Seamus Hammond
Incense is an ancient tradition that has been used for centuries in rituals, religious ceremonies, and cleansing practices. It is made from fragrant materials like herbs, resins, and woods. Lavender is a popular herb for incense because of its calming and restorative properties. To make your own lavender incense at home, you will need dried lavender, which you can buy or grow yourself, and a few other ingredients and tools.
How to make lavender incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Lavender, makko powder, distilled water |
| Tools | Mortar and pestle, conical mold, bowl, mixing utensil, toothpick, piping tip, coffee grinder |
| Steps | 1. Crush dried lavender into a fine powder. 2. Mix in makko powder. 3. Add distilled water to form a dough. 4. Mold into cones. |
| Safety | Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area. Keep away from flammable objects and skin. Do not leave lit incense unattended. |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your ingredients: lavender, makko powder, distilled water
Lavender incense can be made using dried lavender, makko powder, and distilled water.
Lavender is a popular herb used in incense for its calming and relaxing scent. You can use either home-grown or store-bought lavender. Ensure that the lavender is completely dried before using it to make incense.
Makko powder, also known as tabu-no-ki, is derived from the bark of the Thunberi tree. It serves as a natural binding agent and helps the incense burn slowly and evenly. Makko powder has virtually no scent of its own, allowing the lavender fragrance to shine through. When combined with water, it forms a dough-like consistency that can be moulded into cones or sticks.
Distilled water is a type of purified water that has been boiled, steamed, and returned to its liquid state through condensation. It is free of impurities, minerals, bacteria, and other contaminants commonly found in tap water. Using distilled water in incense-making ensures that the final product burns cleanly and safely.
When choosing your ingredients, opt for high-quality, ethically sourced materials. The ratio of lavender to makko powder is important, typically using a 1:3 ratio of lavender to makko powder. This means, for every teaspoon of lavender, you would use three teaspoons of makko powder.
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Preparing your herbs: drying, crushing, and mixing
Preparing your herbs is a crucial step in making lavender incense. Here is a detailed guide on drying, crushing, and mixing your herbs:
Drying Your Herbs:
Start by gathering your herbs. You can use store-bought or home-grown lavender for this process. If you are using freshly grown lavender, ensure you dry it thoroughly before making your incense. Incomplete drying may result in improper burning. You can buy dried lavender herbs online or from local health food stores.
Crushing Your Herbs:
Once your herbs are dried, it's time to crush them into a fine powder. This can be done using a mortar and pestle or a clean coffee grinder. The finer the powder, the better your incense will hold together and burn. It's important to note that some herbs may be more challenging to crush than others and may not result in a perfectly smooth powder. That's okay! Just ensure you crush them as finely as possible.
Mixing Your Herb Powder:
Now, you'll need to mix your crushed lavender herb powder with a binding agent to help your incense hold its shape and burn slowly. Makko powder, derived from the bark of the Thunberi or Machillus tree, is an excellent natural choice for this. It is also known as incense powder and can be replaced with cedarwood powder, sandalwood powder, or powdered charcoal if unavailable. Mix your herb powder with the binding agent using a ratio of 1:3 (one teaspoon of binding powder for every three teaspoons of herb powder). Once combined, slowly introduce distilled water, a few drops at a time, until a dough-like consistency is achieved.
Your lavender herb mixture is now ready to be moulded into cones or sticks, depending on your preference. You can shape cones by pressing the mixture into a piping tip or using small conical moulds. For sticks, you can purchase pre-made, unscented incense sticks and apply your mixture to them.
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Binding agents: makko, cedarwood, or sandalwood powder
Makko powder, also known as incense powder, is made from the bark of the Machillus or Tabu-no-ki tree. It is a natural combustible material that burns slowly but with high heat, making it ideal for use as a binding agent in incense. When combined with water, it forms a dough that can be moulded into cones or sticks. The ratio of makko powder to herbs should be 1:3 (for example, one teaspoon of makko powder for every three teaspoons of herbs).
If you can't find makko powder, you can use cedarwood powder, sandalwood powder, or powdered charcoal as a substitute. Cedarwood and sandalwood powders are made from the wood of the cedar and sandalwood trees, respectively. Like makko powder, they can be combined with water to form a dough that can be moulded into cones or sticks. The ratio of cedarwood or sandalwood powder to herbs may vary, but a good starting point is the same 1:3 ratio recommended for makko powder.
When working with these binding agents, it's important to introduce distilled water slowly, a few drops at a time, until the desired dough consistency is achieved. This dough can then be moulded into cones or sticks, depending on your preference. To create cones, you can use a small conical mould or even a piping tip with a wide nozzle. For sticks, you can purchase pre-made, unscented incense sticks and apply your scented dough to them.
In addition to their binding properties, cedarwood and sandalwood powders contribute their own unique aromas to the incense. Cedarwood has a fresh, woody scent with a hint of sweetness, while sandalwood offers a richer, earthier fragrance with subtle floral notes. These scents can enhance the overall aroma of your lavender incense and create a more complex, layered fragrance.
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Shaping your incense: cones, sticks, or pellets
Shaping your incense into cones, sticks, or pellets is a fun and creative process. Here is a detailed guide to help you get started:
Cones
To shape your incense into cones, you can use a piping tip, similar to those used for frosting. Choose a piping tip with a wide nozzle to make the process easier. Simply press the incense mixture into the piping tip, using a toothpick to create a hole in the centre of the cone, which will help it burn better. Gently tap the tip on a table and use the toothpick to loosen the sides before removing the cone. You can also shape the cones by hand, using a teaspoon-sized amount of the incense mixture and rolling it into a cone shape. Place the cones on parchment paper and let them dry for at least 12 hours, turning them over halfway through. The longer they dry, the better they will burn.
Sticks
To form incense sticks, you can use makko (also known as tabu), which is derived from the bark of the tabu-no-ki or Thunberi tree. Makko is a natural combustible material that is water-soluble, making it perfect for forming incense sticks. First, let your loose incense mixture sit overnight to allow the ingredients to blend. Then, add the makko and distilled water to the mixture, and form the incense into stick shapes. You can also use other natural binders like guar gum powder, marshmallow root powder, or honey.
Pellets
Incense pellets are a great option, especially if you want to use soft gummy resins like elemi, galbanum, or labdanum. To make pellets, grind your dry ingredients into coarse granules and combine them in a bowl. Slowly add honey to bind the mixture, and knead it until it forms a dough. Pinch off small pieces and roll them into pea-sized pellets. Place the pellets on a board covered with wax paper and let them dry. Once dry, store the pellets in a sealed unglazed ceramic or glass jar for at least 48 hours. You can also use dried fruit, such as raisins or dried apricots, as a natural binder for your pellets.
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Burning your incense: safety precautions and best practices
To make lavender incense, you can use either store-bought or home-grown lavender. If you're using home-grown lavender, make sure it's thoroughly dried before making incense, otherwise, it may not burn properly. Once you have your dried lavender, crush it into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. The finer the powder, the better your incense will hold together and the cleaner it will burn. Next, mix in makko powder, which serves as a binding agent and helps ensure a slow, even burn. Use a 1:3 ratio when mixing makko powder and lavender powder (for example, one teaspoon of makko powder for every three teaspoons of lavender powder). Slowly add distilled water to the powder mixture, a few drops at a time, until a dough forms. Finally, mould your cones by placing approximately half a teaspoon of the dough into a small conical mould.
Now that you've made your lavender incense, here are some safety precautions and best practices to follow when burning it:
- Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area. While it's important to have fresh air circulating, you don't need to keep windows wide open, especially during cold seasons. Briefly airing out the room once or twice a day while burning incense can be sufficient.
- Keep incense away from drafty areas, such as open doors and windows, as strong drafts can blow burning incense over and cause a fire.
- Never leave burning incense unattended. Falling ash from incense can be a fire hazard, and the risk increases if left unattended.
- Place incense on a heat-resistant surface, such as ceramic tiles or trivets. Incense bowls or burners can become very hot and cause damage or injury if not properly insulated.
- Keep incense away from flammable objects, such as curtains, lampshades, drapes, rugs, towels, clothes, etc. Falling embers or toppling sticks can easily start a fire if they come into contact with flammable materials.
- Be careful not to brush against the glowing tip of an incense cone or stick as it can burn your skin and damage your clothing.
- Make sure all incense is completely extinguished and cool to the touch before discarding it. Even after it's been extinguished, it may take some time for the incense to cool down completely.
- Keep both lit and unlit incense out of the reach of small children and pets. The curious nature of children and pets can lead to accidental burns or fires. Additionally, the smoke from incense can be irritating and harmful to their health.
- If you're pregnant, nursing, asthmatic, or have respiratory issues or other medical conditions, consult a physician before burning incense. Some studies suggest that hazardous particulate matter and VOCs produced from burning incense can be dangerous to respiratory health.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need dried lavender, makko powder, and distilled water.
You will need a mortar and pestle, a small conical mould, and a toothpick.
First, crush the lavender into a fine powder using the mortar and pestle. Next, mix in the makko powder using a 1:3 herb-to-powder ratio. Then, add distilled water to the mixture until a dough forms. Finally, place half a teaspoon of the dough into your mould and pack it down with the toothpick.
