Seamus Hammond
Incense has been used for centuries, from aromatherapy to spiritual ceremonies, and is cherished around the world. Making your own incense at home allows you to customise your ingredients and cut costs. To make your own unscented incense cones, you'll need dried herbs, a base, a binder, and a mould. Popular herbs include basil, lavender, rosemary, and sage. The base, such as clove, pine, or sandalwood, helps the cone burn, while the binder, such as honey or gum, holds the cone together. After mixing the dry ingredients, add water, then shape the mixture into cones using a piping tip. Insert a toothpick into the centre of the cone to create a hole, which will help the cone burn better. Finally, let the cones dry for at least 12 hours before use.
How to Make Unscented Incense Cones
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried herbs (e.g. basil, lavender, rosemary, cinnamon), binder (e.g. makko powder, honey), water |
| Tools | Mortar and pestle, small conical mold, toothpicks, piping tip, bowl, lighter or matches |
| Process | Gather and crush herbs, mix with binder and water, shape into cones, dry for 12-48 hours, light and enjoy |
| Precautions | Keep away from children and pets, ensure proper ventilation, burn on a non-flammable surface, store in an airtight container |
| Benefits | Customizable, cost-effective, soothing fragrance, versatile for relaxation, focus, and relief |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your herbs
Choosing the right herbs for your incense cones is an important step in the process of making them. Incense has been used for centuries for various purposes, including ceremonies, healing, and cleansing. Burning aromatic herbs and resins is a tradition that can be found all over the world.
When choosing your herbs, it is important to consider their potency. Over time, most herbs will lose their potency, which could impact the aroma created by your incense. Some popular herb choices include basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. However, you can also experiment with different substances and ingredients as you become more comfortable with the process.
It is also important to keep in mind any allergies or sensitivities to certain herbs and ingredients. Before making your own incense, it is recommended to consult with your healthcare provider, especially if you have asthma or other lung disorders. Additionally, consider the number of ingredients you will be using. If you are just starting, it is better to keep the number of ingredients down, perhaps using one wood and two herbs, or one resin, one wood, and one herb. As you become more familiar with the process, you can slowly expand the number of ingredients.
Finally, when mixing your ingredients, it is recommended to pulverize them by class, grinding the woods first, then the herbs, and saving the resins for last. This will help you avoid making a mess of your mortar and pestle, as young and soft resins tend to do so. You can also weigh each ingredient after grinding and keep one bowl for all your dry ingredients and another for your resins.
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Mixing and grinding
To make your own incense, you'll need dried aromatic herbs, such as basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, sage, or cinnamon. You can also add a base to help the incense burn, such as pine, sandalwood, or clove. A binder like guar gum, xanthan gum, makko, marshmallow root, or honey will hold the cone together.
Begin by mixing your chosen herbs in a bowl. If you're using cinnamon and nutmeg, add these to the bowl and stir. Then, grind the mixture with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder until it has a powdery consistency. You will need around 1.5 teaspoons of this herb mixture for each incense cone. If you're using a binder like honey, add it after grinding the herbs.
Next, add your liquid ingredients. Start with about one tablespoon of water and adjust as needed. You can also add other liquid ingredients, such as essential oils or fragrances, at this stage. Stir everything together until you have a dough-like mixture that holds its shape. If the mixture is too dry or too wet, your cones may not turn out effectively.
Once your mixture is ready, you can start shaping your cones. Use a piping tip or mold to form the cones, and consider using a toothpick to create a hole in the center of each cone, which will help it burn better. If you don't have a piping tip or mold, you can shape the cones by hand.
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Adding liquid ingredients
When adding liquid ingredients to your incense cones, you will need about 1 tablespoon of water and around 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of any other liquid ingredients. Honey is a popular choice, but it's important to note that it can attract moisture, so be sure to store your cones in an airtight container. You can also use essential oils or fragrance oils, but be cautious as they can be potent and may cause skin irritation. The amount of oil you use will depend on the desired scent concentration and the number of cones you are making. For example, a mixture of 4 oz of fragrance oil to 1/2 lb of DPG liquid will yield 100 incense cones.
To add liquid ingredients to your incense cones, start by mixing your dried herbs, base, and binder in a bowl. Then, slowly add the water and any other liquid ingredients, stirring continuously until well combined. If you are using essential or fragrance oils, add them last and stir well.
Once your mixture is ready, it's time to shape your cones. Place the mixture inside a small piping cone and pack it tightly. If you want to create a hole in the centre of the cone to improve burning, insert a toothpick or pin into the tip of the mould before adding the mixture. Tap the piping cone on a hard surface several times to loosen the cone, then use a toothpick or the pin to help dislodge it. Repeat this process until you have used up all of your incense mixture.
After shaping your cones, they need to be dried thoroughly. Place them on a tray or inside an open container in a sunny spot and leave them for at least 12 hours, turning them over halfway through the drying process. The drying time can vary depending on humidity and the ingredients used, so it's important to ensure they are completely dry before burning.
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Shaping the cones
Shaping your incense cones is a fun and simple process. It is recommended to use a piping tip to shape your cones, preferably one with a wide nozzle. This is the same type of piping tip used for frosting. If you don't have a piping tip, you can also shape the cones by hand, using a ring as a base.
To start, place approximately half a teaspoon of the incense dough into the piping cone. Push the mixture down so that it is compact and stuck together. Then, take a toothpick and insert it into the centre of the cone to create a hole. This hole will help the cone burn better once it is lit. Next, tap the piping cone firmly on the table 3-4 times. The cone won't come out, but this will help loosen it from the sides. Finally, use the toothpick to gently slide around the edges of the cone and push it out of the piping tip. Repeat this process until you have used up all of your incense mixture.
If you are shaping the cones by hand, use a ring as a base and work the dough upwards from there. Hand-shaped cones will be smaller, and it may be difficult to create a hole in the base.
As you shape your cones, you will get a better feel for the ideal texture and consistency of the incense dough. If your dough is too dry and not sticking together properly, add a small amount of water. If your cones are not burning well, they may be too thick, so adding a hole will help ensure they burn properly.
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Drying and storing
It is also important to turn them over halfway through the drying process to ensure that the bottoms dry out as well. Once they are dry to the touch, you can test one to make sure they work as intended. If you are satisfied, you can then store them in an airtight container. This is especially important if your incense mixture contains honey, as it can attract moisture and affect the burning of your cones.
Store your incense cones in a cool, dry place, away from children and pets. Proper ventilation and a non-flammable surface are also crucial when burning your incense cones. Always make sure your incense is completely extinguished and cool to the touch before disposing of it.
If you are gifting your incense cones, you can package them for resale or gift-giving once they are fully dry. You can also experiment with different essential oil combinations to create your signature scent and label your custom scents for future reference.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use dried herbs such as basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, sage, cedar, and sweetgrass. You can also use cinnamon, frankincense, and sandalwood.
You will need a bowl for mixing, a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder for grinding, a binder such as makko powder or honey, a piping cone, a toothpick, and a heat-resistant bowl or incense holder.
Mix and grind your chosen herbs in a bowl, then add water and any liquid ingredients such as honey. You will need around 1 tablespoon of water for every 1.5 teaspoons of herb mixture.
Place the incense mixture inside a piping cone and use a toothpick to create a hole in the centre, which will help the cone burn better. Tap the cone on a table several times, then use the toothpick to loosen the sides and push out the cone. Repeat until you have used all the mixture.
Place the cones on a tray or inside a container in a sunny spot and leave them to dry for at least 12 hours, or up to 48 hours. If you used honey in your mixture, make sure to store the cones in an airtight container.
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