Heidi Norton
Making your own herbal incense is a fun and rewarding project, and it's easier than you might think! You can use commonly found or locally grown botanicals, such as aromatic plants, to create your own unique scent. The process of making incense involves blending various natural ingredients, such as wood, herbs, flowers, resins, and essential oils, into a powder, which is then shaped and dried. The type of ingredients and ratios used can be adjusted to create different scents and burning properties. The final product can be used for a variety of purposes, from enhancing your mood to ceremonial use.
How to Make Herbal Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Base Materials | Red sandalwood, alder, and charcoal |
| Binders | Gum binders, wood binders (joss powder, "tabu no ki", makko) |
| Botanicals | Aromatic plants, commonly found or locally grown |
| Ingredients | Dried and ground herbs, resins, essential oils, water |
| Tools | Incense dish, charcoal briquette, sand |
| Process | Blend ingredients, add water slowly to mix, form into balls or sticks, burn using charcoal briquette |
| Associations | Can be used to evoke memories or enhance focus during meditation/prayer |
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What You'll Learn
Using foraged ingredients
Making herbal incense with foraged ingredients is an easy and rewarding process. You can use a variety of aromatic plants, commonly found or grown in your region, to create your own unique blend. Here are the steps to guide you through the process:
Foraging and Preparing Ingredients:
Start by foraging for aromatic plants with rich fragrances. Look for commonly found botanicals such as herbs, roots, flowers, fragrant leaves, and tree barks. It is important to choose plants that have not been treated with chemicals or pesticides to ensure a pure burn. Pick flowers that are not fully bloomed to avoid mould or petal loss during drying. Fresh herbs are ideal, but if you're using refrigerated herbs, opt for those with larger leaves like bay and eucalyptus as they serve as a great base for your bundle.
Drying and Powdering:
Once you've gathered your ingredients, cut the herb and flower stems to a manageable length, about 3 to 6 inches. Remove any excess leaves from the flowers. Keep in mind that the leaves will shrink during the drying process, so include plenty of them in your bundle. Next, tie your herbs and flowers together using cotton twine, which won't melt during burning. Hang these bundles in a dry, well-ventilated space until the ingredients are completely dry.
Once dry, pulverize your ingredients into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. Avoid electric coffee grinders as they generate heat, which can cause the loss of essential oils and other chemicals from your botanicals. If you're working with resins, freezing them for a short time before grinding will make the process easier.
Creating the Incense Blend:
Now, it's time to create your incense blend. A basic incense blend consists of four main components: an aromatic substance or mixture, a burnable base, a bonding agent, and a liquid to activate the bonding agent. The aromatic substance forms the heart of your incense, so choose a variety of dried and ground herbs, roots, and flowers to create a balanced fragrance. Include a mix of bitter and sweet ingredients. Bitter options include sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, and rosemary. Sweet alternatives are rose petals, lavender, and cinnamon. Resins, such as frankincense or copal, can also be added to enhance the fragrance.
For the burnable base, consider using sandalwood, cedar, or pine for a strong scent, or opt for red sandalwood, alder, or charcoal for a more subtle aroma. The bonding agent, or binder, acts as a glue to hold the incense together. Gum binders, like guar gum or xanthan gum, are more potent than wood binders (joss powder or "tabu no ki"), but be careful not to overuse them as they can prevent burning. Finally, add a liquid such as water, tea, fruit juices, or wine to activate the binder.
Burning Your Incense:
When you're ready to burn your incense, place some sand or ash in an incense dish or a heat-resistant vessel. You can also use a handmade burner for a unique experience. Place a charcoal briquette on top and light it. Allow it to burn for about 30 seconds until it's evenly hot. Then, sprinkle your incense blend on top and enjoy the release of fragrances.
Remember to keep a journal of your formulations, noting the ingredients and ratios, so you can recreate your favourite blends. Always store your ingredients in a cool, dark space, and ensure proper ventilation when burning your incense.
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Choosing a binder
The binder is a form of glue that holds the incense together in the shape you choose. There are two basic types of binders: gum binders and wood binders. Wood binders are easy to work with and, in most cases, act as a base material in addition to being a binder. Common wood binders include joss powder (also called jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (which is sometimes, incorrectly, called "makko"). They are forgiving binders and a good choice for new incense makers. However, the drawback is the amount of wood binder you need to use. Many recipes are 75% wood binder. Most wood binders aren’t as strong as gum binders, which is both a positive and a negative.
Makko is a special base and binder blend that simplifies incense-making. It often includes tabu no ki and clove, and may also contain sandalwood. You can also make your own blend with a combination of wood and gum binders, along with ingredients to improve the burn and enhance the scent.
When choosing a binder, it's important to consider the ingredients you are using and the shape you want your incense to take. If you are using fragrant ingredients, you may want to choose a binder with a more neutral scent, like makko, which has an almost transparent scent and does not add much heat to the normal burning temperature of the materials it binds.
You can also use guar gum or tragacanth gum, which are available at places like Scents of Earth and Soma Luna. These gums are strong and a little goes a long way, but they may alter the aroma of your incense, so be sure to experiment. If you are making stick incense, you may want to use a stronger gum binder to ensure your incense holds together.
In addition to choosing a binder, you will need to add water to your blend to "activate" it. While you need to use a water-based liquid, it doesn't have to be plain water. Any liquid that is mostly water will work, such as tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or herbal teas. Keep in mind that essential oils do not contain water, so you will need to supplement with an additional liquid.
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Adding liquid scents
When adding liquid scents, the general rule is to use about three parts liquid to five parts dry mixture. This liquid will serve as a bonding agent, helping to change the bonding agent into a glue. It also helps to dissolve the potassium nitrate, which is added to the base to enhance ignition.
To add the liquid scent to your incense, start by mixing the liquid with potassium nitrate. Then, add enough tragacanth to create a thick paste. You can adjust the consistency by adding more tragacanth powder or liquid as needed – it should be similar to soft putty or moist dough. Once you have a thick paste, stir in your blended dry ingredients, which should include your chosen aromatic substances and base materials.
When choosing a liquid scent, you can opt for water or any other liquid that is mostly water. This could include tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, herbal teas, or wine. However, it's important to consider the scent you want to create and choose liquids that will complement your aromatic ingredients. Additionally, be mindful that certain liquids may impact the burnability of your incense, so experiment with different options to find the best combination for your desired fragrance.
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Using charcoal
To use a charcoal burner, start by placing it on a heat-resistant surface, such as a stone bowl filled with sand, or a metal burner with a wood coaster or cloth underneath to prevent scorching. Always ensure proper ventilation as charcoal burners produce a lot of intense smoke. Hold the charcoal with tongs and light it with a candle, torch lighter, or barbecue lighter. You can also use a self-lighting charcoal tablet, which will ignite with the flick of a lighter. Quick-igniting charcoal will spark and start sparkling when lit. Avoid the first smoke released from the sparkles as it may contain toxic chemicals.
Once the charcoal is lit, it will start to turn grey and develop a layer of ash. At this point, you can add your loose incense. Add a pinch of incense at a time, being careful not to burn your fingers. The resin will boil and then melt into the charcoal, releasing its fragrance. To make the charcoal burn hotter or faster, tap the ashes off. If you prefer a slower burn, leave the ashes on the charcoal.
Charcoal discs are ideal for those who want a slow, even burn that enhances the fragrance of the incense. They typically burn for about 30 to 45 minutes. However, breathing in incense smoke is not recommended, as it can irritate the respiratory system and lead to health problems. Always use heat-proof tools and containers when handling lit charcoal, and never leave it unattended due to potential safety risks.
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Burning your incense
Prepare Your Incense
Before you start burning, make sure you have everything you need. This includes your incense, a heat-resistant dish or bowl, sand, and a charcoal briquette or disc. If you're using homemade incense, ensure it's thoroughly dried to prevent excess smoke and preserve the scent.
Set Up Your Space
Choose a well-ventilated area to burn your incense, away from any flammable objects or materials that may be damaged by heat or smoke. Place your heat-resistant dish or bowl on a stable surface, and if desired, add a layer of sand to the bottom. The sand will absorb heat and create a protective barrier, keeping your dish or bowl clean and scorch-free.
Light Your Incense
If using a charcoal briquette or disc, place it on top of the sand and light it with a match or lighter. Allow it to burn on its own for about 30 seconds, or until it's evenly hot. The briquette/disc will likely still appear black or glow faintly orange. If you're not using charcoal, simply light your incense directly with a match or lighter.
Enjoy the Aroma
Once your charcoal is ready, carefully place your incense on top of it, taking care not to burn yourself. If you're using loose incense or herbs, you can use your hands to waft the smoke and direct the aroma as desired. If you're using incense sticks or cones, you may need to hold them over the charcoal until they begin to smoulder before placing them in the sand or on a heat-resistant surface.
Practice Caution
Always exercise caution when burning incense. Keep a close eye on it and never leave it unattended. Ensure your space is well-ventilated, and avoid burning incense near curtains, fabrics, or other flammable materials. Do not burn incense near pet birds, as they are highly sensitive to smoke. Additionally, be mindful of other pets, as they may also be allergic or sensitive to smoke.
Burning incense is a wonderful way to enhance your environment and connect with the aromatic properties of plants and herbs. Enjoy the experience, and feel free to experiment with different incense types and combinations to find your favourite aromas.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need dried and ground herbs, resins, binders, charcoal, and water. For the herbs, you can use a variety of bitter and sweet herbs or roots. For example, sagebrush, mugwort, juniper berries, rosemary, thyme, rose petals, and lavender. The binder is a form of glue that holds the incense together and can be made from gum or wood. Common wood binders include joss powder and "tabu no ki".
First, blend your chosen natural ingredients with water to create a dough. You can also add essential oils to enhance the scent. Once your dough is ready, form it into the desired shape. If you are making incense sticks, you can follow the traditional Chinese method of using blended powders and balls, or you can experiment with essential oils.
Place some sand into your incense dish and then put a charcoal briquette on top. Light the briquette and let it burn for about 30 seconds, or until it is evenly hot. Then, place your incense on top and enjoy!
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