Heidi Norton
Incense has been used for centuries in various cultures for spiritual and healing purposes, and you can easily make your own loose incense at home. Loose incense is considered the purest form of incense as it is just herbs with no additives, and you can create countless blends with different scents and properties. For example, rosemary is burned for its powerful cleansing and purifying properties, while lavender promotes peace, healing, love, happiness, and protection. You can make loose incense with dried herbs, resins, dried fruits, and essential oils, and burn it on a charcoal disc or use an oil burner.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried and ground herbs, resins, dried fruits, honey, fragrant oils, charcoal |
| Tools | Heat-safe dish, mixing bowl, food processor, mortar and pestle, cotton cloth, cardboard, wax paper, bamboo sticks |
| Methods | Charcoal, makko, mica, kneaded, oil burner |
| Herbs | Bitter: sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, thyme. Sweet: rose petals, lavender, yarrow flowers, fir needles, cinnamon |
| Resins | Frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood, sandalwood |
| Dried Fruits | Soak in red wine overnight |
| Preparation | Dry ingredients separately, mix, form into shapes or cones/sticks, allow to dry for a couple of weeks |
| Usage | Place sand and charcoal briquette in a heat-safe dish, light the briquette, wait 30 seconds, place incense on top |
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What You'll Learn
- Choosing your ingredients: dried and ground herbs, resins, dried fruit, honey, and charcoal
- Preparing your ingredients: soaking, blending, and mixing
- Shaping your incense: cones, balls, or sticks
- Drying your incense: turning every day or two, and keeping away from sunlight
- Burning your incense: using a charcoal disc or burner, and sand
Choosing your ingredients: dried and ground herbs, resins, dried fruit, honey, and charcoal
When making loose incense at home, you can use a variety of dried and ground herbs, resins, dried fruit, honey, and charcoal. Here are some tips for choosing and preparing your ingredients:
Dried and Ground Herbs
You can use a wide range of dried and ground herbs for your incense, such as sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, thyme, rose petals, lavender, yarrow flowers, fir needles, and cinnamon. When drying herbs, ensure they are completely dry before grinding them into a fine powder using a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle.
Resins
Resins are another popular choice for loose incense. They release strong aromas even when burned in larger chunks, so you don't need to powder them. However, if you want a finer consistency, you can freeze the resin first and then smash it with dried plant material. Be cautious when using resins, as too much can cause the incense to burn poorly or not at all, and it may leave a sticky residue.
Dried Fruit
Dried fruit can add a unique fragrance to your incense. Try using dried apricots, raisins, prunes, or orange zest. Before using fruit, it's recommended to soak them overnight in a heavy red wine to enhance the scent and act as a preservative. Then, blend the fruit with your loose incense mixture using a food processor or a mortar and pestle.
Honey
Honey is a versatile ingredient that can be used as a natural binder to form pellets from any dry mixture. It also adds a warm fragrance and acts as a preservative for dried fruit. When using honey, a little goes a long way, so add it sparingly to your mixture and knead well.
Charcoal
Charcoal discs or tablets are commonly used as a heat source for burning loose incense. They provide an even and long-lasting burn, making them ideal for extended incense-burning sessions. When using charcoal, ensure it is evenly heated before placing your incense on top. You can use tongs to handle the hot charcoal and place it in a bed of incense ash to regulate its heat and ensure a slow, even burn.
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Preparing your ingredients: soaking, blending, and mixing
Preparing your ingredients is a crucial step in making loose incense at home. Here is a step-by-step guide to soaking, blending, and mixing your ingredients:
Soaking:
Start by gathering your chosen ingredients, which may include dried fruits, resins, and herbs. If you plan to use dried fruits, it is recommended to soak them overnight in a liquid such as heavy red wine. This process helps to soften the fruit and release its aromatic compounds. After soaking, remember to drain the liquid before moving on to the next step.
Blending:
Once your ingredients are ready, it's time to blend them together. If you're using a food processor, simply add your drained dried fruit to the processor along with the other ingredients. You can experiment with different combinations of resins, dried herbs, and spices. It is suggested to use dried and ground herbs for about half of your mixture, including a variety of bitter and sweet herbs or roots. For bitter notes, consider sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, or rosemary. For sweeter notes, rose petals, lavender, and cinnamon can be excellent choices.
If you don't have a food processor, you can use a mortar and pestle to manually blend your ingredients. Combine small amounts of fruit and the incense mixture, mashing them together until you have a consistent blend. Repeat this process until all your mixture is blended.
Mixing:
Transfer your blended mixture to a mixing bowl. At this stage, you can add additional ingredients like honey to enhance the fragrance and act as a binding agent. Mix everything together thoroughly with your hands or a spoon. You can also add a small amount of distilled water or a fragrant hydrosol to adjust the consistency if needed.
Once your mixture is homogeneous, you can shape it into cones, sticks, or balls. If you're using sticks, make sure they are blank bamboo sticks without any additives. The shaping process can be done by hand or with a mould. Remember to let your creations dry for at least a couple of weeks, depending on your climate. Keep them away from sunlight and heat during this drying period.
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Shaping your incense: cones, balls, or sticks
Once you have your loose incense mixture, you can shape it into cones, balls, or sticks. Here is a step-by-step guide to shaping your incense:
Cones and Sticks
To make cones or sticks, you will need to add a binding agent to your loose incense mixture. A traditional binding agent is makko, which you can find in specialist shops. The amount of makko you will need depends on your mixture and climate; if your mixture does not contain any resins, you will need to add 10-25% of makko. However, if your mixture contains resins, you may need to add up to 80% makko. It is recommended to start with a small amount and adjust as needed. You can also add other binding agents, such as honey or prunes, to make your mixture more dough-like.
Once you have added your binding agent, you can shape your mixture into cones or roll it onto blank bamboo sticks. Leave your cones and sticks to dry for at least a couple of weeks, keeping them away from sunlight and heat. Sticks will dry faster than cones. You can tell if your cones are dry by examining the colour; if there is no difference between the centre and the outer edges, they are ready to be burned.
Balls
To make incense balls, you can use the "kneaded incense" method. This involves mixing your loose incense with a binding agent such as honey or prunes to create a dough-like consistency. You can then roll the mixture into pea-sized balls. This method produces incense with a long shelf life.
Burning Your Incense
To burn your incense, place a charcoal briquette or disc into a heat-safe dish and light it. If using a charcoal disc, wait until it turns grey before adding your incense. Alternatively, you can place a small amount of sand on top of the charcoal and then add your incense. Always be careful when burning charcoal, as it can reach temperatures of up to 1500°F.
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Drying your incense: turning every day or two, and keeping away from sunlight
The drying process for your homemade incense is crucial to ensure it burns effectively and evenly. After you've prepared your loose incense mixture, it's important to let it dry thoroughly before use. Here's a step-by-step guide to drying your incense:
Turning Every Day or Two:
Turning your incense mixture regularly is essential for even drying. Use a spoon or spatula to gently turn the mixture every day or two. This ensures that the moisture evaporates evenly and helps prevent the formation of mould or bacteria. By turning the mixture, you expose all parts of it to air, preventing the growth of any unwanted organisms.
Keeping Away from Sunlight:
Sunlight can cause your incense mixture to dry too quickly or unevenly, so it's best to keep it in a shaded area. Place your incense mixture in a cool, dry room, away from direct sunlight. A well-ventilated area is ideal, as it helps promote evaporation without the risk of overheating. Avoid placing it near heaters, stoves, or other heat sources that can affect the drying process.
Drying Time:
The drying time for your incense can vary depending on the ingredients used, climate, and humidity levels. In general, allow your incense to dry for at least several days and up to a couple of weeks. The mixture should feel dry to the touch and easily crumble or break apart. Remember to turn it regularly during the drying process to ensure even drying.
Storage During Drying:
While your incense is drying, store it in a safe place away from sunlight. You can use a cotton cloth, cardboard, wooden board, or wax paper to spread out the mixture. Cover it with a thin cloth or paper towel to keep dust and debris out while still allowing airflow. Ensure the storage area is free from strong odours that may be absorbed by the incense.
Testing for Doneness:
To check if your incense is dry enough, take a small amount and try to form it into a shape. If it holds its shape without being too crumbly or wet, it's likely ready for use. You can also try lighting a small amount to see how it burns. If it doesn't burn steadily, it may need more drying time or adjustments to the mixture.
Remember, the drying process is a crucial step in creating your own loose incense. By turning the mixture regularly, keeping it away from sunlight, and allowing it to dry thoroughly, you'll end up with a high-quality incense that burns evenly and releases a pleasant fragrance.
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Burning your incense: using a charcoal disc or burner, and sand
When burning loose incense, you can use a charcoal disc, an electric burner, or a candle warmer.
Using a Charcoal Disc
Charcoal discs are widely used as a heat source for burning loose incense. These discs are usually self-lighting and easy to ignite with a lighter or match. Once lit, they provide an even, long-lasting burn, making them ideal for extended incense-burning sessions.
To use a charcoal disc, place some sand in your incense dish or burner, and then place the disc on top. Light the disc and allow it to burn on its own for about 30 seconds or until it develops an even layer of gray ash. You can also use soil or rock salt as a base instead of sand. Then, add your loose incense. The resin will melt into the charcoal, releasing a fragrant smoke.
If you are using a charcoal burner, ensure that it has a screen to create a nook for the disc. If your burner does not have a screen, place sand, soil, or salt in the bottom of the vessel before placing the charcoal on top, as charcoal touching metal won't burn. Always use a heat-proof container, preferably metal, as other materials may break due to the high heat of the charcoal.
Using an Electric Burner or a Candle Warmer
If you don't have charcoal or prefer not to use it, you can use an electric incense burner or a candle warmer. These methods allow you to release the fragrance of the incense without the smoke and mess of charcoal burning. With an electric burner, you can place your incense blend directly into the bowl of the burner.
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Frequently asked questions
You can make loose incense with aromatic resins, dried and ground herbs, and plant materials. You can also add dried fruits to your loose incense mixture.
First, you need to blend your chosen ingredients. You can use a food processor or a mortar and pestle to do this. Then, you can form the incense into whatever shape you like. You can also roll the mixture onto blank bamboo sticks. After that, you need to leave your incense to dry for at least a couple of weeks, depending on the climate.
To burn loose incense, you will need to use a charcoal disc. Light the disc inside a heat-safe dish and wait until it is evenly hot. You can then sprinkle your loose incense onto the charcoal.
