Seamus Hammond
Herbal incense is a popular product that has been used across many cultures for scenting, cleansing, and religious practices. It is typically made from dried herbs and other natural ingredients, and can be purchased or made at home. With the rise of synthetic cannabinoids in herbal blends, it is important to be cautious when purchasing herbal incense, as some may contain undisclosed ingredients. To find herbal incense, one can explore online shops, specialty stores, or create their own blend at home using natural ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Herbal Incense Type | Hand-rolled incense sticks, cones, loose incense |
| Ingredients | Natural, dried herbs, makko tree bark, essential oils, synthetic chemicals |
| Scents | Lavender, rose, sandalwood, cinnamon, pine, vanilla, cedarwood, black pepper, cardamom, citronella, geranium, lemongrass, patchouli |
| Burning Method | Charcoal disk, sodium-free charcoal, electric incense heater, light one end of the stick |
| Availability | Online, wholesale, specialty stores, head shops, grocery stores, convenience stores |
| Health and Safety | Some herbal incense contains synthetic cannabinoids and toxic chemicals |
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What You'll Learn
How to make your own herbal incense
Making your own herbal incense is a simple process that allows you to customise your ingredients and cut costs. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own herbal incense at home:
Ingredients and Tools
First, gather your ingredients and tools. You will need a variety of dried herbs, such as cedar, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass, or basil, dill, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and thyme. You can also use resins and woods, such as cinnamon, frankincense, and sandalwood. For tools, you will need a mortar and pestle, a small conical mold or piping tip, a toothpick or pin, parchment or wax paper, and a heat-resistant bowl or incense burner.
Prepare the Herbs
Use the mortar and pestle to crush the herbs into a fine powder. Some herbs will take longer to crush than others, so be patient and make sure they have a powdery consistency. You can also buy bulk dried herbs if you don't have access to fresh ones.
Mix the Ingredients
In a separate bowl, mix your powdered herbs with a binder such as makko powder (derived from the bark of the Thunberi tree) or gum binders like guar gum or xanthan gum. The binder will help your incense stick together and burn evenly. Use a 1:3 ratio of binder to herbs, or adjust the ratio depending on the consistency you prefer. You can also add essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, or other liquid extracts to enhance the scent. Just be sure to add water to your blend to "activate" the binder.
Shape the Incense
Once you have a well-mixed batch of incense dough, it's time to shape it. Place approximately half a teaspoon of the dough into your conical mold or piping tip. If using a mold, insert a pin into the tip to help dislodge the cone later. Alternatively, shape your cones by hand or use a toothpick and a piping tip to create a hole in the centre, which will help the cone burn better.
Dry the Incense
Place your shaped incense cones on parchment or wax paper and let them air dry for at least 12 hours, turning them over halfway through to ensure even drying. Depending on the humidity of your climate, you may need to let them dry for several days to a couple of weeks.
Burn the Incense
To burn your herbal incense, fill a heat-resistant bowl or incense burner with salt or sand and place a newly created cone on top. Light the cone's tip and blow it out after a few seconds, allowing it to smoke slowly. Always exercise caution when burning incense and keep it away from children and pets, and flammable objects. Be mindful of the potential health risks associated with incense smoke, especially for individuals with asthma or other lung disorders.
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Where to buy herbal incense
There are several places where you can buy herbal incense. One option is to purchase it online from websites such as Amazon, herbariasoap.com, or nipponkodostore.com. These websites offer a variety of herbal incense products, including hand-rolled incense and incense sticks.
Another option is to visit specialty stores, such as "head shops," that may carry herbal incense products. These stores typically cater to a specific counterculture or alternative lifestyle and can provide a range of incense options.
Additionally, some general retail stores, new-age shops, or health and wellness boutiques may also sell herbal incense. These stores often carry a selection of incense products for aromatherapy, meditation, or relaxation purposes.
Lastly, you may be able to find herbal incense at local markets or craft fairs. These events can be a great opportunity to discover small businesses or artisans who create and sell their own unique blends of herbal incense.
When purchasing herbal incense, it is important to review the ingredients and ensure that the product is safe and suitable for your intended use.
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How to burn loose herbal incense
Burning loose herbal incense is a traditional practice often used in ceremonies, religious practices, and life transitions. It is an easy method for a shorter burning time. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to burn loose herbal incense:
Prepare your loose incense
Loose incense is made from raw herbs, flowers, resin, woods, or spices used individually or blended into a mixture. You can shred small amounts in your hands and then roll or mould them into a ball to burn. Alternatively, you can place your loose incense in a heat-proof dish, such as a ceramic bowl.
Prepare your burning surface
You can burn loose incense with or without a charcoal disk. If you are using a charcoal disk, use traditional sodium-free charcoal (made from bamboo or coconut) and insulate it with salt or sand. You can also use an electric incense burner to control the temperature of your incense. If you are not using a charcoal disk, you can burn your loose incense on a dried bay leaf or dried white sage leaf. You can also burn loose incense directly on a rice ash platform.
Light your incense
Use a lighter to light your loose incense until it flames. You may need to relight it a few times.
Tips
Be mindful of the temperature and burning time of your incense. Burning incense at too high a temperature or for too long can result in a strong smell. Setting your burner to a low heat setting (around 180 degrees) will result in a longer burning time and a purer fragrance. Use a small metal spoon or tweezers to remove any remaining incense to keep your aromas fresh.
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The history of herbal incense
The use of herbal incense has a long and global history. The discovery of fire and the occasional aroma created when a piece of scented wood was thrown into the flame are thought to be the origins of fragrance. Our ancestors kept a fire burning all day and night, and the scent, the pleasing sight of the smoke and the flame, and the mystery and power of the aromas led people to send up their wishes and prayers with them. Scented wood is still burned in places of prayer around the world.
In ancient India, aromas were used in a system of medicine called Ayurveda. These aromas were later interpreted as fragrance oils as they migrated to the West and transformed into incense on the way to the East. In ancient Egypt, incense was used for both pragmatic and mystical purposes. It was burned to mask bad odours but was also believed to ward off malevolent demons and please the gods. Resin balls have been found in many prehistoric Egyptian tombs in El Mahasna, and one of the oldest incense burners comes from the 5th dynasty. The Babylonians also used incense when offering prayers to divine oracles, and this practice spread to Greece and Rome. Incense burners have been found in the Indus Civilization, and oils were used mainly for their aroma.
During the Muromachi period in the 15th and 16th centuries, incense appreciation (kōdō) became an art form in Japan, where it is still practised today, usually within a tea room of traditional Zen design. Agarwood and sandalwood are the two most important ingredients in Japanese incense. The former is so-called because the resin in the wood is so heavy that it sinks in water.
Incense has also been used in medicine. In the early Middle Ages, it was included in a number of medical recipes, such as a treatment for epilepsy recorded in a 9th-century Latin manuscript. Dioscorides' De materia medica, a pharmacopoeia that addresses the medical applications of hundreds of substances, describes a type of incense known as cyphi as having both religious and medical functions.
In recent years, synthetic cannabinoids originally designed for laboratory testing have been used recreationally in designer herbal blends, originally called "Spice". These blends are becoming a large public health concern due to their increasing use and unpredictable toxicity and abuse potential.
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Herbal incense as a natural alternative
Herbal incense is a natural alternative to the commercial incense products that are often loaded with synthetic chemicals and low-quality ingredients. These natural incense products are crafted using the gifts of nature and act as a natural blessing, free from petrochemicals and artificial ingredients.
One can opt for hand-rolled herbal incense, which is crafted from the powdered bark of the makko tree, Machillus thunbergii. This bark is naturally combustible, eliminating the need for charcoal or saltpeter. The incense dough is extruded and hand-cut, resulting in pure, resinous, and herbal material. To burn, light one end of a stick or a part of it, blow out the flame gently after a few seconds, and place the stick in a holder to burn safely.
Herbal incense sticks can also be made at home, serving as a perfect way to preserve dried herbs. They can be crafted from leftover herbs bought for recipes or herbs from one's garden, bringing a calming herbal scent indoors. Dried herbs have been burned across various cultures and ages for scenting, cleansing, and religious practices.
For those interested in making their own natural incense, The Incense Dragon is a notable resource. It offers kits, materials, and fine, handcrafted incense. Their "just-add-water" kits are ideal for beginners, and their exclusive line of natural artisan incense is handcrafted in the USA. The Incense Dragon also offers tabu powder, which serves as a base material and binder for creating incense in various forms, including sticks, cones, and coils.
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Frequently asked questions
Herbal incense is incense made from natural ingredients, such as dried herbs, flowers, and powdered tree bark. It is often hand-rolled and free from synthetic chemicals and artificial ingredients.
You can buy herbal incense from many places, including grocery stores, convenience stores, and even roadside stands. You can also buy them online from places like The Incense Dragon, Herbaria, and Faire.
You can burn herbal incense in a few different ways. You can use a charcoal disk, an electric incense heater, or a holder like a Cutie bar. If using a charcoal disk, it is recommended to use traditional sodium-nitrate-free charcoal, such as bamboo or coconut, and insulate with salt or sand.
Herbal incense is a natural way to bring calming scents indoors. It can also be used for ritual cleansing, as in the Native American practice of "smudging."
Yes, you can make your own herbal incense using dried herbs, flowers, or leftover ingredients from recipes, such as sage. You can also buy kits to make your own incense from places like The Incense Dragon.
