A little crackling and the odd small spark when charcoal first catches is completely normal, especially in the first minute or two as it heats up. Continuous, heavy sparking throughout burning is not normal and is worth paying attention to.

What Counts as Normal

Quick-light charcoal discs often contain a small amount of saltpetre to help them ignite, and this can cause brief crackling or small sparks as the flame first takes hold, settling down once the disc is fully lit and glowing evenly with grey ash. This initial phase is expected and not a fault.

When to Be Cautious

If sparking continues well after the initial lighting, or is unusually vigorous, stop and check the charcoal is genuine, properly stored and not damp, and always burn on a heatproof dish with tongs to hand rather than directly on any surface. Our complete guide to bakhoor covers safe charcoal lighting properly, and our complete guide to perfume has more general safety advice. It is also worth using tongs rather than fingers to handle lit charcoal at any stage, since even a brief spark can cause a nasty burn. Our bakhoor burners range includes suitable heatproof burners.