Anisha Riggs
Pine resin incense is a fun and easy DIY project that can be done at home. The process involves collecting pine resin or sap, which can be found on the ground below pine trees or by cutting a small slash in the trunk. The resin is then combined with various dry ingredients such as herbs, spices, and other resins to create a dough-like mixture. This mixture is rolled into balls or coins and dried, resulting in incense that can be burned to purify and uplift the spirit, invoking the power and presence of nature. With just a few simple steps and easily accessible ingredients, anyone can make their own pine resin incense at home.
How to Make Pine Resin Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Pine resin, coriander seed, usnea, calamus root, wood betony, orange peel, soloman's seal root, cat's claw, dried acorn shell, marshmallow root powder, honey, water, dried fruit soaked in wine, charcoal powder, white copal, pine sawdust, charcoal briquette |
| Preparation | Collect pine resin from the ground or by cutting a small slash in the trunk of a pine tree. If the resin is hard, heat it to liquefy it. Mix in dry ingredients to form a dough. Form into balls or coin shapes. Dry in the sun or in a low-heat oven. |
| Benefits | Pine resin has an uplifting aroma and is healing for the respiratory system. |
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What You'll Learn
Collecting pine resin
Finding the Right Pine Tree: Look for a mature pine tree with low branches that have fallen off or been cut. You can also keep an eye out for a pine tree that is naturally oozing resin. This is the tree's way of healing its wounds, so make sure to respect the tree by leaving a nice layer of sap intact.
Collecting the Resin: If you see a dripping ooze of sap, you can use a container and a fork to scrape off large chunks. Be prepared for the resin to be sticky and gooey. Alternatively, you can make a small slash in the trunk with a knife, which will cause a gummy substance to ooze out. Try using a fallen leaf to "grab" the resin and tie it with a thread to avoid getting it on your fingers. Only collect hard resin, as soft, sticky sap will be difficult to work with.
Preparing the Resin: If the collected resin is very dry and hard or contaminated with bark debris, you can render it by slowly heating it in a dedicated pot to liquefy it. This will make it easier to work with. If you prefer a more solid resin, you can place it in the freezer for a few hours to make it brittle and easier to crush into a powder.
Storing the Resin: Before using the resin to make incense, you may want to store it appropriately. One creative way to store it is by placing it in a cigar box on a bed of salt. The salt will help dehydrate the sap, making it firmer and less sticky over time.
By following these steps, you can collect and prepare pine resin as a base for your incense-making process. Remember to be mindful of the tree's well-being and only collect what you need, leaving enough sap for the tree's healing process.
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Preparing the dough
To prepare the dough for pine resin incense, start by gathering your ingredients. You can collect pine resin from the ground under pine trees or by cutting a small slash in the trunk of a mature pine tree for resin to ooze out. If you choose the latter, be mindful that the resin is serving the important purpose of shielding a wound or potential infection point. Be sure to leave a nice layer of sap on the tree to ensure many more years of harvest. You can also purchase commercial resins such as frankincense or myrrh. To make the resin easier to crush, place the pieces in the freezer for a few hours until they become brittle.
For your dry ingredients, you can use a variety of herbs, including bitter herbs like sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, and thyme, or sweet herbs like rose petals, lavender, yarrow flowers, fir needles, and cinnamon. You can also use powdered white copal or very fine sawdust from the branches of the pine tree itself.
Once you have your ingredients, it's time to start preparing the dough. If your resin is very dry and hard, you can render it in a dedicated pot by slowly heating it until it liquefies. If your resin is soft and tacky, you can start incorporating your dry ingredients. Crush or grind your resin and herbs separately or together, depending on your preference. Make sure your ingredients are well combined, and add a little binder—such as honey, water, or dried fruit soaked in wine—to help everything stick together. You want a stiff, dough-like mixture that is crumbly but will hold together when squeezed.
Now it's time to shape your incense. Roll your mixture into pea-sized balls or form them into thick, coin-shaped pieces. You can roll the incense in more powdered herbs, charcoal powder, or salt to keep them from sticking and to add colour or additional aroma. Place your incense on a ceramic plate or parchment paper to dry. Allow them to dry for at least several days and up to a couple of weeks, turning them every day or two to ensure even drying. You can also dry them further in a low-heat oven or the sun. Your pine resin incense is now ready to burn!
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Adding herbs
Choosing the Right Herbs:
Select a variety of dried and ground herbs to use as about half of your incense mixture. Aim for a balance of bitter and sweet herbs or roots. Examples of bitter herbs include sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, and rosemary. Sweet herb options can be rose petals, lavender, cinnamon, or orange peel. You can also add crushed pine needles to enhance the woodsy scent.
Preparing the Herbs:
Grind your chosen herbs into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle. The powder will ensure the herbs mix evenly with the resin and help prevent clumping. You can also make a herbal tea by infusing the herbs in hot water, straining, and then using the tea as a binder for your mixture.
Incorporating the Herbs:
Start by crushing or pulverizing your pine resin into smaller pieces. The resin may soften, but the herbs will help absorb moisture and prevent stickiness. Gradually blend in the powdered herbs, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the resin. You can also roll small chunks of resin in bowls of powdered herbs, coating them thoroughly. The goal is to have the herbs incorporated into the centre of the resin ball, creating a "nutty truffle" effect.
Drying and Storing:
Once you've formed your incense mixture into the desired shape (balls, cones, or coins), allow them to dry thoroughly. This can take several days to a couple of weeks, depending on the humidity. Turn them occasionally to ensure even drying. To store your incense, place them on a bed of salt in an airtight container, such as a cigar box. The salt will help absorb any remaining moisture, keeping your incense firm and less gooey.
Feel free to experiment with different herbs and resin ratios to create your unique blends. Remember to make notes of your favourite combinations so you can recreate them!
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Binding the mixture
To bind the mixture, you can use a variety of ingredients, such as honey, water, or dried fruit soaked in wine. You can also use a tea made from marshmallow root powder, as this will help to bind the mixture while also adding a unique flavour. It is important to only add a small amount of binder to your mixture, as too much will prevent it from burning properly.
The ideal consistency for your mixture is stiff and dough-like. It should be crumbly when left alone but stick together when squeezed. If your mixture is too sticky, you can add more powdered herbs to balance it out. Conversely, if your mixture is too dry, you can add a small amount of water or other binder to help it stick together.
When forming your incense, roll your mixture into pea-sized balls. You can then roll these balls in more powdered herbs or charcoal powder to add flavour and colour. If your incense is still too soft, it may not hold its shape and could combine into a large mess in your container. To prevent this, make sure your incense is firm and dry before placing it in storage.
To dry your incense, place it on a ceramic plate or a piece of parchment paper and leave it to dry for at least several days, or up to a couple of weeks depending on the humidity of your climate. Turn your incense every day or two to ensure that it dries evenly. Once it is completely dry, you can burn it by placing it on a bed of sand in your incense dish and lighting it with a charcoal briquette.
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Drying and storing
Once you've made your pine resin incense mixture, it's important to allow it to dry thoroughly before storing it. Place the incense balls on a ceramic plate or a piece of parchment paper and leave them to air dry for at least several days, and up to a couple of weeks, depending on the humidity of your climate. Turn them every day or two to ensure even drying. If you're using a binder like honey, water, or dried fruit soaked in wine, be aware that it can take longer to dry.
If you're using a soft and tacky sap, you might want to dry it further before storage. You can do this in a low-heat oven or by placing it in the sun. You can also place them on a bed of salt, which will help to dehydrate the sap and make them firmer and less gooey over time.
Once your incense is dry, you can store it in a container. A cigar box or an old incense tin works well. If you're using a container with a loose-fitting lid, like a cigar box, you can place a layer of salt at the bottom of the box to help keep the incense dry. You can also store them in a paper bag or wrapped in parchment paper to help absorb any remaining moisture.
Be sure to store your incense in a cool, dry place. Exposure to heat or moisture can cause your incense to become soft and lose its shape. If you're using a container with a tight-fitting lid, like a jar or tin, consider adding a desiccant packet to help absorb any excess moisture.
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Frequently asked questions
You can collect pine resin by cutting a small slash in the trunk of a mature pine tree. A gummy substance will ooze out, which you can collect with a leaf and thread. If you do not want to cut into the tree, you can look out for a pine tree that is naturally oozing resin or collect the resin from the ground below the tree.
If your resin is soft and tacky, you can directly mix and incorporate dry ingredients such as herbs and spices. If your resin is hard, you can render it in a dedicated pot by heating it at low temperatures to liquefy it.
You can use a variety of bitter and sweet herbs or roots. Examples of bitter herbs include sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, and wormwood. Examples of sweet herbs include rose petals, lavender, and cinnamon. You can also add pine needles to your incense for a woodsy scent.
After mixing in your dry ingredients, you should have a stiff dough-like mixture. Roll the mixture into pea-sized balls, which can be rolled in more powdered herbs to prevent sticking. Place the balls on a ceramic plate or parchment paper and let them dry for at least several days and up to a couple of weeks.
Place some sand in your incense dish and add a charcoal briquette on top.
