Katrina Rosales
Incense sticks are a great way to fill your home with fragrance, but they can also fill your home with smoke. Burning incense sticks can add high levels of particulate matter to the indoor air, which can be harmful to your health. However, you can still enjoy the scent without the smoke by creating smokeless incense sticks with natural ingredients such as charcoal, which burns hotter than most other base materials and produces virtually no scent of its own. Japanese incense sticks, for example, are made of natural wood barks, spices, resins, and inert woods. You can also make your own smokeless incense sticks at home with just a few ingredients and materials.
How to Make Smokeless Incense Sticks
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Unscented incense sticks, essential oils, charcoal, natural wood barks, spices, resins, inert woods (cedar), mako, fragrance oil, dipropylene glycol (DPG), water, powdered ingredients |
| Tools | Rectangular box or dish, rectangular box or cooling rack for drying, tall bottle, narrow dish (olive tray), mug, aluminium foil, gloves, plastic wrap, paper towels, oil burner, tealight, sand, spray bottle, saucepan |
| Method | Coat unscented incense sticks with essential oils and/or fragrance oil; dip sticks in DPG; let air-dry; burn or heat; place in a mug to dry overnight; store in a zip lock plastic bag |
| Safety | Keep out of reach of children and pets; do not let children light incense; do not burn until fully dry; wear gloves when handling undiluted essential oils; burning incense can be harmful to health and cause respiratory issues |
| Scents | Wood: sandalwood, pine, cedar, juniper, pinion pine; Herbal: sage, thyme, lemongrass, rosemary, star anise; Floral: lavender, iris, rose, saffron, hibiscus; Others: orange flower, cinnamon, calamus root, frankincense, vanilla, myrrh |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use charcoal to reduce smoke
Smokeless incense sticks are made with natural ingredients such as charcoal, which gives the incense sticks their black colour and smokeless quality. Charcoal burns at a higher temperature than most other base materials and produces virtually no scent of its own.
One way to make smokeless incense sticks is to use charcoal powder. You can also try coating the incense sticks with a mixture of charcoal and gum. However, be aware that thicker coatings may not stay lit or may peel off. A thinner coating (1mm) over a coreless Indian/Nepalese stick with a rough surface may work better and produce almost no visible smoke. However, this method may also result in a reduction of scent, and the incense may burn slower.
Another option is to create a charcoal-based incense stick by adding charcoal to your incense recipe. A popular DIY recipe is based on inexpensive agarwood and charcoal. However, be aware that adding charcoal to your incense sticks can increase the burning temperature, which may produce more smoke from the fragrant ingredients. Some people have also found that too much resin can be a problem with charcoal-based sticks, as they may smoke and smell unusual.
If you are using charcoal incense sticks, it is recommended to burn them on a layer of ash to reduce the heat. You can also use something like tinfoil or a sheet of mica between the coal and the incense to diffuse the heat.
Incense and Its Surprising Antibacterial Properties
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use essential oils for fragrance
To make smokeless incense sticks with essential oils, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, purchase a set of unscented incense sticks and your chosen essential oils. It is recommended to use gloves when working with undiluted essential oils, as they can irritate the skin. You can opt for a single oil or a blend of oils—just ensure they are mixed before applying them to the incense stick. If you are making a blend, you will need to ensure that the oils are evenly distributed.
Next, prepare your work area. You will need a long, narrow dish, such as an olive dish, to lay your incense sticks in. If you do not have a suitable dish, you can use a piece of aluminium foil folded into a "V" shape, ensuring the ends are folded up to prevent any spillage.
Now, you can begin to apply the oil to the incense sticks. For a single stick, apply up to 20 drops of essential oil. If you are making a small batch of five incense sticks, use a total of 100 drops (about 4ml) of essential oil. Place the incense sticks in the dish and gently press them into the oil until all of the oil is absorbed.
After this, place the incense sticks in a mug or cup, with the incense end up, and leave them to dry for 10-15 hours before burning. The sticks will need to dry for at least 10 hours, but you can leave them for up to 24 hours. During this time, the sticks will emit a wonderful smell, so you can enjoy their aroma even before burning them.
Finally, when you are ready to burn your incense stick, light the tip with a match or a lighter. Once it catches, blow it out and allow the ember to burn down the stick, releasing the essential oils into a delightful scented smoke.
Harvesting Red Hibiscus for Incense: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use a dipropylene glycol (DPG) coating
To make smokeless incense sticks, you can use a dipropylene glycol (DPG) coating. DPG is a chemical with low toxicity that helps your incense burn properly and minimises the amount of black smoke. It is a key ingredient in making smokeless incense sticks and is used widely in craft and industrial perfume making.
To make the DPG coating, you will need to measure out 20ml (4 tsp) of DPG and pour it into a rectangular box or lipped dish that is long enough to fit your unscented sticks. You can buy pre-prepared, unscented sticks online or from your local aromatherapy store. Ordinary bamboo sticks will not work.
Next, add 10ml (2 tsp) of your chosen fragrance oil or essential oil to the box/dish containing the DPG. Stir the mixture well, being careful to let any oil that drips off the spoon back into the box/dish. You can substitute fragrance oil with essential oils, which are known for their mood-altering and boosting properties.
Once you have prepared the DPG and oil mixture, soak your incense sticks in it. You can use swing-top jars from IKEA to soak your incense sticks. It is important to note that DPG should not be burned as it is not safe and can make people sick. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on DPG states that burning it can lead to the formation of hazardous decomposition products such as oxides of carbon, irritating aldehydes, and ketones.
Cleansing Carnelian: Using Incense for Purification
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Dry sticks slowly in a cool place
After you've prepared your incense sticks, it's time to dry them. This is a crucial step, as drying them too fast can cause them to curve. To avoid this, dry your incense slowly in a cool, dry spot for 3-5 days. A cool basement or an air-conditioned room is ideal. If the humidity is high, consider using a dehumidifier to help maintain a dry environment.
During the drying process, it's important to ensure proper airflow around the incense sticks. Place them on a mesh screen or a wooden frame with metal mesh, which will allow air to reach them from all sides. You can also use spacers to raise the screen and further enhance airflow. This will help eliminate any curling or cracking that can occur during the drying process.
While drying, keep the incense sticks flat and side by side, with no spaces between them. If you're using a fan to improve airflow, be aware that this can also impact the shape of your incense sticks. A gentle breeze from a fan can help them dry straight, but too much airflow can cause issues. Alternatively, you can try drying them with just the oven light on and the door closed, providing low heat in an enclosed space.
Remember, the drying process can take several days, so be patient. Once your incense sticks are completely dry, they will be ready for burning or gifting. Always store them in a dry, dark place, such as a zip lock plastic bag, to maintain their freshness and scent.
Incense Burners: Do They Smell Good or Bad?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use pre-made, unscented sticks
To make smokeless incense sticks, you'll need to use pre-made, unscented sticks. Ordinary bamboo sticks will not work for incense. You can buy these pre-made sticks very cheaply online or from your local aromatherapy store.
Once you have your pre-made, unscented sticks, you can begin to make your incense. The first step is to prepare your ingredients. You will need to use a combination of natural wood barks, spices, resins, herbs, and flowers. Japanese incense, for example, is traditionally made of different natural wood barks, spices, and resins mixed with inert woods, usually cedars, to add solidity.
Next, you will need to mix your ingredients. Pulverize your ingredients into a very fine powder using a coffee grinder. This is key to making incense sticks that will burn properly. You can also add essential oils to increase the scent and provide additional physical and mental benefits. Any oil can be used, but many people opt for calming, gentle aromas like lavender or amyris to help evoke relaxation and serenity.
After mixing your ingredients, you will need to add a binding agent to hold your incense sticks together. Traditional Japanese incense uses makko, a plant resin, for this purpose. You can also use gum arabic or tragacanth as binding agents. Once your mixture is ready, roll it onto your pre-made, unscented sticks. Allow your incense sticks to dry for at least a couple of weeks in a cool, dry spot, away from sunlight and heat.
Creating a Fragrant Home: DIY Incense Censor Craft
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Burning incense sticks can add high levels of particulate matter to the indoor air. The EPA has linked these chemical compounds to lung inflammation, asthma, and even cancer. Long-term exposure to incense smoke has been associated with squamous cell lung cancer and upper respiratory cancers.
Smokeless incense sticks can be made with natural ingredients such as charcoal, which burns hotter than most other base materials and produces virtually no scent of its own. Japanese incense sticks are traditionally made from natural wood barks, spices, resins, and inert woods.
Essential oils can be used to scent your incense sticks. Common scents include woodsy fragrances like sandalwood, pine, and juniper, herbal scents like sage and thyme, and floral scents like lavender and rose.
