Burning in Your Hookah Smokebox – Here's How It’s Done!

Last updated on 11/05/2023 | Reading time approx. 2:02 min

You've probably heard that you should burn in your hookah smokebox before using it for the first time, right? If not, now’s the time—and we’ll explain what this “burning in” process is all about. First, we’ll go over why it’s important, and then give you a step-by-step guide so you can easily do it at home.

Why You Should Definitely Burn in Your Smokebox

Hookah HMDs or smokeboxes are made of metal. The Kaloud Lotus or the very popular ONMO HMD are made of aluminum, while models like the Na Grani HMD or the AO HMD 912 are made of stainless steel. Generally, all notable models are made from one of these two materials. During the manufacturing process of metal products, oils are typically used to aid in shaping the material. When the smokebox is later heated by direct contact with charcoal during a session, those oils evaporate—and you end up inhaling them through your hookah. That’s exactly why it’s so important to burn in your smokebox before the first use.

Step-by-Step Guide: Burning in a Hookah HMD & Getting Rid of Residues

After unboxing your smokebox, you might think there are no oils or residues on the metal, and that burning it in is unnecessary. However, we strongly recommend you go through with the process anyway, as these residues may exist as an ultra-thin layer on the surface that’s not visible to the naked eye. The rule is: better safe than sorry. So it’s better to burn in the smokebox than risk inhaling toxic fumes caused by residue evaporation. Here's how it’s done:

Place the smokebox on a fireproof surface—ideally outside on some pavement.
Light four cubes of hookah charcoal on your charcoal heater.
Place two of the lit charcoal cubes underneath the smokebox and two inside it.
Let the charcoal burn through completely so the HMD reaches maximum temperature.

Tip: If you want to be extra careful and avoid any risk of fire or flying sparks due to wind, you can also burn in your HMD inside a hookah charcoal basket. Just follow the same steps, but place both the charcoal and smokebox into the basket.

WARNING: Some of our customers have tried placing their new smokebox directly onto the charcoal heater to burn it in. We strongly advise against this! The metal can get too hot and melt—ruining not only your smokebox but also the heater!

Our Conclusion on Burning In

While smoking hookah is harmful to your health, we still believe it's important to avoid inhaling harmful fumes from production oils whenever possible. That’s why we consider burning in your smokebox essential, and we highly recommend every customer take the time to do it.