burning by drying out the cones. With proper safety precautions, you can safely burn pine cones in fireplaces, woodstoves, and outdoor fire pits. The aroma can be adjusted by choosing different types and sizes of pine cones, as well as combining with other fragrant woods. Burning pine cones is an enjoyable way to scent your home that connects you to nature. Just be sure to follow fire safety guidelines and properly extinguish and dispose of the cones when finished.
