Anisha Riggs
Incense is a biotic material that releases a fragrant smoke when burned and has been used for various purposes for centuries. While incense is readily available in stores, making your own at home allows you to customize your ingredients and cut costs. You can make incense at home with just one ingredient: citrus peel. You can also use dried herbs, resins, and woods, which have wonderful aromatic properties. When making your own incense, it's important to be mindful of the potential health risks associated with incense smoke, especially for those with asthma or other lung disorders.
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What You'll Learn
Making strong-smelling incense sticks
Incense sticks are an easy way to add a beautiful fragrance to your living space. They are super easy to make and can be stored for a long time if kept in the right conditions.
To make strong-smelling incense sticks, you will need to create a large batch of at least 20-30 sticks. The more sticks you make, the more value you will get from your ingredients. For a batch of 200-300 sticks, you will need 100mls of fragrance oil and 200ml of dipropylene glycol (DPG).
The first step is to choose your fragrance oil. There are hundreds of varieties available, including essential oils and fragrance oils formulated for candles and bath and body products. Fragrance oils tend to give better and more reliable results, but essential oils are a good option if you want to avoid synthetic fragrances.
Once you have chosen your oil, mix it with the DPG. The DPG will help the oil to soak through the wood powder base of the stick, rather than just coating the surface, which will make your incense last longer.
Next, soak your incense sticks in the mixture. If you are making a large batch, you may need to use a bigger container or transfer your mixture to a sheet of aluminum foil. Make sure all sides of the sticks are soaked by pressing them into the mixture with gloved hands.
Finally, place the sticks in a mug to dry overnight. The sticks will need to dry for at least 10-15 hours, but you may want to leave them for up to 48 hours to ensure they are fully cured.
Once your sticks are dry, they are ready to burn. However, it is important to store them properly to maintain their strength. Keep them in a zip lock plastic bag in a dark place, out of the reach of children.
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Using citrus peels for incense
Homemade incense can be made using citrus peels. The process is simple and requires just one ingredient and twenty minutes of your time. You can use the peels of any type of citrus fruit, such as oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits, or kumquats.
First, wash and dry the citrus fruits of your choice. Use a peeler to remove the coloured outer skin. Spread the zest pieces evenly on a plate and microwave them on 100% powder for about five minutes until they turn crispy. Next, use a food processor or a mortar and pestle to grind the zests into a fine powder. Sift the powder with a fine-mesh strainer and store it in a small glass bottle.
To use your homemade citrus incense, place it in a wax warmer, or use it as scented wax by heating it over a candle. You can also use charcoal briquettes to burn the incense. Place some sand in your incense dish, followed by a charcoal briquette. Light the briquette and let it burn for about 30 seconds, or until it is evenly hot. Then, place your incense on top.
It is important to note that the oil in citrus peels is flammable and can release carcinogenic substances when burned. Therefore, it is recommended to dry the peels well before use and to keep an eye on them while they are burning.
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Aromatic herbs for incense
Aromatic herbs have been used for incense since ancient times, and they continue to be a key ingredient in modern recipes. Incense is used for a variety of purposes, including aromatherapy, meditation, religious ceremonies, and to enhance the aroma of a space.
When making homemade incense, it is important to use a variety of bitter and sweet herbs or roots. Some commonly used bitter herbs include sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, and thyme. White sage, in particular, has been valued for its earthy and herbaceous scent, while thyme provides a spicy and warming aroma. Sweet herbs often incorporated into incense recipes include rose petals, lavender, yarrow flowers, fir needles, and cinnamon. These sweeter herbs can add a more delicate and floral fragrance to the incense.
In addition to the type of herbs, the quantity and ratio of ingredients are crucial for achieving the desired aroma. For a strong-smelling incense, it is recommended to prepare larger batches of at least 20-30 sticks. This ensures that the fragrance is more potent and long-lasting.
Another important consideration is the method of preparation and storage. Incense sticks should be dried thoroughly before use, and stored in sealed bags, away from heat, light, and moisture. Proper storage can help preserve the quality and strength of the incense for years.
By carefully selecting aromatic herbs, adjusting ingredient ratios, and following proper preparation techniques, you can create homemade incense with a strong and pleasing aroma.
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Wildcrafted incense with foraged ingredients
Creating your own wildcrafted incense with foraged ingredients is easier than you might think and doesn't require any specialized ingredients. The recipe below uses dried herbs and resins to create a natural, fragrant incense that can be burned to enhance your space or for ceremonial purposes.
Ingredients:
- Dried and ground herbs (see suggestions below)
- Resin (preferably powdered)
- Charcoal briquettes
- Sand
- Binder (optional)
Method:
- Gather your ingredients and create a calm and focused space. Place your chosen ingredients on a clean table, along with any tools you'll need, such as a mortar and pestle. Light some candles and play calming music if you wish.
- Decide on your herb mixture and grind them into a powder. Include a variety of bitter and sweet herbs or roots, such as sagebrush, mugwort, yarrow leaves, juniper berries, wormwood, white sage, rosemary, thyme, rose petals, lavender, yarrow flowers, fir needles, or cinnamon.
- Add an equal amount of resin to your herb powder. If you are grinding your own resin, be sure to freeze it first to make it brittle, then smash and pulverize it. It's okay if small lumps remain.
- (Optional) Add a binder to help your mixture stick together. Mix well until you have a stiff, dough-like consistency.
- Roll your mixture into pea-sized balls. You can roll them in additional powdered herbs to prevent sticking.
- When you're ready to burn your wildcrafted incense, place some sand into your incense dish and add a charcoal briquette. Light the briquette and let it burn for about 30 seconds until it's evenly hot.
- Place your incense ball on top of the charcoal and enjoy the fragrant smoke.
Remember, the sense of smell is a powerful tool for creating associations and evoking memories. You can use your wildcrafted incense to create intentional spaces, enhance meditation or prayer, or simply enjoy the natural fragrance in your home.
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Incense safety and precautions
Fire Hazards
Incense is a burning substance and therefore poses a fire hazard. It's crucial to never leave burning incense unattended and to keep it away from flammable objects, such as curtains, towels, clothes, and anything with high alcohol or petroleum content. Always ensure the incense is placed on a heat-resistant, stable surface away from any breeze or draft that could blow nearby flammable objects into the flame. Multiple incense sticks burned at once require extra caution, as they can accidentally light each other.
Health Hazards
Burning incense produces smoke, even the reduced-smoke varieties. This smoke contains particulate matter, including carcinogens and irritants, which can be harmful if inhaled. It is advised to avoid intentionally breathing in incense smoke and to ensure adequate ventilation by keeping windows slightly open. Individuals with underlying health conditions or respiratory issues should consult a medical professional before using incense, as it may trigger asthma or allergies. Recent studies also suggest a potential link between incense smoke and increased risks of cancer, heart disease, and adverse effects on brain health in older adults.
Child and Pet Safety
Keep incense out of the reach of children and pets. Never allow children to light incense, and supervise them closely when incense is burning. Curious children may want to touch or play with burning incense, which can be extremely dangerous due to the highly flammable nature of incense sticks. Similarly, pets can easily knock over burning incense, starting a fire or causing injuries. The smoke from incense can also be more irritating and harmful to pets due to their sensitive noses.
Storage and Placement
Store homemade incense in a cool, dry place, away from heat and direct sunlight. Use it within a year. When burning incense, ensure the incense burner is at least one foot away from your face. This distance allows for a better appreciation of the scent and shows respect for the incense.
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Frequently asked questions
To make strong odor homemade incense, you need to do them in batches of no less than 20-30 sticks. You can use a combination of fragrant materials like cinnamon, frankincense, sandalwood, sage, oils, resins, and woods. You can also use dried and ground herbs as about half of your mixture. Try to include a variety of bitter and sweet herbs or roots.
You can use a variety of home-grown or store-bought herbs such as basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. You can also use citrus peels such as lemon, orange, or grapefruit.
An easier method of using powder incense is by heating it over a wax candle warmer. You can use your homemade powder incense as scented wax.
