FAQs

Everything you might want to know about our misk, our mabakhir, and how orders work. Can't find your answer? Email miskbynora@gmail.com — a real person replies.

What exactly is misk, and what is bakhoor?

Misk (musk) is the heart of our blends. Bakhoor is the form most of them take: fragrant resins, oud and musk pressed by hand into small pieces that are warmed over a coal rather than lit directly. The smoke perfumes a room — and the scent lingers long after the smoke is gone.

What forms do your scents come in?

Three. Handmade bakhoor — five pieces to a jar (seven for Tafas), the form most of our scents take. Oud wood — fragrant wood, about 45 g to a jar, which is how Suur and Jileen come. Concentrated perfume oil — a hand-blended 6 ml oil you wear on skin, available for Taybah and Jezah.

Why are the scents named after towns?

Every blend carries the name of a town in Hauran, in southern Syria — Suur, Jileen, Zayzun, Nawa, Namer, Taybah, Jezah, Naseeb, Mahaja, Tafas. It's a tribute to the places that shaped them. You can read more in The Journal.

How do I burn bakhoor?

Hold a quick-light coal with tongs — never your fingers — and light one edge. Let the spark travel across it, then set it in your burner and wait five to ten minutes until the surface turns grey with ash. That step matters: a coal that's still black will scorch the blend. Then set one piece of bakhoor on the coal and let it work. One piece is plenty for a room.

What are your burners made of?

Our mabakhir are cast resin with a gold-finished metal coal cup, and most have a magnetic closure. They're designed for coal-burned bakhoor and oud wood — not for incense sticks or cones. Six styles, in black, brown, champagne or white depending on the design.

How do I clean and care for my burner?

Let everything cool completely first. Lift out the metal cup, tip out the ash, and wipe it with a dry cloth or a little warm water. Wipe the resin body with a soft damp cloth — no harsh chemicals, no scouring, and never put any part of it in the dishwasher.

Is it safe? What precautions should I take?

Treat a lit coal like any open flame. Always place the burner on a heat-resistant surface, keep it away from curtains and anything flammable, never leave it unattended, and keep it well out of reach of children and pets. Ventilate the room, and let the burner cool fully before moving or cleaning it.

Which scent should I choose?

If you're new to us, Namer is the classic starting point — oud, sandalwood and musk. If you'd rather not choose at all, the Sample Set gives you all five Original scents in one go, which is how most people find their favourite.

How long does an order take to arrive?

We prepare and hand your order to the carrier within 2–5 business days, then ship with USPS or UPS from Texas. You'll get tracking by email as soon as it's on its way. Full details in our Shipping policy.

How much is shipping?

It's calculated at checkout from the weight of your order and where it's going, so you see the exact amount before you pay.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. Please note that import duties, taxes and customs fees are set by your country and are the buyer's responsibility — they're paid to the carrier or customs on delivery and aren't included in your checkout total.

Do you accept returns?

Because everything is handmade and fragrance is personal, all sales are final — we don't accept returns, refunds or exchanges, and shipping fees are non-refundable. Please see our Refund policy in full before ordering.

My bakhoor arrived in different shapes than the photos — is it damaged?

No, and this is completely normal. Bakhoor is delicate and moves in transit, so pieces can break. Nothing is lost: you break pieces off to burn them anyway, so the smaller bits at the bottom of the jar burn exactly as well as the rest.

What if my order arrives genuinely damaged?

Photograph it as soon as it arrives and email the photos along with your order details to miskbynora@gmail.com within two weeks of purchase, and we'll take care of you.

What if my package is lost or stolen?

Once a parcel is with the carrier it's out of our hands, and we can't replace lost or stolen packages. We recommend shipping to a secure address, or adding signature confirmation at checkout with USPS or UPS. If tracking says delivered but you don't have it, check with neighbours and your building's mailroom first, then contact the carrier — parcels are sometimes scanned before they're physically dropped off.