Seamus Hammond
Burning incense has been a tradition for thousands of years, with a history of creating sacred spaces, uplifting intentions, and even addressing bad odours. Incense is usually made from a variety of materials, including herbs, flowers, resins, oils, and woods. The process of making incense at home is simple and can be done in various forms, such as cones, sticks, bundles, or loose powder. This article will focus on the steps to make mint incense in the form of cones.
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What You'll Learn
- Choosing your ingredients: peppermint, lavender, sage, and other herbs
- Preparing flowers and herbs: cutting stems, removing leaves, and assembling
- Binding your incense: using cotton twine or makko powder
- Shaping your incense: using a piping cone and a toothpick
- Drying and storing: leaving incense to dry for 1-2 days, then storing in an airtight container
Choosing your ingredients: peppermint, lavender, sage, and other herbs
When making mint incense, you can use a variety of ingredients to create a unique and personalised fragrance. Here are some ideas for choosing your ingredients, focusing on peppermint, lavender, sage, and other herbs:
Peppermint
Peppermint is a hybrid herb, a cross between water mint and spearmint, giving it a rare sweetness to its scent and taste. It has a refreshing, cooling, and minty aroma, with a subtle sweetness that makes it less sharp than pure mint. Peppermint incense is becoming popular in spiritual communities, as it is believed to reduce tension, relax the mind, and keep spirits high. It is also a natural insect repellent, ideal for removing pests like mosquitoes without causing harm.
Lavender
Lavender is a versatile herb that can be used fresh or dried. It has a calming and soothing fragrance, making it perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere. Lavender is often associated with reducing anxiety and promoting sleep, so it can be an excellent choice for bedtime incense.
Sage
Sage is a common herb used in incense, known for its aromatic properties. It has a strong, earthy scent that can be used alone or combined with other herbs. Sage is often used in smudging rituals to cleanse and purify spaces, making it ideal for removing negative energy and bringing a sense of freshness to your environment.
Other Herbs
In addition to the main ingredients above, you can experiment with various other herbs to create unique fragrance profiles. Some options include rosemary, thyme, eucalyptus, and even flowers like roses. Each herb will contribute its distinct scent, allowing you to craft incense that suits your personal preferences or desired effects.
Remember to choose high-quality, organic ingredients whenever possible to ensure a pure and natural fragrance. Dried herbs are readily available, but you can also dry your own by bundling them together and hanging them upside down in a cool, dry place for a few weeks.
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Preparing flowers and herbs: cutting stems, removing leaves, and assembling
To make mint incense, you'll need to prepare the flowers and herbs by cutting the stems, removing the leaves, and assembling them into a bundle. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Start by cutting the stems of your chosen herbs and flowers to the desired length. The herb stems should be cut to about six inches in length, while the flower stems can be shorter, ranging from three to six inches. This length ensures a good proportion for your incense bundle.
- Remove the leaves from the flowers. This step helps create a neat bundle and secures the flowers in place.
- Now, it's time to assemble your flowers and herbs. Start by placing the herbs with large leaves at the base of your bundle. This creates a natural bed for the flowers to rest on, keeping them secure.
- Layer the flowers on top of the herbs. Arrange them neatly, ensuring they are facing the same direction as the herbs, with stems at one end and flowers or leaves at the opposite end.
- Cut a long piece of cotton string or twine. The string should be about five to eight times longer than your bundle. This length ensures you have enough string to tie the bundle securely.
- Place your bundle on top of the string, with the stems towards one end. Tie the string tightly around the stem area to secure the entire bunch together. Leave about three inches of the cotton string untied towards the shorter side of the bunch.
- Secure the bottom of the bundle by tying the string in the opposite direction, moving from the longer end towards the shorter end. This ensures that the bundle is securely held together.
- Now, your bundle of herbs and flowers is ready to be hung upside down to dry. Find a cool spot with good air circulation and hang the bundle on a cloth hanger or a similar hanging mechanism.
- Allow the bundle to dry for approximately 2-3 weeks. The drying process is crucial, as it ensures that your incense burns effectively and releases its fragrance optimally.
By following these steps, you will have prepared the flowers and herbs for your mint incense, creating a beautiful and fragrant natural product.
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Binding your incense: using cotton twine or makko powder
Makko is a natural combustible material derived from the bark of the Tabu-no-ki tree, which grows in parts of Asia. It is a powdered material that burns slowly but with high heat. It is also a binder that acts as a glue to hold the incense together in the shape you choose. The amount of Makko to add to a mixture depends on the humidity in your area and the amount of resins and woods in the recipe.
To bind your incense using Makko powder, start by creating a loose incense mixture. You can do this by mixing 4 teaspoons of your favourite-smelling combustible, such as sandalwood, patchouli, lavender, or pine, with 1 teaspoon of Makko powder and 1/2 teaspoon of clove or cinnamon in a mortar. You can use any herb that you think smells good. You can also add resin, which will give your incense a powerful aroma. The resin should be about 1/3 of the whole mix or less. Grind the mixture until it becomes a fine powder.
Once you have created your loose incense mixture, add a small amount of liquid, such as distilled water, to make the mixture mouldable. When mixed with water, Makko reacts similarly to dough and becomes sticky, allowing you to shape your incense into cones or sticks. Cover your workspace with wax paper or foil, pour out your incense mixture, and add water. Pinch off bits of the mixture and shape them into your desired form.
Let your shaped incense dry overnight. The middle may still be moist, so rotate them when you check on them a few hours later. Your incense may break when drying if it does not have enough Makko, as this is the main binder. If your cones break, you can gently lay plastic over the next batch so they will lose moisture slowly.
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Shaping your incense: using a piping cone and a toothpick
To shape your mint incense, you'll need a piping cone and a toothpick. You can use an old piping cone tip for frosting, with a conical tip that acts as a mould for your incense mixture. The smaller the piping cone, the better.
First, press the mixture into the piping cone, using your fingers to shape it and ensure it is compact. Then, take your toothpick and make a hole in the centre of the cone. This will help the incense burn better. Tap the piping cone hard on a table 3-4 times to loosen the cone from the sides. You can also tap the tip on the table several times to begin with, to help loosen the mixture. Next, use the toothpick to slide around the edges of the piping cone, helping to push the incense cone out. Set the cone aside on a firm, dry surface. Repeat this process until you have used up all of your incense mixture.
You can also shape your incense by taking a teaspoon-sized amount of the mixture and rolling and shaping it with your fingers. However, the piping cone method will result in a more uniform shape and will help the incense burn more evenly.
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Drying and storing: leaving incense to dry for 1-2 days, then storing in an airtight container
After shaping your mint incense cones, it is important to let them dry before storing them. Place the cones on a tray or inside an open container in a sunny spot, such as on the dashboard of your car, and leave them to dry for 1-2 days. This step is crucial, as incense that is not completely dry may not burn properly. If you are unsure if your incense is dry, you can test one before storing the rest.
Once your mint incense cones are completely dry, it is important to store them in an airtight container. This is especially important if your incense mixture contains honey, as honey is a humectant and can attract moisture, impacting the burning of your incense. Choose a storage container made of paper, metal, or glass, ensuring it has an airtight seal.
When storing your mint incense, consider creating a ""handmade corner" in your home. This peaceful ritual space can be dedicated to the silent, intentional storage and usage of your handmade goods, including your mint incense. You can also create a travelling incense box using an upcycled matchbox or mint tin, allowing you to easily transport your mint incense wherever you go.
Always remember to take precautions when burning your mint incense. Keep it away from small children and pets, and never leave it unattended. Burn your incense in a well-ventilated area, on a non-flammable surface, and ensure that it is completely extinguished and cool before discarding. If you have any respiratory issues or other medical conditions, consult a physician before burning incense.
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Frequently asked questions
Burning incense emits volatile organic compounds that can irritate lungs. One study found that burning incense indoors was more toxic than burning cigarettes. If you have respiratory issues, it is advised not to use incense.
You can use dried aromatic herbs such as peppermint, lavender, sage, and sweetgrass. You can also use resins, oils, and woods.
First, gather your dried herbs and crush them into a powder. Then, mix in makko powder, which serves as a binding agent and helps the incense burn slowly. Soak 10 incense sticks in the mixture for 24 hours. Air-dry the sticks for approximately 24 hours. Repeat the process for two more batches.
Mix your ground herbs with a base such as clove, pine, or sandalwood, a binder such as guar gum, and water. Shape the mixture into cones using a piping tip. Dry the cones in the sun for 1-2 days, then store them in an airtight container.
Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area away from drafts. Keep it away from children and pets, and never leave it unattended. Use a heat-resistant surface such as ceramic and ensure all incense is completely extinguished before discarding.
