Heidi Norton
Making combustible incense is a complex process that requires a variety of tools and ingredients. The first step is to gather the necessary tools, such as a mortar and pestle, a blender, a brush, a bowl, a spoon, a knife, and a fine mesh sieve. The next step is to choose a base with a complementary or low scent, such as sandalwood, cedar, or pine. Then, select your aromatics, which can include herbs, resins, and essential oils. After measuring and mixing the ingredients, the mixture is formed into cones or sticks by adding a binding material and a combustible material. This can be done using a mold or by hand. Once the incense is formed, it can be lit and enjoyed, but it's important to take safety precautions, such as placing incense in a well-ventilated area, away from flammable objects, and ensuring it is properly extinguished before discarding.
How to Make Combustible Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Base | Wood, such as sandalwood, cedar, or pine |
| Binding Material | Gum arabic, Tragacanth, Guar gum, Xanthan gum, or Makko powder |
| Combustible Material | Makko powder, Charcoal, or Saltpeter |
| Aromatics | Herbs, resins, and essential oils |
| Tools | Mortar and pestle, blender, brush, bowl, spoon, knife, scale, sieve, mold |
| Procedure | Pulverize ingredients, mix dry ingredients and resins separately, add resins to dry mixture, add binding and combustible materials, add water, form into cones or sticks, light one end |
| Precautions | Burn in a well-ventilated area, avoid drafts, keep away from flammable objects, do not leave unattended, ensure ash falls on a fireproof surface, extinguish before discarding |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing a base
When selecting a base, you can choose one with a very subtle scent or one that complements the other aromatics in your blend. For example, using sandalwood as a base for incense with aromatics like frankincense or patchouli can provide excellent results. Alternatively, you can choose a base with a very subtle scent, such as red sandalwood, alder, or charcoal, which will have minimal impact on the overall scent of your incense.
Wood binders, such as joss powder or "tabu no ki," are commonly used as base materials. They are easy to work with and act as both a binder and a base. However, they may require larger quantities in your recipe, and they are not as strong as gum binders. Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are more potent, requiring only a small amount to be effective. They add no scent of their own and can be used flexibly without worrying about their impact on the overall fragrance.
In addition to wood and gum binders, you can explore non-wood plant materials as bases. For example, lavender is a popular choice, and using both the flower buds and stems can result in a stronger scent than using flowers alone. Other plant-based materials, such as essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and extracts, can also be used to enhance the scent of your incense blend. These materials can be considered part of the "aromatic" ingredients, blurring the lines between base, aromatic, and binder categories.
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Selecting aromatics
Type of Aromatics:
Incense aromatics can include herbs, resins, and essential oils. Dried herbs such as cedar, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass are popular choices for incense. Resins like frankincense, myrrh, and copal can also be used and are available in different grades and scents. Essential oils, such as patchouli or lavender oil, can be added to enhance the scent of your incense.
Scent Combination:
Consider the scent combination you want to achieve. Some scents complement each other, while others may clash. For example, you could pair lavender with cedarwood or sage for a calming, earthy aroma. Alternatively, you might choose to create a more complex blend by combining several different scents.
Potency of Aromatics:
The potency of your aromatics will impact the strength of your incense's scent. Some aromatics have a stronger scent than others. For example, essential oils tend to be highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. On the other hand, dried herbs may require a larger quantity to achieve the desired scent.
Base Material:
The base material you choose can also impact the overall scent of your incense. Some bases, like sandalwood, cedar, or pine, have strong scents of their own. You can choose a base that complements your aromatics or one with a very subtle scent so that it doesn't overpower your chosen aromatics.
Quality of Ingredients:
The quality of your aromatics can affect the overall quality of your incense. Look for high-quality, pure ingredients that are free from additives or fillers. This will ensure that your incense burns cleanly and releases the desired scent effectively.
Experimentation:
Don't be afraid to experiment with different aromatics and combinations. Creating your own incense blend is a creative process, and you may discover unique scent profiles that work well together. Start with small batches to test your combinations before scaling up.
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Grinding ingredients
When grinding ingredients, it is important to wear protective gear such as a respirator, glasses, and gloves, as the fine powder can be irritating to the skin, eyes, and lungs. It is also important to have a sturdy brush for cleaning, as well as a fine mesh sieve to ensure the powder is evenly ground.
The ingredients typically used in combustible incense include herbs, resins, and woods with aromatic properties. Popular herbs include cedar, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass. Resins such as frankincense, mastic, storax, and myrrh are also commonly used. Woods like sandalwood, cedar, and pine can be used as a base, adding a strong scent to the blend.
When grinding the ingredients, it is best to grind each type of ingredient separately before mixing them together. This ensures that the aromas of each ingredient are well-blended. It is also important to weigh each ingredient before and after grinding to ensure the correct proportions are used. After grinding, the ingredients can be mixed together to create a loose, non-combustible incense mixture or formed into cones or sticks with the addition of a binding agent.
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Mixing ingredients
Mixing the ingredients for combustible incense involves combining herbs, resins, and woods with a combustible base and binder. Here is a step-by-step guide to mixing the ingredients:
Preparing the Ingredients:
Firstly, gather your chosen herbs, resins, and woods. Dried herbs such as cedar, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass are popular choices. It is important to pulverize these ingredients into a very fine powder to ensure proper combustion. Use a mortar and pestle or a grinder to achieve this.
Mixing the Dry Ingredients:
Combine your powdered herbs, resins, and woods in a mixing bowl. Ensure they are thoroughly mixed before moving on to the next step. Keep in mind that resins should be frozen and ground last, as they can be sticky and difficult to work with.
Adding the Binder:
Choose a suitable binder such as gum arabic or tragacanth, or a gum binder like guar gum or xanthan gum. Wood binders like joss powder (jiggit) or "tabu no ki" (makko) are also popular. The chosen binder should be added to the dry mixture in small quantities, as per the recommended ratio. For example, a typical recipe uses 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of the dry mixture.
Introducing Liquid:
To activate the binder, a small amount of liquid is necessary. While water is commonly used, it is not the only option. Essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, or other extracts can be added at this stage to enhance the aroma. Add the liquid slowly, a few drops at a time, until a dough-like consistency is achieved.
Final Mixing:
Once all the ingredients are combined, mix them thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of the binder and liquid. You can use your hands or a spatula to bring the mixture together and ensure that it is homogeneous.
Remember, the key to successful combustible incense is ensuring that the ingredients are finely powdered and thoroughly mixed. This allows for proper combustion and a consistent aroma when burned.
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Shaping incense
To create the dough, a small quantity of water is combined with the fragrance and incense base mixture and kneaded into a hard dough. The incense base, or binder, acts as a form of glue that holds the incense together in the chosen shape. Common wood binders include joss powder (sometimes called jiggit) and “tabu no ki” (sometimes, incorrectly, called “makko”). Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are also used and are much more powerful than wood binders. A typical incense recipe will use just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material.
After creating the dough, the shaping process can begin. The dough can be pressed into shaped forms to create cones and smaller coiled incense, or forced through a hydraulic press for solid stick incense. The formed incense is then trimmed and slowly dried. The drying process must be carefully controlled, as the incense has a tendency to warp or become misshapen when improperly dried.
Overall, shaping combustible incense involves creating an incense dough, adding a binder to hold the shape, and then forming the dough into the desired shape, such as cones, coils, or sticks.
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Frequently asked questions
The bare minimum tools for making combustible incense are something to grind your ingredients into a fine powder, a sturdy brush, a fine sieve, a bowl, a teaspoon, and your hands. Other useful tools include a scale, a spoon, a knife, a brush, and dog claw scissors.
The main ingredients needed to make combustible incense are saltpetre (or potassium nitrate), a wood base, aromatics (herbs, resins, and essential oils), a little water, and a type of gum to bind it all together. Common wood bases include sandalwood, cedar, and pine. Common aromatics include frankincense, patchouli, cedar, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass.
First, crush your ingredients into a fine powder. Then, mix in your binding agent, such as makko powder, and add a small amount of water to activate the binder. The mixture should form a dough-like consistency. Finally, mould your incense into the desired shape, such as cones or sticks.
Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area, away from drafty doors and windows. Keep incense away from flammable objects, such as lampshades, drapes, and rugs. Do not leave lit incense unattended, as falling ash can be a fire hazard. Make sure all incense is completely extinguished and cool to the touch before discarding it. If you are pregnant, nursing, asthmatic, or have any other medical conditions, consult a physician before burning incense.
