Creating Incense Accords: A Beginner's Guide To Fragrance Making

how to make incense accord

Incense accords can be made in a variety of ways, depending on the desired effect. For example, a powerful diffusive incense accord can be made using a combination of PEA, oranger crystals, and sandalore. Another option is to use a blend of frankincense, myrrh, and labdanum, with small amounts of benzoin and galbanum. To create a simple woody base that can be accented with incense, cedarwood and/or sandalwood can be used. Other key ingredients for incense accords include oak moss, vanilla, vetiver, and citruses. When creating an incense accord, it is important to consider the geographical preferences and direction one wants to take, as the term 'incense' can vary widely in its interpretation.

Characteristics Values
Ingredients Frankincense, myrrh, labdanum, opoponax, cistus, benzoin, galbanum, styrax, orris, olibanum, oud, vetiver, cedarwood, sandalwood, oak moss, vanilla, Floropal, citruses, juniper, peppercorn, pink pepper, C12 MNA, Timbersilk, iso E, Vertofix, agarwood, balsam, oranger crystals, sandalore, PEA, jasmine, rose, cypress, musk, choya loban, nagarmotha eo, nag champa, and many more
Product Forms Solid, liquid
Product Sizes 5ml, 10ml, 30g, 50g, 1kg
Product Containers Glass bottles, HDPE plastic bottles, aluminium flasks
Product Preparation Prepared to order
Product Use Incense, perfume, fragrance, scented personal and home-care products
Product Documentation Safety Data Sheets (SDS), allergen reports, IFRA statements, allergen reports
Product Shipping Worldwide shipping from the United Kingdom

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Incense accord ingredients: frankincense, myrrh, labdanum, opoponax, cistus, and smoky notes

When creating an incense accord, it's important to remember that the scent of incense varies greatly depending on the context, geographical preferences, and direction you want to take it in. For example, church incense can differ from country to country, with Roman church incense differing from American church incense.

To create an incense accord with the specified ingredients, you can start by creating a woody base with cedarwood and/or sandalwood. This will create a "space" in the accord and prevent it from feeling too heavy or spicy. Then, add labdanum, which is derived from the Cistus plant, for depth. Labdanum has a warm and buttery scent with a slightly animalic, goaty facet.

Next, you can start adding small amounts of frankincense and myrrh in equal parts. Frankincense can be procured in different varieties, with some being more translucent and yellowish, while others are more opaque and white. Both have complex and natural top notes with good longevity. You can also create your own frankincense tincture by dissolving it in alcohol.

Finally, you can modify the scent with additional ingredients to create a unique incense accord. For a smokier accord, you can add birch tar, nagarmotha for a spicy and leathery scent, or myrrh for a licorice and dry effect. For a greener and woodsy accord, a micro amount of galbanum can be added. Opoponax, also known as sweet myrrh, can lend a warm and smoky facet to the accord.

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Cedarwood Virginia: add depth to your incense accord

Cedarwood Virginia is a key ingredient for achieving an incense accord. It is a straightforward and effective ingredient to use as a base for your incense accord.

To create depth in your incense accord, it is recommended to use a woody base, which can be achieved with cedarwood Virginia. You can then add a touch of labdanum for depth, and frankincense and myrrh in equal parts. From there, you can decide what you like and add more of these ingredients to your preference.

To round out the fragrance, a small amount of benzoin can be added. Even if you cannot pick out the scent of benzoin on its own, it will add a rich fragrance to the incense accord.

For a notable and easily recognisable incense effect, labdanum absolute can be combined with cedarwood Virginia and other resinous materials, including frankincense. This combination can then be modified in countless directions. For example, Robertet's Bois D'Encens is a co-extraction of frankincense and cedarwood that can be used as a base for an incense accord.

To summarise, creating depth in an incense accord requires a woody base, which can be achieved with cedarwood Virginia, and then adding other ingredients such as labdanum, frankincense, myrrh, and benzoin to create a rich fragrance.

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Agarwood and galbanum: touches of these can help

Agarwood, also known as aloeswood, eaglewood, gharuwood, or oud, is a dark, fragrant resinous wood that has been valued for centuries across Asia. It is produced from the resin of the Aquilaria tree, a species of evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. When the tree becomes infected with a specific type of mould, it produces a rich resin that hardens into agarwood. This process, along with the depletion of the tree's numbers, makes agarwood a rare and luxurious item, often reserved for the elite and royalty in ancient times.

Agarwood has a unique, captivating, and calming fragrance with extensive healing benefits. It is believed to reduce stress, relieve anxiety, enhance mental clarity, and promote overall wellness. In traditional Eastern medicine, agarwood was used to treat respiratory conditions, abdominal pain, and as a sedative. It is also said to have anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and central nervous system-boosting qualities.

Agarwood is commonly used in incense, perfumes, and essential oils. It is an integral part of Buddhist practices, where it is used alongside sandalwood and clove for meditation and prayer rituals. In Middle Eastern societies, agarwood or oud is a symbol of hospitality, and its scent is believed to convey respect and honour to guests.

Galbanum, on the other hand, is described as potent. It is a resin that can be used in incense-making and perfumery. While it may not be as widely used as other ingredients, galbanum can add depth and uniqueness to an incense accord. When working with galbanum, it is essential to use small amounts and experiment with different combinations to achieve the desired effect.

When creating an incense accord with agarwood and galbanum, it is important to consider the overall balance and avoid making the accord too heavy or spicy. Agarwood and galbanum can be used as accent notes to enhance the woody base created by cedarwood and/or sandalwood. You can also experiment with adding other incense ingredients, such as frankincense, myrrh, labdanum, benzoin, or natural aromatics like lavender oil and frankincense oil, to create a unique and balanced fragrance.

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Incense types: burned, smoky, fresh, sweet, incense stick

Incense is a material that is burned to release its fragrance. It is used in many cultures and religions, and has been since ancient times. The word 'incense' comes from the Latin 'incendere', meaning 'to burn'.

There are two main types of incense: "indirect-burning" and "direct-burning". Indirect-burning incense, also known as "non-combustible incense", cannot burn on its own and requires a separate heat source. Direct-burning incense, or "combustible incense", is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out, leaving an ember that smoulders and releases a smoky fragrance. Direct-burning incense is usually formed into a paste around a bamboo stick, or extruded into a stick or cone shape. Incense sticks are the most common type of incense and are the main form of incense in India.

When making an incense accord, it is important to first decide what kind of incense you want to create. For example, do you want a burned, smoky, fresh, or sweet incense?

If you want to create a burned incense accord, you can use extracts such as CO2 or resinoids, or specialty products like olibanum coeur or bois d'encens. For a smoky fragrance, you can use Fumencens, which is made by the destructive distillation of frankincense, or Choya Loban, which is a very smoky distillation of Boswellia serrata. To create a fresh incense accord, you can use citrus-based essential oils like lemon or orange, which offer a clean-smelling option. You can also use florals like rose or jasmine, which are common top notes. For a sweet incense accord, you can use vanilla, cherry, or other fruity fragrances like Wild Berry's Blueberry Blast incense sticks, which feature notes of wild blueberry and sweet green florals.

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Incense variations: oud, smoke, sandalwood, musk

When creating an incense accord, it is important to first decide on the type of incense you want to make. Do you want it to be burned incense, or perhaps a fresher or sweeter take? The type of wood you use will also make a difference, as well as the extraction method.

For a powerful diffusive incense accord, a combination of PEA, oranger crystals, and sandalore works well. You can also use tree resins, such as frankincense, which can be extracted through destructive distillation. Choya loban, for example, is a very smoky true destructive distillation, while Fumencens is far less smoky and is a controlled, partially destructive, lower-temperature, and high-pressure distillation.

For an incense accord with notes of oud, you can use Pell Wall's Incense Kit, which contains everything you need, including the formula. For a natural incense accord, Robertet's Bois de Encense is a good option. To create a woody base, you can use cedarwood and/or sandalwood, and then add incense and other ingredients like labdanum, oak moss, vanilla, and vetiver. If you want a more smoked wood scent, you can use vetiver as an alternative to patchouli. Musk is also indispensable for a nice incense accord.

Oud, smoke, sandalwood, and musk are all key ingredients or notes in various incense accords. Oud, or agarwood, is a type of wood that is often used in incense, and it has a sweet scent when heated on charcoal. Sandalwood is another type of wood that is commonly used in incense, known for its relaxing aroma and ability to induce a state of serenity and inner peace. Smoke is an important element in incense accords, with some types of incense, like Choya Loban, being known for their smoky notes. Musk, on the other hand, is a key ingredient in perfumery, providing a strong and pungent scent that can enhance the overall fragrance of the incense accord.

Frequently asked questions

Labdanum, cedarwood, frankincense, oak moss, vanilla, and vetiver are key ingredients for an incense accord.

Floropal, citruses, juniper, and peppercorn are good ingredients to create a green sharp top note.

Cedarwood and/or sandalwood can be used to create a woody base.

Some examples of an incense accord are PEA, oranger crystals, and sandalore.

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