Antonio Mcgowan
Incense sticks are used across various cultures and settings, from religious ceremonies to aromatherapy. They are a great way to add fragrance to your living space. Making perfumed incense sticks is a simple process that can be done in a few different ways. You can use essential oils, fragrance oils, or even make perfume from incense sticks using alcohol or oil. The process involves coating unscented incense sticks with your chosen scent, drying them, and then burning them to fill your space with fragrance.
How to make perfumed incense sticks
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Incense sticks, essential oils, dipropylene glycol, coconut oil, alcohol, coffee filter, spray bottle |
| Equipment | Container, graduated cylinder, spoon, mug, aluminium foil, coffee filter, spray bottle |
| Process | Break incense sticks into smaller pieces, add oil or alcohol, soak for a few months, filter, dry |
| Tips | Store in a dark, warm place, check regularly, use gloves when handling essential oils, use a narrow dish, use 20 drops of oil per stick |
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What You'll Learn
Using essential oils to scent blank sticks
Incense has been used for centuries to connect with spirituality and evoke relaxation. The use of incense can be described as a form of aromatherapy as the properties of the oil are inhaled to positively impact our health and wellness.
You can make incense sticks entirely from scratch, but using blank incense sticks and essential oils is a quicker and easier method.
Firstly, you should always wear gloves when working with undiluted essential oils as they can irritate your skin. Before you scent a large batch of incense sticks, it is a good idea to try out your blend on a single stick. To do this, simply apply up to 20 drops of essential oil directly to one incense stick. Make sure all sides of the stick soak up the oil. You can also coat your oil-soaked sticks with dipropylene glycol (DPG) to prevent them from giving off black smoke.
If you are making a small batch of 5 incense sticks, use 100 total drops of essential oil (around 4 ml). You can make lots of incense sticks at once and place them in a larger container if you are making a big batch.
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How to make perfumed incense sticks in small batches
To make perfumed incense sticks in small batches, you will need a few ingredients and materials. Firstly, decide on the fragrance you would like to create. You can use essential oils, such as sandalwood, pine, lavender, or cinnamon, or even fragrance oils that mimic designer perfumes or colognes. The choice is entirely yours!
Next, gather your materials. You will need a narrow dish, such as an olive tray, a graduated cylinder or a spoon for stirring, a mug, some plastic wrap, paper towels, and, of course, some blank incense sticks. If you want to avoid the potential toxins in standard blank incense sticks, opt for those made with joss/makko powder.
Now, for the fun part—creating your fragrance! If you're making a single incense stick, place it in your dish and drip about 20 drops of your chosen essential oil(s) directly onto the stick. Gently press the stick into the oil and let it absorb. If you're making a small batch of 5 incense sticks, you'll need about 100 drops (around 4 ml) of essential oil in total. You can mix and match different scents to create a fragrant blend, but be careful not to use too many oils, as you'll want enough drops of each to distribute over the length of the sticks. Once you've added your oils to the dish, gently stir them with a spoon.
Now it's time to add the blank sticks. Place 5 sticks into the dish and press gently so they absorb the oil. Leave the sticks to dry overnight (10-15 hours) in a mug. You can cover them with plastic wrap before leaving them overnight and then blot them with paper towels the next day. Your incense sticks are now ready to burn!
To enhance the performance of your incense sticks, you can coat them with dipropylene glycol (DPG). This will help your incense burn properly and reduce black smoke, and make the scent last longer. Simply pour the DPG into a tall bottle, dip each stick into it, and let them air-dry.
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Using alcohol to make perfume from incense sticks
To make perfume from incense sticks using alcohol, you'll first need to break the incense sticks into smaller pieces and place them in a jar. The number of incense sticks you use will depend on the desired strength of the perfume and the volume of alcohol you are using. For example, you could use two incense sticks for 100ml of alcohol. Next, cover the incense pieces with alcohol, seal the jar, and store it in a dark, warm place for at least a month or two. The alcohol will extract the fragrance from the incense sticks.
While the mixture is soaking, it's a good idea to check on it from time to time to see how the scent is developing. You can do this by testing a few drops on a piece of cloth and waiting a few minutes to see how it smells. It's important to note that the alcohol used will likely have a strong smell, but this will evaporate when applied, leaving only the incense scent.
Once you are happy with the fragrance, you can filter the mixture through a coffee filter and pour it into a spray bottle. Your incense stick perfume is now ready to use! However, be aware that some incense sticks contain dye, which may be transferred to the alcohol and could potentially stain light-coloured fabrics.
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How to make incense sticks in batches of 20-30 for a strong-smelling incense
To make incense sticks in batches of 20-30, you will need to prepare a mixture of fragrance oil, essential oil, or a combination of both, along with dipropylene glycol (DPG). The DPG helps the incense burn properly and reduces black smoke.
For a batch of 20-30 sticks, measure out 20ml (4 tsp) of DPG and 10ml (2 tsp) of fragrance oil into a rectangular box or dish that is long enough to fit your unscented sticks. If you prefer to use essential oils, each incense stick takes about 20 drops, so adjust the amount of oil accordingly. You can also use a combination of fragrance and essential oils, but be mindful that essential oils tend to be more expensive. Stir the mixture well with a glass rod or a disposable wooden stick to ensure the oil is evenly distributed in the DPG.
Once the mixture is ready, take your unscented incense sticks and dip them into the mixture. Alternatively, you can lay the sticks in your dish and drop the oil mixture onto them, gently pressing the sticks to help them absorb it. Allow the incense sticks to soak for 24 hours, then place them on a clean, dry surface to air dry for a full 24 hours.
Your incense sticks are now ready to light and enjoy! Remember to exercise caution when handling fragrance and essential oils, as they can be potent and may cause skin irritation. Always store incense sticks in a sealed bag to prolong their usability and prevent them from taking on unwanted scents.
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Common scents for incense include wood, herbal, and floral fragrances
Incense fragrances can be made from resins, barks, seeds, flowers, roots, leaves, and spices. Common scents for incense include wood, herbal, and floral fragrances.
Wood-based incense fragrances include cedar, sandalwood, and camphor. Sandalwood, in particular, is noted for its pleasant, woodsy scent, and its ability to create an atmosphere of serenity and calm. Japanese cedar is also said to have a calming effect, pulling the mind into a meditative state.
Herbal incense fragrances include lavender, patchouli, cinnamon, lemongrass, and vanilla. Lavender is known to promote relaxation and ease sleeping problems, while patchouli is said to be the "Great Masker", as it can conceal any unpleasant odours. Cinnamon is a spicy, zingy, and soft fragrance with notes of vanilla and fruit. It is a popular scent in the winter months, providing a sense of comfort and warmth. Lemongrass is an excellent natural insect repellent, and vanilla is often used to create a calming setting.
Floral fragrances include rose, jasmine, and orange blossom. Rose and jasmine are perfect for creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere, while orange blossom is a traditional Chinese incense scent used for happiness in marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need blank or unscented incense sticks, essential oils or fragrance oils, a narrow dish, and aluminium foil. If you want to make your incense sticks last longer and reduce black smoke, you will also need dipropylene glycol (DPG).
First, place a single blank incense stick in your dish and drip 20 drops of essential oil onto it. If you are using multiple oils, make sure you have enough drops of each to distribute over the length of the stick. Gently press the stick into the oil that collects in the dish so it absorbs it all. If you are making multiple incense sticks, measure out your oils in a graduated cylinder, or drip them directly into the dish and stir with a spoon. Then, place your blank sticks into the dish and press gently so they absorb the oil.
Your homemade incense sticks should be left to dry overnight (10-15 hours) before they are burned.
