Katrina Rosales
Burning incense is a practice that connects civilizations and cultures, dating back to ancient times. It is believed to enhance concentration and stimulate creativity, and is a popular form of aromatherapy. Making your own incense is easy and ensures you are using a safe product. To make strong herbal incense, you must first decide on a scent and choose the right herbal ingredients to achieve it. You can use any herb with a smell you enjoy, or multiple herbs that complement each other. Popular choices include cedar, lavender, sage, sweetgrass, frankincense, myrrh, juniper, cinnamon, and rosemary. Once you have chosen your herbs, they should be dried and crushed into a fine powder. This powder is then mixed with a bonding agent, such as gum arabic or xanthan gum, and a base material, like sandalwood, cedar, or pine, to create a dough. The dough is then shaped into cones and left to dry before lighting.
How to make herbal incense strong:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Base material | Sandalwood, cedar, pine, alder, charcoal, makko |
| Binders | Gum binders (guar gum, xanthan gum), wood binders (joss powder, tabu no ki/makko), gum arabic, tragacanth |
| Bonding agent | Natural herbal resins and gums |
| Liquid scents | Essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, extracts, water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, herbal teas, wine |
| Herbs | Bitter (sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, thyme), sweet (rose petals, lavender, yarrow flowers, fir needles, cinnamon), cedar, sage, sweetgrass, eucalyptus |
| Other ingredients | Resin, powdered aromatics |
| Equipment | Electric incense heater, incense dish, charcoal briquette, blender, bowls, measuring cups, spoon, wooden cutting board, pestle and mortar, conical mold, pin, parchment or wax paper, small heat-resistant bowl, salt or sand |
| Safety precautions | Keep unlit and burning incense away from children and pets, place incense in a well-ventilated area away from flammable objects, insulate and place incense on heat-resistant surfaces, do not leave lit incense unattended, ensure all incense is extinguished and cool before discarding |
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What You'll Learn
- Choose strong-scented base materials like sandalwood, cedar, or pine
- Use a strong binder like gum binders, or Super Makko—a powerful, flexible joss powder
- Pick potent herbs like sage, lavender, juniper, or cinnamon
- Use a bonding agent like natural resins or gum to keep sticks intact
- Burn incense with an electric heater or charcoal disk
Choose strong-scented base materials like sandalwood, cedar, or pine
When making herbal incense, choosing a strong-scented base material is key to creating a potent fragrance. Sandalwood, cedar, and pine are excellent options in this regard, as they possess distinct and robust aromas that can enhance your incense blend.
Sandalwood, a traditional base material, has been valued for centuries for its fragrance, as well as its applications in woodworking and medicine. The centre of the trunk is particularly aromatic, while the leaves and bark have a subtler scent. When using sandalwood, consider its scent in your blend design, as its fragrance can be quite prominent.
Cedar is another strong-scented base option. Like sandalwood, cedar has a long history of use, including in the creation of incense. It provides a robust fragrance that can complement or enhance the other aromatic ingredients in your blend.
Pine is the third prominent option within strong-scented base materials. It is a versatile choice, as it can be used as a base material and also adds a distinct aroma to your incense blend. Pine needles, in particular, are noted for their refreshing fragrance.
When selecting your base material, it's important to remember that the base is the "engine" of your incense, providing the heat necessary for a complete burn. Thus, choosing a base with a strong scent and good burning properties, such as sandalwood, cedar, or pine, is a strategic way to enhance the overall potency of your herbal incense.
Additionally, you can explore variations within these base materials. For instance, red sandalwood, alder, and charcoal have very low scents but can still provide the necessary heat for your incense. This approach allows you to control the overall fragrance profile while ensuring a proper burn.
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Use a strong binder like gum binders, or Super Makko—a powerful, flexible joss powder
When making herbal incense, one of the key ingredients is a binder, which acts as a glue to hold the incense together. Binders can be made from wood, gum, or a blend of ingredients. Wood binders, such as joss powder (also known as jiggit or Litsea glutinosa) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes incorrectly referred to as "makko"), are commonly used by new incense makers due to their ease of use and forgiving nature. However, they often make up a large portion of the recipe, with some recipes calling for 75% wood binder.
If you're looking for a more potent option, gum binders like guar gum or xanthan gum are much stronger than wood binders. Gum binders have no scent of their own and only a small amount is needed, typically just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. However, it's important to use gum binders sparingly, as too much can cause the incense to bind too strongly and prevent it from burning.
For an even stronger and more flexible option, Super Makko is a powerful joss powder that can take your incense to the next level. When working with Super Makko, it's important to start with a small amount as it is extremely potent. It has a strong scent of Calamus when you open the bag, but don't be alarmed, as this scent becomes subtle and pleasant when burning and will not overpower your own herbs, resins, and fragrant woods. Super Makko is both a binder and a base, but it's recommended to add additional base materials that complement your blend.
While Super Makko is a great choice for binding and enhancing the scent and burning properties of your incense, it may not be suitable for all types of incense. For example, if you're making masala sticks, Tabu-No-Ki is a better option than joss powder. Ultimately, the choice of binder depends on the specific type of incense you want to create and your level of experience in incense-making.
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Pick potent herbs like sage, lavender, juniper, or cinnamon
When making herbal incense, the type of herbs you choose will have a significant impact on the potency and fragrance of the final product. Here are some tips for selecting potent herbs like sage, lavender, juniper, or cinnamon:
Sage: Sage is a popular herb for incense, with two common varieties being white sage and garden sage. It is known for its strong fragrance and is often used for cleansing and purifying spaces. White sage tends to have a sweeter aroma, while garden sage may be more suitable if you prefer a less sweet scent.
Lavender: Lavender incense offers a range of fragrances, from bracing herbal notes to powdery florals. It is a versatile herb with a refreshing aroma, often used for cleansing and healing rituals, as well as meditation practices. The fragrance of lavender incense can vary from gentle and soothing to bright and invigorating.
Juniper: Juniper berries, specifically, are used in incense-making. They contribute a bitter note to your incense blend and are known for their cleansing properties. Juniper is often chosen for its ability to purify and protect spaces.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon incense is traditionally associated with Mars and is widely available. It is used for protection, personal power, and fiery cleansing rituals. Cinnamon incense can also be employed to inflame passion or counter the effects of love spells. Its fragrance is warming and spicy.
When selecting these herbs, opt for dried and ground varieties to ensure they burn effectively. You can also experiment with different combinations of these herbs to create unique fragrance profiles. Remember that the scent of your incense will depend on the specific variety of herb you choose, so source your ingredients carefully to achieve the desired effect.
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Use a bonding agent like natural resins or gum to keep sticks intact
When making herbal incense, it's important to use a bonding agent to keep the sticks intact. Natural resins and gums are ideal for this purpose, and they can be used alongside a base material such as wood.
Wood binders like joss powder (also called jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes called "makko") are commonly used. They are easy to work with and act as a base material, but they may require a significant amount to be effective. Gum binders, on the other hand, are much stronger, and only a small amount is needed. Gum arabic and xanthan gum are good choices, as they add no scent of their own and won't impact the blend's fragrance.
To activate a wood or gum binder, you must add water to your blend. Any liquid that is mostly water will work, including water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, herbal teas, and wine. Essential oils, however, do not contain water and cannot be used as a substitute.
When using natural resins or gums as a bonding agent, it's important to use the correct ratio to avoid affecting the burn of your incense. A typical incense recipe uses just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material.
By following these instructions and choosing the right bonding agent, you can create strong and effective herbal incense sticks that will enhance your sensory experience.
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Burn incense with an electric heater or charcoal disk
Electric incense burners are a great way to burn incense without the smoke and fire of traditional burners. They are easy to use and can be freely switched to different temperatures, allowing you to explore incense materials from around the world. Electric burners are composed of a furnace, heater, switch or temperature controller, indicator light and wire. The burner generates heat through the heating plate at the bottom, which causes the fragrant powder, fragrant wood block, or essential oil placed in the groove above to emit a fragrance.
Temperature control is very important when using an electric burner as it directly affects the aroma. You can start by tasting a light aroma and then slowly adjust the level if you feel it is weak. Each level increases the temperature by 10 degrees Celsius.
If you are using a charcoal burner, it is important to use a heat-proof container, preferably made of metal. Charcoal gets very hot and can cause fires if it comes into contact with other materials. Hold the charcoal with tongs and light it with a candle, torch lighter, or stovetop. Once the charcoal sparks, it will be ready to use in about 20 seconds. You can then sprinkle a pinch of loose incense on top. To make the charcoal burn hotter or faster, tap the ashes off; leave the ashes if you prefer a slower burn.
Charcoal disks are another option for burning incense. Place the disk in a heatproof dish or bowl and light it with a lighter until it sparks. Then, add a pinch of herbs, resin, or powder. Charcoal disks stay lit for about 30 minutes and then turn to ash, which can be easily disposed of.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use any dried and ground herbs, resins, and bonding agents such as gum arabic or gum binders. Popular herbs include cedar, lavender, sage, sweetgrass, rosemary, thyme, juniper, and cinnamon.
First, decide on a scent and gather your ingredients. Crush your herbs into a powder and mix with your bonding agent. Shape your incense into cones and let them dry for a minimum of 12 hours. To burn, place your incense in a heat-resistant bowl with salt or sand and light the tip.
You can use an electric incense heater or a traditional sodium nitrate-free charcoal briquette made from bamboo or coconut. Place your incense on top of the heat source and enjoy.
