Anisha Riggs
Galbanum, a gum resin produced by certain Persian plant species, is highly valued for its intense green scent and has been used since ancient times. The ancient Egyptians considered it sacred, and it was also mentioned in the Bible as a component of the Ketoret, or consecrated incense. Today, galbanum is used in perfumery and natural medicine, and it is prized by incense makers for its unique fragrance. To make dry incense with galbanum, you can start by grinding dry ingredients into coarse granules, then spreading a thin layer and sprinkling the galbanum over it. The galbanum itself can be ground into a powder by drying, low boiling, or adding a diluent, but it is often sticky and challenging to work with, so freezing it and then grinding it with a mortar and pestle is recommended. Once the galbanum is powdered, it can be added to the rest of the incense mixture.
How to make dry incense with galbanum
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Galbanum type | Soft gummy resin |
| Galbanum preparation | Grind into a powder by freezing and using a mortar and pestle |
| Other ingredients | Essential oils, dried fruits, honey, liquid balsams, hydrosols, other liquid aromatics |
| Base | Sandalwood, cedar, pine, red sandalwood, alder, charcoal |
| Binder | Gum or wood |
| Binder amount | 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material |
| Water | Required to activate the binder |
| Mixing | Combine ingredients into a dough |
| Shaping | Form into any shape, most commonly sticks and cones |
| Burning | Indirect heat is the preferred method |
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What You'll Learn
Galbanum is a soft gum resin, best used when warmed
Galbanum is a soft gum resin that is ideal for making incense pellets. It has a strong scent, described as bitter, musky, and intense. It is the product of certain umbelliferous Persian plant species, chiefly Ferula gummosa, and grows plentifully on the slopes of the mountain ranges of northern Iran.
When making incense, it is important to first grind each of your dry ingredients into coarse granules, similar to sea salt. Soft, gummy ingredients like galbanum should be spread out in a thin, flat layer, and then evenly sprinkled with the loose incense mixture. Sticky resins like galbanum are best frozen overnight and then ground with a mortar and pestle. Repeat the process of freezing and grinding until the desired consistency is achieved.
To make the most of the soft galbanum resin, it is best to warm it up. This can be done by placing a sealed jar of galbanum in a bowl of hot water, about halfway up the jar, until it is pourable. You can then drizzle it over your incense mixture, or add other liquid aromatics like honey, balsams, essential oils, or hydrosols. Remember to wear gloves when handling the incense mixture.
Once you have added all your ingredients, pinch off a small piece and roll it in your hands to form a pea-sized pellet. Keep in mind that incense pellets should not be burned using direct heat. Instead, use indirect heat to release the fragrances within the incense pellets.
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Grind dry ingredients into coarse granules
When preparing your dry ingredients, it's important to wear vinyl or rubber gloves, as galbanum can be difficult to remove from your skin. You want to grind your dry ingredients into a coarse, granular form, similar to the texture of sea salt. This technique is used when making loose incense.
Galbanum is a sticky, gooey, gummy resin, which can be challenging to work with. It is best to freeze it overnight and then quickly grind it using a mortar and pestle. It is a soft resin, so it is easier to use when warmed. You can place a sealed jar of galbanum in a bowl of hot water to warm it up. However, galbanum softens quickly, so you must be fast, repeating the process of freezing and grinding until you achieve the desired consistency.
You can also try freezing the mortar and pestle before grinding. It is also possible to add galbanum to other powdered ingredients and grind them together. This method can be time-consuming, and the resin may still stick to the mortar and pestle. You can then add the granular or powdered galbanum to the rest of your dry ingredients.
The basic formula for natural incense is simple: once you have a properly mixed batch of incense dough, you can form it into any shape you like. Sticks and cones are the most common forms, but you can also get creative and experiment with different shapes.
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Use gloves to avoid stained hands
When making dry incense with galbanum, it is important to wear gloves to avoid stained hands. Galbanum is a sticky, tar-like resin with a thick, elixir-like consistency. It is usually found in hard or soft, irregular, more or less translucent and shining lumps, or occasionally in separate tears, of a light brown, yellowish, or greenish-yellow colour.
The stickiness of galbanum means that it can easily stain your hands if you are not wearing gloves. Vinyl or rubber gloves are recommended to protect your hands and make cleanup easier. If you do not have gloves, you can place the galbanum in the freezer for 15-30 minutes to make it easier to handle. However, this method may not be as effective as wearing gloves in preventing stained hands.
When preparing the galbanum for incense, it is best to freeze it overnight and then quickly grind it using a mortar and pestle. The freezing helps to harden the resin and make it easier to grind. However, galbanum softens quickly, so you must work fast. You may need to repeat the freeze and grind process several times until you achieve the desired consistency.
After grinding the galbanum, you can add it to the rest of your prepared incense mixture. Remember to always wear gloves when handling galbanum, as the sticky resin can easily stain your hands. The gloves will create a barrier between your skin and the galbanum, preventing any stains or residue from forming on your hands.
By following these steps and wearing gloves, you can avoid stained hands when working with galbanum to make dry incense.
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Freeze galbanum before grinding with a mortar and pestle
When making dry incense with galbanum, it is important to note that galbanum is a sticky, gooey, gum-like resin. It is soft and can be difficult to work with when making incense sticks or cones. However, it is ideal for making incense pellets.
To prepare galbanum for incense, it is recommended to freeze it overnight before grinding it with a mortar and pestle. This is because galbanum has a tendency to soften quickly at room temperature, so freezing makes it easier to grind into a coarse granule or powder. The process of freezing and grinding may need to be repeated several times until the desired consistency is achieved.
- Place the desired amount of galbanum in a sealed container and freeze it overnight.
- Take the frozen galbanum out of the freezer and quickly begin grinding it with a mortar and pestle. Work swiftly as galbanum will start to soften at room temperature.
- Continue grinding until the galbanum is in a coarse granular form, similar to the consistency of sea salt. It may not be possible to achieve a fine powder, and the granules may clump together as they warm up.
- If a finer consistency is desired, return the partially ground galbanum to the freezer for another hour or so, then take it out and continue grinding while still frozen.
- Repeat the freeze-and-grind process as needed until you achieve the desired consistency.
It is worth noting that galbanum has a strong, intense scent and a small amount goes a long way. It is also important to wear gloves when handling galbanum to avoid any skin irritation.
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Add water to activate the binder
When making dry incense with galbanum, you will need to add water to activate the binder. This is a crucial step, as the binder is what holds the incense together in the shape you choose. There are two main types of binders used in incense making: gum binders and wood binders. Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are more powerful than wood binders and typically require a smaller quantity. Wood binders, on the other hand, are easier to work with and often act as both the base material and the binder. Common wood binders include joss powder (also known as jiggit) and tabu no ki (sometimes incorrectly called makko).
It's important to note that adding too much gum binder to your incense recipe can cause it to bind too strongly, preventing it from burning properly. Therefore, it's crucial to follow the measurements carefully. A typical incense recipe will use just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material.
When adding water to activate the binder, you don't necessarily need to use plain water. You can use a water-based liquid, such as hydrosols or decoctions, to activate the binder while also adding additional aromatic properties to your incense. This allows you to get creative and experiment with different liquids to enhance the fragrance of your incense.
Once you have added the water and activated the binder, you can form the incense mixture into any shape you desire. The most common forms are sticks and cones, but you are only limited by your imagination. The base material in your incense will provide the heat source, so you won't need to use charcoal or other external heat sources as you would with non-combusting incense.
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