Anisha Riggs
Incense is a biotic material that releases aromatic smoke when burned. It has been used for various purposes over centuries, including ceremonies, healing, and cleansing. While incense is readily available for purchase, making your own at home allows for customisation and can be a more cost-effective option. This text will introduce the topic of how to make herbal incense spray, exploring the ingredients and methods used to create this aromatic product. From choosing the right herbs and resins to the process of extraction and combination, crafting your own incense spray can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
How to make herbal incense spray
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Frankincense, dried herbs (sage, rosemary, basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint), alcohol, water, oil |
| Equipment | Bowl, paper towel, strainer, spray bottle, heat-resistant bowl, salt or sand, small conical mold, parchment or wax paper |
| Process | Dissolve frankincense in alcohol, shake daily for two weeks, strain, add water, transfer to spray bottle. Alternatively, boil water, add oil, bottle and shake. |
| Precautions | Consult a doctor before use, especially if pregnant, nursing, asthmatic or suffering from respiratory issues. Keep away from children and pets. |
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What You'll Learn
Using dried and ground herbs
Preparing the Herbs:
Start by selecting your desired herbs. You can use a variety of dried herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme, lavender, or even dried flowers like rose petals and lavender. Ensure that you are using high-quality, natural ingredients that are free from chemicals or pesticides. You can purchase these herbs or grow and dry them yourself. The chosen herbs should be thoroughly dried before use. Air-dry the herbs by hanging them in a cool, dry spot for 2-3 weeks until they are completely dry.
Mixing the Ingredients:
Once your herbs are dried, it's time to grind them into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. Prepare a mixture of about half ground herbs and half resin, such as frankincense or patchouli. You can also add essential oils or other liquid scents like hydrosols or decoctions. Experiment with different combinations of bitter and sweet herbs to create a balanced blend. As you add each ingredient, you can even say a quiet statement of intention for a more meaningful experience.
Forming the Incense:
After creating your herb and resin mixture, it's time to form your incense. You can roll the mixture into pea-sized balls, ensuring they are dry and not sticky. You can also form the mixture into other shapes, such as cones or sticks, by using a binder to hold the shape. Common binders include gum binders (e.g., guar gum or xanthan gum) and wood binders (e.g., joss powder). Add a small amount of water or another liquid, such as wine or tea, to activate the binder and help it bind the mixture.
Drying and Aging:
Place your formed incense on a drying surface, such as a brown paper sheet or a wooden board. Allow the incense to dry for several days to a couple of weeks, turning them occasionally to ensure even drying. After they are dry, you can further age your incense creations for a couple of weeks to allow the aromatics to permeate and produce a more complex fragrance.
Burning the Incense:
Finally, it's time to burn your herbal incense. Place your incense creation on a heat-proof plate and light it with a match or lighter. Allow it to burn until it smokes, then blow out the flame and let it smolder, filling your space with the aromatic scent you've crafted. You can also place the incense on top of charcoal or ash to burn, adjusting the heat source as needed. Always ensure proper ventilation when burning incense, and store any unused incense in a cool, dry location to prevent moulding.
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Adding essential oils
Firstly, choose your essential oils. There are various options available, each offering unique aromatic benefits. Some popular essential oils for incense include lavender, rosemary, sage, frankincense, and peppermint. You can select a single oil or create a blend of complementary oils.
Next, prepare your base liquid. This can be water, or you can opt for other liquids such as herbal tea, fruit juices, or even wine. Keep in mind that essential oils are highly concentrated, so you only need a small amount. A good rule of thumb is to add 15 drops of essential oil per 50 ml of base liquid. If you're using a strong-scented oil, you can start with a smaller amount and adjust to your preference.
Combine the essential oils and base liquid in a spray bottle. If you're using water as your base, it is recommended to use distilled or purified water to avoid any potential impurities that may affect the scent or reduce the shelf life of your spray. Shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds to ensure the oils are properly mixed with the base liquid.
You can also add other ingredients to enhance your incense spray. Some options include a small amount of alcohol (such as vodka) to help preserve the scent and improve mist formation when sprayed. Additionally, you can include a carrier oil, such as clear olive oil, to help slow down the evaporation rate and make your spray last longer.
Finally, allow your herbal incense spray to sit for a few hours or overnight. This gives the ingredients time to settle and the fragrances to blend harmoniously. After this, your incense spray is ready to use! You can spritz it in the air, on linens, or in rooms to create a pleasant aroma and enhance your space.
Remember to always use essential oils with caution and follow safety guidelines. Some essential oils may cause skin irritation or allergic reactions when used undiluted, so it is important to mix them with a carrier liquid before use. Enjoy creating your own unique herbal incense spray!
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Using resins and woods
Firstly, choose your base. Sandalwood, cedar, and pine are excellent bases that add a strong scent to your incense blend. If you're a beginner, consider using low-scent base materials like red sandalwood, alder, or charcoal, as they contribute less to the overall scent.
Next, select your aromatic ingredients. Resins like frankincense, myrrh, and copal are popular choices due to their rich aromatics. You can purchase these resins or gather them from conifer tree sap. When gathering your own, be mindful of the tree's health and only collect pieces that have fallen off. Hard resin is preferred over soft, sticky sap. To make grinding easier, place the resin in the freezer for 15 minutes to several hours until it becomes brittle.
Now, it's time to mix your ingredients. Start by mixing your dry ingredients (herbs and woods) separately from your resins. Then, add the resin mixture to the dry mixture and combine thoroughly. A mortar and pestle or hand crank coffee grinder can be used to pulverize the ingredients, although resins are best ground with a mortar and pestle. If you're using a coffee grinder, be aware that electric ones can generate too much heat, causing the loss of vital chemicals.
Finally, add a binder to help your mixture stick together. Gum binders like guar gum or xanthan gum are more potent than wood binders, so use sparingly. For every 2 tablespoons of material, add about 1/8 teaspoon of binder. Wood binders like joss powder or "tabu no ki" can double as base materials. To activate the binder, add water or a water-based liquid like tea, juice, or wine.
With your mixture ready, you can now shape your incense. If you're making incense cones or sticks, you may need to add additional ingredients and form the mixture into a dough. Roll the dough into small balls, coat them with powdered herbs to prevent sticking, and place them on a plate to dry for several days or weeks, turning them occasionally for even drying.
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Choosing a binder
Wood binders are easy to work with and can act as a base material in addition to being a binder. Common wood binders include joss powder (also called jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes incorrectly referred to as "makko"). The main drawback of wood binders is that they typically make up a large proportion of the recipe—up to 75%—and they are not as strong as gum binders.
Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are much stronger than wood binders. They are added in small amounts—a typical incense recipe uses just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. Gum binders have no scent of their own, so they won't impact the fragrance of your incense. However, adding too much gum binder to a recipe can cause it to bind too strongly to burn.
When choosing a binder, it's important to consider the desired shape of your incense. If you plan to form your incense into cones or sticks, a stronger binder like a gum binder may be necessary. For loose incense or incense balls, a wood binder may be sufficient.
In addition to the type of binder, you will also need to add water or another water-based liquid to "activate" it. While plain water can be used, other liquids with a high water content, such as tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or wine, can also be used to add different nuances to your incense spray.
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Shaping and drying the incense
Shaping and drying your herbal incense involves several steps. Firstly, you will need to gather your dried herbs and crush them into a powder. A mortar and pestle are ideal for this, but be aware that some plants take longer to crush than others. You can use home-grown or store-bought herbs, with cedar, lavender, sage, sweetgrass, basil, dill, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and thyme being popular choices. You can also add dried flowers such as rose petals and lavender.
Next, you will need to mix your powdered herbs with a binder. This acts as a form of glue to hold the incense together in the shape you choose. Wood binders are a good choice for beginners as they are easy to work with and often act as a base material. Common wood binders include joss powder and "tabu no ki" (sometimes called "makko"). If you are more experienced, you can try a gum binder such as guar gum or xanthan gum, but be aware that these are much stronger and can affect the burn of your incense if used in high quantities. You will need very small amounts—a typical recipe uses just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of herb mixture.
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 try more unusual shapes. To make cones, place approximately half a teaspoon of dough into a small conical mold. If necessary, insert a pin into the tip of the mold to help dislodge the cones. You can also shape your cones by hand if you prefer.
Finally, place your shaped incense on parchment or wax paper and let it dry for at least 12 hours. Turn your incense over halfway through the drying process to ensure that all sides dry out evenly. Your herbal incense is now ready to be lit and enjoyed!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need dried herbs, water, a binder, and a spray bottle. Popular herbs include basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. You can also add essential oils.
There are two types of binders: gum binders and wood binders. Gum binders (such as guar gum or xanthan gum) are stronger, but wood binders are easier to work with and can act as a base material. Common wood binders include joss powder and "tabu no ki".
First, crush your chosen herbs into a powder using a mortar and pestle. Then, mix in your binder and any other liquid ingredients. Add water to activate the binder. Finally, pour the mixture into a spray bottle and it's ready to use!
Spray the mixture into the air like an ordinary air freshener. Always follow safety precautions when using incense products. Keep them away from flammable objects and well-ventilated, and do not leave lit incense unattended.
