Katrina Rosales
Burning incense is a tradition that can be found all over the world, used in ceremonies, for healing, and for cleansing an area. The practice of making natural incense sticks has a long history in China, with records dating back more than 500 years. Common ingredients include wood binders such as joss powder or tabu no ki, and gum binders such as guar gum or xanthan gum. Aromatic ingredients are added to give the incense its scent, with popular choices including copal, frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. However, there are many other aromatic plants that can be used, such as those commonly found or grown in temperate regions. To make incense, the ingredients are mixed together with a small amount of water to form a dough, which can then be rolled into sticks or cones. The incense is then left to dry for several days or weeks before being burned.
How to Make Herb Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| History | The tradition of burning aromatic herbs and resins can be found all over the world and has been practised for countless generations. |
| Purpose | Incense is used in ceremonies, for healing, and for cleansing an area. |
| Ingredients | Aromatic plants, herbs, resins, essential oils, water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, wine, honey, dried fruit, charcoal briquette. |
| Tools | Mortar and pestle, candles, incense dish, sand, spoon or chopsticks. |
| Preparation | Crush resin pieces in the freezer, mix dry ingredients, add water slowly, roll into pea-sized balls, dry for several days to weeks, turning every day or two. |
| Usage | Place a charcoal briquette on a bed of sand in an incense dish. Light the briquette and wait for 30 seconds. Place the incense ball on top. |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your herbs and resins
When choosing your herbs and resins, it is important to consider the desired scent and the availability of the ingredients. You can experiment with various blends to create meaningful and unique combinations. For beginners, it is recommended to start with a simple combination of sandalwood and 2-3 other types of powders, such as frankincense or myrrh, as these resins are known for their rich aromatics. You can also add essential oils to enhance the scent, but traditional Chinese incense uses only powders without any added oils.
The type of binder you choose will also impact the overall scent of your incense. Wood binders, such as joss powder or "tabu no ki" (also known as "makko"), are forgiving and suitable for new incense makers. However, they may not be as strong as gum binders like guar gum or xanthan gum, which are more potent and require smaller amounts. Gum binders have the advantage of adding no scent of their own, allowing the aromatic ingredients to shine through.
To make your incense-making process easier, you can place pieces of resin in the freezer for a few hours to make them brittle and easier to crush. This will help you create a stable "dough" when combined with your chosen binder and a small amount of liquid, such as water, tea, or fruit juice. Remember to always ensure that the plants you use are safe, and feel free to experiment with different ingredients to create your own unique blends.
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Adding a binder
When choosing a binder, it's also important to consider the liquid you will use to activate it. While water is the most common choice, any water-based liquid will work, including tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, and wine. Keep in mind that essential oils are not water-based and cannot be used as a substitute for water. However, you can supplement the amount of water you use with some oils to add additional scents to your incense.
Once you have chosen your binder and liquid, it's time to start mixing. Add the liquid slowly to the mixed incense powder, and mix thoroughly after each addition. It is important not to let the dough get too moist. As you mix, you can also add in any essential oils or other liquid scents you desire.
After your dough is mixed, you can begin forming it into incense sticks or cones. For sticks, a full-length 2mm Chinese incense stick typically weighs about 0.45g or 0.015oz. You can calculate how much powdered ingredients to use based on the number and length of the sticks you want to make. Any leftover dough can be used to make incense cones.
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Preparing your ingredients
For the herbs and aromatics, you can choose from a wide range of options. Common choices include copal, frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood, which are popular for their rich scents and widespread availability due to mass marketing. However, it's important to note that you are not limited to these options. Many other common plants in your local area can also be rich in aromatics and perfect for incense. Using locally available plants is an empowering way to enjoy the gifts of nature and ensure the sustainable harvesting of botanicals. Examples of aromatic plants that you can use include various sages, which are commonly burned in wilderness schools.
In addition to dried and powdered aromatics, you can also incorporate liquid scents such as essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and other extracts. These can add complexity and depth to the scent of your incense. However, it's important to note that essential oils do not contain water, so you will still need to add water or another water-based liquid to "activate" your binder. Suitable water-based liquids include water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, and herbal teas or wine.
The choice of binder is an important consideration when preparing your ingredients. Binders are substances that hold the incense mixture together, allowing it to be shaped into cones, sticks, or balls. Common wood binders include joss powder (also known as jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes mislabelled as "makko"). Makko, in its traditional Japanese form, is a blend that includes tabu no ki and clove, and possibly sandalwood. Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are more potent than wood binders, requiring only a small amount (typically 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material). However, adding too much gum binder can prevent the incense from burning properly. Binders like honey or dried fruit soaked in wine can also be used.
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Shaping your incense
For balls, roll your mixture into pea-sized balls. You can then roll these in more powdered herbs to keep them from sticking. Place them on a ceramic plate or a piece of parchment paper to dry. Leave them to dry for at least several days and up to a couple of weeks, turning them every day or two so they dry evenly.
If you want to make incense sticks, you can buy ready-made ones and add your own blend of essential oils to them. Alternatively, you can make your own sticks from scratch. You will need to prepare a dough by mixing your natural powders and essential oils in a bowl. Then, add water slowly to the mixture, making sure the dough doesn't get too moist. You can then shape the dough into sticks by hand or use a mould.
You can also shape your incense into cones using any leftover dough from making incense sticks. Simply roll the dough into cone shapes by hand or use a mould.
Remember, the shaping process is a chance to get creative and experiment with different shapes and sizes. You can even decorate your incense with additional herbs or flowers to make them look more appealing.
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Drying and burning your incense
Once you've prepared your incense mixture, it's time to dry and burn your creations. Here is a guide to help you through the process:
Drying Your Incense
After mixing your incense, roll the mixture into pea-sized balls. You can coat them with powdered herbs to prevent sticking. Place the balls on a ceramic plate or parchment paper and let them dry. The drying time depends on the humidity of your climate; they should dry for at least several days and up to a couple of weeks. Remember to turn them every day or two to ensure even drying.
Burning Your Incense
To burn your incense balls, start by placing some sand in your incense dish. Then, put a charcoal briquette on the sand and light it. Allow the briquette to burn by itself for about 30 seconds or until it's evenly hot (it might still appear black or glow faintly orange). Finally, place your incense ball on top of the briquette, and enjoy the fragrance!
Tips for Burning Incense Safely
- Always use a suitable incense dish or burner to ensure safety and catch any ash.
- Ensure proper ventilation in the room when burning incense to avoid smoke buildup.
- Keep flammable objects away from the burning incense and never leave it unattended.
- Follow the instructions provided with your specific incense recipe for safe burning techniques.
Enhancing the Burning Experience
You can enhance your incense-burning experience by creating the right atmosphere. Try lighting some candles, playing calming music, and adjusting the lighting to create a relaxing ambiance. Additionally, you can experiment with different incense blends and aromas to find your favourite fragrances.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a combination of aromatic herbs, resins, and floral incense powders. Common choices include sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, and copal. You will also need a binder such as joss powder, "tabu no ki", guar gum, or xanthan gum. Finally, you will need a small amount of water or another water-based liquid to activate the binder.
First, gather your chosen ingredients and prepare your workspace. Measure and mix your chosen powders and essential oils in a bowl, then slowly add water to create a stable "dough". Form the dough into pea-sized balls and roll them in powdered herbs to prevent sticking. Place the balls on a plate or parchment paper and let them dry for several days or a couple of weeks, turning them every day or two to ensure even drying.
Place some sand in an incense dish and put a charcoal briquette on top. Light the briquette and let it burn for about 30 seconds, or until it is evenly hot. Place your incense ball on top and enjoy!
To make it easier to crush pieces of resin, place them in the freezer for a few hours beforehand to make them brittle. Traditional Chinese incense uses only powders, but you can substitute some powders for essential oils if desired. When adding water to your mixture, do so slowly to ensure that the dough doesn't become too moist.
