Lance Carson
Incense is a powerful way to express your intent, with a history of use in ceremonies and rituals. It is easy to make your own loose incense blend with a mixture of dried herbs, flowers, wood bark, resins, and berries. You can burn loose incense on a charcoal disc or throw it into a fire. To make your own blend, you will need a pestle and mortar for grinding, and you can use a variety of natural ingredients such as resins, leaves, woods, and essential oils.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Flowers, plants, herbs, resins, berries, bark, spices, seeds, woods, essential oils, liquid scents, gum binder, water |
| Tools | Mixing bowl, measuring spoons, digital scales, pestle and mortar, charcoal disc, incense stove, heat-safe dish |
| Steps | Combine resins or essential oils first, then add bark, berries, dried herbs, flowers, and powdery items. Grind ingredients into a powder or leave coarser. Store in a cool, dry, dark place. Burn on a charcoal disc or toss into a fire. |
| Recipes | Frankincense, lavender, and rosemary; Copal, rose, and jasmine; Dragon's blood, orange peel, and peppermint; Sandalwood, cinnamon, and patchouli |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your base
There are several options to choose from when it comes to selecting a base. A popular choice is to use resins, which are dried tree sap or powdered wood. Frankincense, for example, is a common resinous base that is known for its ability to drive away negativity and purify spaces. It is often used in meditation practices to induce psychic visions and promote spiritual growth. Another option for a base is to use a wood such as sandalwood, which is known for its ability to aid in meditation, bring love and peace, and remove tension.
Additionally, you can choose to use a gum binder as your base. Gum binders, such as makko, do not add any scent to your blend but are essential in holding your incense together. They also help to prolong the burn time of your incense. When using a gum binder, it is important to add a water-based liquid to "activate" the binder. This can include water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or herbal teas. However, it is important to note that essential oils cannot be used as a substitute for water, as they do not contain any.
If you are looking for a simpler way to create your incense blend, you may want to consider using a pre-made base and binder blend such as Super Makko. Super Makko is a powerful and flexible joss powder that can be blended with other ingredients to create a unique incense blend. It offers strength and elasticity that is uncommon in other types of makko.
Ultimately, the base you choose for your incense blend will depend on your personal preferences and the desired outcome of your incense. Whether you choose to use resins, woods, or gum binders, each will provide a different benefit to your blend.
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Selecting aromatics
Types of Aromatics
The most common aromatics used in incense making include resins, herbs, woods, flowers, barks, berries, and spices. These ingredients can be used in their dried or powdered form, or they can be ground together to create a custom blend. Some popular resins include frankincense, copal, and dragon's blood, which is known for its protective and purifying properties. Common herbs and spices used in incense blends include lavender, rosemary, juniper berries, and cinnamon. Woods such as sandalwood, leaves, and barks can also be added for their aromatic properties and to create a base for your blend.
Intention and Properties
When selecting aromatics, consider the intention and properties associated with each ingredient. For example, lavender is often used for its calming and stress-relieving properties, while rosemary is known for its cleansing and purifying effects. If you are creating an incense blend for meditation, you may want to include sandalwood, which aids in meditation and promotes peace and awareness. Frankincense is another popular choice for meditation as it induces spiritual growth and purifies the energy.
Complementary Scents
To create a harmonious blend, consider choosing aromatics that complement each other. This can be done by selecting a base note, such as sandalwood, and then choosing other aromatics that pair well with it. For example, sandalwood pairs well with frankincense or patchouli. You can also experiment with different combinations of herbs, flowers, and resins to create unique and pleasing fragrances.
Liquid Scents
In addition to dried and powdered aromatics, you may also want to include liquid scents such as essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, or other extracts. These can be added to enhance the fragrance of your blend and provide additional aromatic properties. However, keep in mind that essential oils do not contain water, so you will need to adjust the amount of liquid in your blend accordingly.
Proportions and Measurements
When selecting aromatics, consider the proportions and measurements of each ingredient. A typical incense recipe uses a small amount of binder, such as gum binder, for every few tablespoons of material. The aromatics are the key ingredients that provide the scent, so ensure you are using a sufficient amount to create your desired fragrance. Measure your ingredients accurately using measuring spoons or digital scales to ensure consistency and the desired fragrance in your incense blend.
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Blending with binders
Binders are a crucial component of incense-making, acting as a glue that holds the blend together in the desired shape. The two primary types of binders are gum binders and wood binders, each with unique properties and effects on the final product.
Let's begin with gum binders, which include guar gum, xanthan gum, and gum arabic or acacia. Gum binders are more potent than wood binders, requiring only a small amount, typically 1/8 teaspoon for every 2 tablespoons of material. They do not contribute any scent to the blend, making them ideal for preserving the desired aromatic profile. However, excessive gum binder can hinder burning, so caution is advised. Gum Tragacanth, a light tan to cream-coloured powder with a mild scent, is another excellent option for incense-making. It is strong, pliable, and forgiving for beginners, but it is relatively expensive.
On the other hand, wood binders like joss powder (jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes mislabelled as "makko") serve dual purposes as base materials and binders. They are easier to work with and contribute to the overall scent of the incense. Makko, a traditional Japanese binder, often includes "tabu no ki" and clove, and sometimes sandalwood, enhancing the burn and scent of the incense. It is worth noting that pure "tabu no ki" is distinct from makko, which is a blend of multiple ingredients.
When blending with binders, it is essential to "activate" them by adding water or a water-based liquid. This can include tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or even wine. However, it is important to note that essential oils, commonly used for added scent, do not contain water and cannot be used as a substitute. The amount of binder used will depend on the desired consistency and shape of your incense. For cones, for example, you would add enough binder to create a playdough-like consistency, then knead and shape the mixture before allowing it to dry for several days.
Additionally, natural alternatives like honey, dried fruit soaked in wine, and balsam can be used as binders and preservatives. Honey, in particular, is a popular choice, featured in the Japanese kneaded incense called "Nerikoh," where it is combined with dried plums and aged in an unglazed ceramic pot.
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Preparing your ingredients
The ingredients you will need depend on the type of incense you want to make. Loose incense, for example, is a combination of ground, powdered, or chipped natural ingredients such as herbs, flowers, seeds, spices, woods, bark, and resins. You can also add essential oils or other liquid scents to your blend. If you want to roll cones by hand, you will need ingredients like Joss powder or Tabu-No-Ki, and a mixing bowl. To make sticks and coils, you will need an extruder, and for masala sticks, Tabu-No-Ki is recommended over Joss powder.
Once you have gathered your ingredients, you will need to measure them out. This can be done using measuring spoons or digital scales, depending on the recipe. If using a mortar and pestle to grind your ingredients, you can measure them directly into the mortar. When a recipe calls for "parts", you can adjust the quantity to how much incense you wish to make. For example, if you are testing a recipe, use a small measure such as 1/2 or 1 teaspoon as 1 part. For larger quantities, use tablespoon or cup measures.
For larger ingredients such as bark and resin, it is best to grind them separately first before measuring to get a more accurate amount. You can grind everything into a powder, but a coarser mix will also work. Be sure to not leave large pieces in your mix, as this can affect the fragrance and properties of the incense.
Finally, when preparing your ingredients, it is important to consider the base and binder of your blend. The base is typically an aromatic ingredient such as sandalwood, which complements the other aromatic components. The binder, such as gum binder, helps to hold the blend together and release the scent of the aromatics. A typical incense recipe uses just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material.
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Burning your incense
Prepare Your Incense
Before you begin burning, make sure you have prepared your incense blend properly. This includes gathering your ingredients, measuring and mixing them accurately, and storing your blend in a cool, dry, and dark place. It is also important to label your blends, so you know what's in them and can make adjustments for future batches.
Choose Your Burning Method
You can burn loose incense or shape it into pellets or cones. Loose incense is the simplest method, where you burn the blend directly on a charcoal disc. Pellets and cones require drying time and are a bit more involved in the preparation process.
Light Your Charcoal Disc
If you are using a charcoal disc, light it using a match or other heat source. Place the disc inside a heat-safe dish and wait for it to spark and glow red. Be cautious, as charcoal can reach extremely high temperatures, and never leave it unattended.
Add Your Incense
Once the charcoal disc is glowing and covered in a grey ash, it's ready for your incense. Using a pinch or a scoop, place your loose incense blend on top of the disc. If you are burning pellets or cones, place them on a heat-resistant surface or in an incense stove.
Enjoy the Fragrance
Your incense will now begin to release its fragrance. The charcoal disc will keep the herbs lit, ensuring you can enjoy the scent for an extended period. Always burn incense on a fireproof surface and be mindful of the high temperatures reached by charcoal.
Extinguish and Dispose
Once your incense has finished burning, safely dispose of the charcoal disc or stove contents. You can then clean your burning dish or stove according to the instructions provided with your chosen burning method. Remember to store any remaining incense blend in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Burning incense is a great way to enjoy the fragrances of your custom blends and create a fragrant atmosphere. Always exercise caution when working with high temperatures, and follow the instructions provided with your chosen tools and equipment.
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Frequently asked questions
To blend loose incense, you will need a pestle and mortar for grinding, a mixing bowl, measuring spoons, jars, lids, labels, and a pen. If you want to roll incense cones by hand, you will also need an extruder.
You can use fragrant flowers, plants, herbs, resins, woods, bark, spices, seeds, berries, and powders. You can also include liquid scents such as essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and other extracts.
First, measure your ingredients using measuring spoons or digital scales. Grind larger ingredients like bark and resin separately before measuring to get a more accurate amount. Combine resins or essential oils first, then add any bark or berries. Dried herbs, flowers, or powdery items should be added last.
Store the finished mix in ziplock bags, jars, or similar containers and label them. Store incense in a cool, dry, and dark place, such as a cupboard or drawer.
Place a charcoal disc in a heat-safe dish and light it with a match. Once it turns grey with ash, scoop your loose incense onto it and enjoy the scent.
