Katrina Rosales
Burning loose leaf incense is an ancient ritual that spans every country and culture. Loose incense can be made from a variety of plants, combining resins, leaves, barks, flowers, and roots. The process of making loose incense is simple: choose a plant or combination of plants, dry them out, crush them up, and then burn them. Loose incense can be burned on a charcoal disc placed in a heat-proof dish, or it can be used in an oil diffuser with a candle or an electric diffuser. Burning loose incense can have spiritual, mental, and healing benefits, and it can also be used to purify the air, remove bad smells, and dehumidify a room.
How to make loose leaf incense:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried plants, resins, leaves, barks, flowers, roots, essential oils |
| Equipment | Fireproof charcoal burner dish, charcoal disc, charcoal/heat-resistant tongs, lighter/matches, oil diffuser, tealight candle |
| Method | Dry chosen plants, grind/crush into fine powder, burn on charcoal disc or with oil diffuser and candle |
| Safety | Keep well-ventilated, away from flammable objects, children, and pets |
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What You'll Learn
Choose your plant
Choosing the right plant is an important step in making loose leaf incense. The plant you choose will determine the aroma and the effect of the incense. Many herbs have antibacterial and antiviral properties, which can purify the air, remove bad odours, and dehumidify a room. They can also have a positive impact on your mental health, helping to reduce depression and anxiety, and aiding with sleep, eating, and digestion.
The first step is to decide on the plant or plants you want to use. You can use a single plant or a combination of plants. A popular combination is the Four Thieves blend, which is said to have been used by thieves in the 15th century to protect themselves while robbing the homes of those who had succumbed to the plague. The blend includes lavender flowers, rosemary, thyme leaves, sage, peppermint leaf, and red sandalwood powder. Other popular plants include bay leaves, mugwort, and white sage leaves.
When choosing your plant, it is important to consider the safety of burning it. Some plants may be toxic or dangerous to burn, so be sure to research your chosen plant thoroughly before proceeding. You should also be cautious of where you place your burning incense, ensuring it is in a well-ventilated area, away from anything that could be easily disturbed or knocked over, and out of reach of children and pets.
Once you have chosen your plant, you will need to dry it out. This can be done in an oven, a dehydrator, or by hanging the plant to dry. If you are using an oven or dehydrator, be sure to follow the instructions for your appliance to ensure the plant is dried effectively.
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Dry your plant
Drying your plants is a crucial step in making loose-leaf incense. This process ensures that the plants are preserved and can be burned effectively. Here are some detailed instructions on how to dry your plants:
The first step is to choose the plants you want to use for your incense. You can select a single plant type or create a combination of different plants to achieve your desired aroma. It is important to ensure that the plants you choose are safe to burn. Once you have made your selection, gather the plants and rinse them gently to remove any dirt or impurities. Shake off any excess water, or pat them dry with a paper towel.
The next step is to decide on a drying method. There are several options available:
- Oven drying: Spread the plants out on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Preheat your oven to its lowest temperature setting, usually around 170-200°F (80-95°C). Place the tray in the oven and keep the oven door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape. Check on the plants regularly until they are completely dry. This method is suitable for flowers, leaves, and herbs.
- Dehydrator: If you have a food dehydrator, you can use it to dry your plants. Follow the instructions for your specific model, as temperature settings and timings may vary. Dehydrators are great for drying herbs, fruits, and vegetables.
- Air drying: This method involves hanging the plants upside down in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area. Secure the plants with string or rubber bands and leave them until they are completely dry. Air-drying is a gentle process and is suitable for flowers, leaves, and herbs.
- Silica gel: Silica gel is a desiccant that absorbs moisture from the plants. Place the plants in an airtight container with silica gel packets or beads. Leave them until the plants are fully dried. This method is useful for delicate flowers and herbs.
Regardless of the drying method you choose, ensure that the plants are completely dry before proceeding to the next step. Drying times may vary depending on the plant type and the method used. Once dried, your plants will be brittle and ready for the next stage of the incense-making process.
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Crush your plant
Once you have selected the plant or plants you want to use, you need to dry them out. This can be done in an oven, a dehydrator, or by hanging them. If you are using an oven or a dehydrator, be sure to follow the instructions for your appliance.
After your plants are dried out, it's time to crush them. You can use a mortar and pestle to do this, or an electric grinder. If you are using a mortar and pestle, simply grind the herbs until they reach a fine consistency. If you are using an electric grinder, transfer the herbs to a glass bowl after grinding and use a small wire whisk to combine.
If you don't have access to a mortar and pestle or an electric grinder, you can try shredding small amounts of the dried plants in your hands and then rolling or smooshing them into a ball. This method works especially well with mugwort. Alternatively, you can tear up dried mugwort or white sage leaves with your hands until they reach a fluffy consistency. From there, you can form the plant material into little cakes that can be burned.
Crushing and grinding the plants is an important step in making loose leaf incense, as it increases the surface area of the plant material. This helps the plants burn more efficiently and ensures that their fragrance is released effectively when burned.
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Burn your plant
Burning loose incense is an ancient ritual that spans every country and culture. It is a wonderful way to create transformation, clear energies, and anchor your mind in meditation. Loose incense is made from a variety of plants, combining resins, leaves, barks, flowers, and roots. These plants are either kept whole or ground together to create aromatic incense for ceremonial burning.
To burn your plant of choice, first, prepare your space. Set up an altar or a sacred space in your home with items that create magic in your life, such as crystals, plants, artwork, essential oils, and talismans. Ensure that your space is well-ventilated and that your burning area is heat-proof and fire-safe, away from flammable objects, and out of reach of children and pets.
Next, prepare your plant. Choose a plant or a combination of plants that you want for your incense, ensuring that what you select is safe to burn. Dry out your plant(s) in an oven, a dehydrator, or by hanging them. Once dried, crush or grind your plant material into a fine powder.
Now, you are ready to burn your plant. Place a layer of sand and/or ash, about 2 inches deep, in a heat-proof dish. Then, place a charcoal disc or tablet in the centre of the dish. Light the edge of the charcoal until you see the firelighter inside sparkle or the edges turn grey. Be cautious when lighting the charcoal, as inhaling fumes from the wrong type of charcoal can be dangerous.
Finally, sprinkle a small amount of your loose incense directly onto the charcoal. You can use charcoal tongs to protect your hands and to push away any burnt plant material when you want to add more. Your loose incense will begin to burn and produce smoke. Enjoy the aroma and the ancient ritual of burning loose incense!
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Use a heat-proof dish
To burn loose leaf incense, you will need a heat-proof dish, also known as a fireproof charcoal incense burner dish. This can be made from ceramic or cast iron. You should prepare the area where you plan to burn the incense, ensuring that the surface underneath the dish is fire-safe and well-ventilated. It is also important to keep the dish away from pets, children, and anyone else who may be sharing the space with you.
You will then need to place a layer of sand and/or ash at the bottom of the heat-proof dish. This step is important as it insulates the charcoal tablet or disc, which is placed on top of the sand or ash. The charcoal tablet or disc should be lit around the edges until the firelighter inside sparks. You can also use a bay leaf instead of a charcoal disc. The edges of the charcoal disc will turn grey when it is ready for the loose incense.
Once the charcoal is burning, you can sprinkle a small amount of loose incense on top of it. You can pinch the incense between your fingers, taking time to select a variety of ingredients. Be mindful that adding too much incense at once can create a lot of smoke. You can keep adding more incense once the previous pinch has burned. Use tongs to push away any burnt herbs if you want to start burning a different blend. It is important to never touch an ignited charcoal tablet or disc with your bare hands.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning loose incense is an ancient ritual that spans every country and culture across the world. Loose incense can be used to purify the air, removing bad smells, bacteria, and mould spores, and can also be used to dehumidify a room.
The process is simple. First, find the plant or plants you want, then dry them out. Next, crush the plants into a fine powder. Finally, burn the crushed plants on a charcoal disc or in an oil diffuser.
You can use a variety of plants, combining resins, leaves, barks, flowers, and roots. Some plants with aromatic properties include lavender, rosemary, thyme, sage, peppermint, and red sandalwood powder.
You will need a fireproof charcoal incense burner dish, a charcoal disc, charcoal tongs, a lighter or match, and loose incense of your choosing. You may also need sand and/or ash to place at the bottom of your heat-safe dish to insulate the charcoal tablet.
