Antonio Mcgowan
Incense has been used by countless generations across the world for healing, ceremonies, and cleansing. It is an inexpensive way to exercise your creativity and fill your home with wonderful, fragrant scents. You can make incense sticks, cones, pellets, or loose blends using natural resins, woods, and herbs. Powdered citrus peels, such as lemon, can also be used to make incense.
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What You'll Learn
Using lemon peel
Lemon peels can be used to make powdered incense. The process is simple and only requires one ingredient – lemon peel – and about 20 minutes of your time.
First, wash and dry the lemon. Use a peeler to peel off the coloured outer skin. Spread the zest pieces in a single layer on a plate and microwave on full power for around 5 minutes until they are crispy. Use a food processor or a mortar and pestle to grind the dried zests into a fine powder. Sift the powder through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any large pieces. Finally, place the fine powder into a small glass bottle or jar. The jar's lid can be left slightly ajar to allow the scent to permeate the room.
To burn the powdered incense, you will need to use a metal incense burner filled with white ash. Alternatively, you can burn the powder over a wax candle warmer.
Lemon peel incense can also be made by simmering on a stovetop. Put a handful of lemon peels in a saucepan with a cinnamon stick, a few cloves, and a half-inch to an inch of water. Add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar and, if desired, a few drops of essential oil. Simmer over a low flame for 1-2 hours. The vinegar will act as an air freshener, while the lemon, cinnamon, cloves, and oils will fill your home with a warm fragrance.
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$6.9
Adding fragrance oils
Incense has been used by almost every known civilization since the Stone Age, and is often used for creating aromatic spaces, religious ceremonies, and medicinal purposes. Making incense at home is a simple and inexpensive process that allows you to experiment with various fragrances.
When making lemon incense, you can use lemon peels to create powdered incense or opt for fragrance oils to make incense sticks. If you choose to make powdered incense, you will need to wash and dry the lemon peels, spread the zest pieces on a plate, and microwave them until they turn crispy. Next, use a food processor or mortar and pestle to grind the zests into a fine powder. You can then put the powder in a small glass bottle for storage.
If you prefer to make incense sticks, you will need to purchase pre-prepared, unscented sticks, along with your chosen fragrance oil and dipropylene glycol (DPG). DPG is a chemical that helps the incense burn properly and reduces black smoke. For a stronger scent, you can substitute the fragrance oil with essential oils.
To begin making the incense sticks, measure out 20ml (4 tsp) of DPG into a rectangular box or lipped dish that is long enough to fit your unscented sticks. Then, add 10ml (2 tsp) of your chosen fragrance oil to the mixture. Stir well, being careful to let any excess oil drip back into the box or dish. Finally, soak the unscented sticks in the mixture and allow them to dry.
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Making incense sticks
Lemon incense can be made using just one ingredient: lemon peel. Wash and dry the lemon, then use a peeler to remove the coloured outer skin. Spread the zest pieces on a plate and microwave until they are crispy. Use a food processor or mortar and pestle to grind the zest into a powder. This powder can then be used as incense.
If you want to make lemon incense sticks, you will need to buy pre-prepared, unscented sticks. You can then add your own fragrance. Dipropylene glycol (DPG) is a chemical that will help your incense burn properly and reduce black smoke. Measure out 20ml (4 tsp) of DPG into a rectangular box or lipped dish. Then, add 10ml (2 tsp) of your chosen fragrance oil (or essential oil) and dip your incense sticks into the liquid. Allow the sticks to air-dry on a rack for a few hours, then cover them in plastic wrap overnight. Blot them with clean paper towels the next day.
You can also make incense sticks by forming your mixture into a coarse powder or dough and adding a binding material and combustible material. Roll the mixture into balls or pellet shapes and place them on a flat-ridged surface covered with wax paper. Put the board inside a paper bag and leave the pellets to dry. Store the pellets in a glass container and leave for at least 48 hours before using.
When choosing a fragrance for your incense, it is important to consider the different notes that will make up your scent. Aromatic ingredients fall into three categories: top notes, middle notes, and base notes. Top notes are the scents you smell right away, but they disappear quickly. Middle notes are scents that you smell gradually, and they help to fill out the overall fragrance. Base notes are the most important ingredients, as they are the scents that last a long time. You can experiment with different combinations of scents to create your own unique fragrance.
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Using combustible materials
To make lemon incense, you can use lemon peels to create a powdered incense. Wash and dry the lemons, then use a peeler to remove the coloured outer skin. Spread the zest pieces on a plate and microwave until crispy. Use a food processor or mortar and pestle to grind the zest into a powder. Sift the powder with a fine-mesh strainer, then store it in a small glass bottle.
When making combustible incense, you will need to add a binding material and a combustible material to your incense mixture. Makko, a natural combustible material made from the bark of the Tabu-no-ki tree, is a popular choice. It is a powdered material that burns slowly but with high heat. The amount of Makko you add to your mixture will depend on the humidity of your environment and the amount of resins and woods in your blend. You can also use charcoal as a combustible base material.
To form your incense into cones or sticks, you can use a mould or shape it with your hands. If using a mould, press the white ash tightly with an ash press to create a flat surface, then place the mould in the centre. Pour the incense powder into the mould and pack it down. If shaping by hand, form the incense into a flat bottom, fat bottom, and skinny top, making each about 1-2 grams and 1.5 inches tall.
Once your incense is formed, let it sit overnight to allow the ingredients to blend. The next day, you can light one end and fan out the flame to allow it to burn continuously.
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Non-combustible incense
To make non-combustible lemon incense, you will need to create a mixture of fragrant materials, shape it into cones or pellets, and then heat it using charcoal, makko, or mica.
First, gather your ingredients. Fragrant materials commonly used in incense include cinnamon, frankincense, and sandalwood. You can also use herbs such as basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. Lemon incense can be made by using dried lemon peel, but be cautious as the limonene in lemon oil can release carcinogenic substances when burned. Be sure to dry the peel thoroughly and only use a small amount.
Next, mix and grind your ingredients into a powder using a mortar and pestle. You will need about 1.5 teaspoons of this herb mixture for each incense cone. If you are using ingredients like honey, add them after grinding the herbs. You will need about 1 tablespoon of water and 1-2 tablespoons of any other liquid ingredients.
Once you have a properly mixed batch of incense dough, shape it into cones. The easiest way to do this is to press the dough into a piping tip with a wide nozzle. Tap the tip on a table and use a toothpick to loosen the dough and slide it out. Place the cones on a tray or inside an open container and let them dry in a sunny spot for 1-2 days.
To burn your non-combustible incense, place it in a cup, bowl, or shell-shaped vessel filled with ash or sand. You can use a small piece of bamboo charcoal, makko, or a mica plate placed on top of the charcoal to heat your incense and release its fragrance.
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