Katrina Rosales
Incense has been used for various purposes for centuries, and while buying it from the store can be expensive, making your own at home is simple and allows you to customize your ingredients. The basic formula for natural incense is straightforward: gather your dried herbs, crush them into a powder, and mix in a binder and water to activate it. Common herbs include cedar, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass, while gum binders like guar gum or xanthan gum are popular. You can also add liquid scents like essential oils, decoctions, or hydrosols. Once you have a properly mixed batch of incense dough, you can form it into any shape you like, with cones and sticks being the most common.
How to Make Homemade Spice Herbal Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried and ground herbs (e.g. cedar, lavender, sage, sweetgrass, basil, dill, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sagebrush), flowers, essential oils, resins, woods (e.g. sandalwood, cedar, pine), makko powder, gum binders (e.g. guar gum, xanthan gum), water |
| Equipment | Mortar and pestle, small conical mold, pin, parchment or wax paper, small heat-resistant bowl, salt or sand, non-flammable surface, airtight storage container |
| Process | 1. Gather dried herbs and crush them into a powder. 2. Mix in makko powder and water at a ratio of 1:3 with herbs. 3. Mold the mixture into cones using a small conical mold or by hand. 4. Place the cones on parchment or wax paper and let them dry for a minimum of 12 hours, turning them over halfway through. 5. Place a cone in a heat-resistant bowl with salt or sand and light the tip. Blow it out after a few seconds and it should smoke for about an hour. |
| Precautions | Keep incense away from children and pets. Burn incense on a non-flammable surface and have water on hand. Never leave incense unattended. Consult a doctor before using if you are pregnant, nursing, asthmatic, or have respiratory issues or other medical conditions. |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your herbs: dried, ground, and potent
When choosing your herbs, it's important to select ones that are dried and ground. This is because incense is made from fragrant materials that are burned to produce a scent, and dried and ground herbs will burn more effectively than fresh herbs. You can use a mortar and pestle to grind your herbs until they have a powdery consistency. Some herbs that work well in incense include basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. You can also add flowers to your incense, such as elderflower, or resins like cinnamon.
It's also important to choose potent herbs for your incense. Over time, herbs can lose their potency, which can affect the aroma of your incense. To ensure your incense has a strong fragrance, choose herbs that are still potent. You can also experiment with different combinations of herbs to create unique aromas and find the ones that work best for your specific needs.
In addition to dried, ground, and potent herbs, you can also add other ingredients to your incense for extra fragrance. Essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and other liquid extracts can be used to enhance the scent of your incense. When adding liquids, be sure to use a water-based liquid, such as water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or herbal teas, to activate the binder in your incense.
The type of wood you choose can also affect the scent of your incense. Sandalwood, cedar, and pine are strong-scented woods that can add a fragrant base to your incense blend. Alternatively, you can use low-scent base materials such as red sandalwood, alder, or charcoal, which will allow the scent of your herbs to shine through.
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Adding resins, oils, and other aromatics
When making homemade spice herbal incense, adding resins, oils, and other aromatics is a crucial step to enhance the fragrance and create a unique, personalised scent. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
Choosing Resins
Resins are essential in creating incense, as they provide a strong base for the fragrance. When selecting resins, opt for powdered forms, as they mix more easily with other ingredients. Popular choices include frankincense, myrrh, and copal. These resins have distinct scents and can be found in most craft stores or online. If you're using resin chunks, grind them into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle before adding them to your mixture.
Adding Essential Oils
Essential oils are powerful aromatics that can elevate the scent of your incense. When adding essential oils, start with a small amount and gradually increase until you achieve the desired fragrance strength. Remember, essential oils are highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Some popular essential oils for incense include lavender, rosemary, and peppermint.
Dried and Crushed Aromatics
In addition to resins and oils, dried and crushed aromatics contribute to the overall fragrance of your incense. These can be herbs, flowers, spices, or even wood chips. When using dried aromatics, ensure they are finely crushed to facilitate a smooth burn and maximise fragrance release. Some popular choices include lavender, sage, rosemary, cinnamon, and sandalwood.
Liquid Scents
Liquid scents such as herbal teas, wine, fruit juices, or hydrosols can be added to your incense mixture to create unique and subtle fragrance notes. When using liquid scents, be mindful that you still need to add water to activate the binder. Therefore, use liquids that are mostly water-based, and adjust the amount of water in your mixture accordingly.
Combining Aromatics
When combining resins, oils, and other aromatics, it's important to experiment and find the right balance. Start with a small batch and adjust the quantities of each ingredient until you achieve a scent that pleases you. Remember, the base and binder are there to heat the aromatics and release their scents, so ensure you have a proper ratio of these components in your mixture.
Creating homemade spice herbal incense allows you to customise your fragrance journey and explore endless aromatic possibilities. Enjoy the process of blending different resins, oils, and aromatics to craft a unique scent that transforms your space and elevates your mood.
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Selecting a binder: gum, wood, or makko powder
When making homemade spice herbal incense, selecting the right binder is crucial. Binders are a form of glue that holds the incense together in the desired shape. The two main types of binders are gum binders and wood binders, each with its own unique properties and effects on the final product.
Let's start with gum binders. Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are known for their strong binding ability. They require only a small amount, typically just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. However, it's important to be cautious as too much gum binder can cause the incense to bind too strongly, preventing it from burning effectively. Gum binders are ideal if you want a neutral scent profile as they add no scent of their own to the blend. This allows the aromatic ingredients to shine through without interference.
On the other hand, wood binders like joss powder (also known as jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes mislabelled as "makko") offer a different set of advantages. Wood binders are easy to work with and often serve dual purposes as both a binder and a base material. This can be especially useful when creating incense with a strong woody aroma. However, wood binders usually require larger quantities, with many recipes calling for up to 75% wood binder. It's important to note that wood binders are generally not as strong as gum binders, so finding the right balance is key.
Makko powder, derived from the bark of the Thunberi tree, is another popular choice for incense makers. Makko has a long history of use in Japanese incense and is known for its strong binding properties and neutral scent. When combined with water, makko powder acts as a binding agent and helps ensure a slow, even burn. It's important to note that while tabu no ki is sometimes referred to as makko, true makko powder is a blend that includes tabu no ki as one of its ingredients.
When choosing a binder, consider factors such as the desired shape, scent, and burn characteristics of your incense. Each binder has its own unique properties that will influence the final product. Experimenting with different binders and quantities will help you find the perfect combination for your homemade spice herbal incense.
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Moulding and shaping your incense
Once you have a properly mixed batch of incense dough, you can mould and shape it into any shape you like. Sticks and cones are the most common forms, but you can also experiment with other shapes.
To create incense cones, place approximately half a teaspoon of the dough into a small conical mould. If necessary, insert a pin into the tip of the mould to help dislodge the cones. You can also shape your cones by hand. If you prefer to make incense sticks, you can use cotton twine to tie your herbs and flowers together. This type of twine will not melt and is commonly used in cooking. Hemp and jute twine are other alternatives.
As you mould and shape your incense, you'll get used to developing the right texture and consistency. A typical incense recipe will use just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. Wood binders are easy to work with and act as a base material in addition to being a binder. Common wood binders include joss powder (sometimes called jiggit) and tabu no ki (sometimes incorrectly called makko). However, most wood binders aren't as strong as gum binders, which are much more powerful. If you're using a gum binder, be careful not to add too much to your recipe, as this can cause the incense to bind so strongly that it can't burn.
Place your shaped incense on parchment or wax paper and allow them to dry for a minimum of 12 hours. Turn them over halfway through the drying process so that the bottoms dry out as well. Your incense won't burn well until it's completely dry, so make sure it has a chance to dry thoroughly before you try to light it.
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Drying and storing your incense
Drying your incense is a crucial step in the process of making your own. The drying time will depend on the method you choose to form your incense—whether that be cones, sticks, or bundles.
If you opt for the cone shape, place your creations on parchment or wax paper and leave them to dry for a minimum of 12 hours. Be sure to turn them over halfway through the drying process so that the bottoms dry out as well.
For sticks, the drying process will be much the same, but you will need to leave them to dry for longer—at least 24 hours. Again, turning them over halfway through will ensure that they dry evenly.
To dry herb bundles, you will need to hang them upside down from a wire or hanger in a cool, dry spot for 2 to 3 weeks. Make sure that your bundles are completely dry before burning them. A dehydrator can be used to avoid any risk of rot.
Once your incense is dry, it's important to store it correctly to maintain its quality. Keep your incense bundles in a cool, dry location, as exposure to moisture or heat can cause them to mold or become more brittle.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic ingredients for making herbal incense are dried and ground herbs, flowers, resins, and binders.
Some popular choices include basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage.
There are two basic types of binders: gum binders and wood binders. Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are stronger but require smaller amounts. Wood binders, such as joss powder or "tabu no ki", are easier to work with and often act as a base material as well.
First, crush your chosen herbs into a powder using a mortar and pestle. Then, mix in a binder such as makko powder, derived from the bark of the Thunberi tree, with water to act as a binding agent. You can add other liquid scents such as herbal teas, wine, or essential oils.
Mold your incense mixture into cones or other shapes using conical molds or by hand. Place the shaped incense on parchment or wax paper and let them dry for a minimum of 12 hours, turning them over halfway through.
