Lance Carson
The scent of church incense is often rich, sweet, and spicy, with hints of citrus. It is usually a blend of resins like frankincense and myrrh, sourced from specific regions and trees, each lending a unique fragrance. To create your own church-like incense, you can use frankincense as a base and add myrrh, benzoin, and cinnamon for a high church scent. Alternatively, you can explore blends like Will & Baumer Pontifical or Three Kings Pontifical, which are popular choices for achieving that classic church aroma.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense type | Frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, copal, cinnamon |
| Incense form | Sticks, resins |
| Incense container | Censer or 'thurible' |
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What You'll Learn
Use resins like frankincense and myrrh
Frankincense and myrrh are two of the most popular resins used in church incense. The scent of church incense is unique and evocative, often closely associated with spiritual solemnity and sanctity. It typically has a rich, sweet, and somewhat spicy aroma. The most common variety used, frankincense, lends a woody, earthy scent with hints of citrus.
When creating your own church incense, it is important to source high-quality resins. Frankincense and myrrh resins can be purchased separately and in pure form to ensure the best quality. This also allows you to learn their individual scents, making it easier to adjust your blend as needed. The resins are usually ground and mixed with other ingredients, and they can also be left to age to enhance the complexity of the final aroma.
When burning frankincense and myrrh, it is recommended to use a good quality charcoal base. The charcoal should be heated until it is a hot ember with minimal or no smoke before sprinkling the resin powder over it. This technique ensures that the resin smokes rather than burns away. An alternative method is to use a tea light burner with an adjustable handle to manage the temperature and prevent a charred smell. Additionally, foil or mica can be used as a barrier between the coal and the resin to control the temperature.
The blend of frankincense and myrrh can be customised to your preference. A common ratio is 75% frankincense and 25% myrrh, as myrrh has a strong and somewhat unpleasant scent on its own. This blend can be further customised by adding other resins or ingredients, such as cinnamon, cloves, or benzoin, which is commonly used in Catholic churches.
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Add benzoin and cinnamon to the blend
To make your incense smell like church incense, adding benzoin and cinnamon to the blend is key. Benzoin is a resin that is used as incense by Hindus and Buddhists during worship and has a similar scent to frankincense. Cinnamon, a sweet and spicy fragrance, is also commonly added to incense blends to enhance their aroma.
When creating a church-like incense blend, the combination of benzoin and cinnamon can add a unique and recognisable depth of aroma. This blend can be further enhanced by incorporating other resins such as frankincense and myrrh, which are commonly associated with the classic scent of church incense. Frankincense, derived from the Boswellia tree, has a woody, earthy scent with hints of citrus. Myrrh, on the other hand, offers a rich, smoky, and slightly bitter fragrance.
By mixing benzoin, cinnamon, frankincense, and myrrh, you can create a complex and distinctive incense blend reminiscent of the scent found in Catholic churches. This combination of resins and spices captures the sacred and spiritual essence of church incense, creating an atmosphere of tranquillity and sanctity.
The ratios and proportions of these ingredients can be adjusted to suit personal preferences and create a unique blend. It is worth noting that the quality of the incense ingredients can also impact the overall aroma, so sourcing high-quality resins and spices is essential to achieving the desired church-like fragrance.
Additionally, the method of burning the incense can also enhance the overall experience. Incense grains are typically placed in a censer or 'thurible', where they burn slowly, releasing aromatic smoke that fills the space with its distinct scent. This ritualistic aspect of burning incense further contributes to the sacred and spiritual atmosphere it evokes.
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Source high-quality incense
Sourcing high-quality incense can be a meticulous process, but it is worth the effort to ensure a pleasant and safe experience. When it comes to church-like incense, the most common variety used is frankincense, which offers a woody, earthy scent with hints of citrus. Myrrh is another popular option, providing a rich, smoky, and slightly bitter aroma. These resins are often combined with other ingredients to create unique blends.
To source high-quality incense, it is essential to prioritise natural ingredients and avoid synthetic additives. Synthetic additives can be detrimental to health, especially with prolonged exposure. Look for incense that is crafted with carefully selected natural ingredients, such as the Kin Premium Incense collection, which is handmade in small-scale studios and rooted in traditional Chinese incense culture.
Another option is to explore incense made by local artisans, who often have a deep understanding of the art of incense-making. For example, Juniper Ridge crafts their incense using traditional steam-distillation techniques and sustainably sourced plants native to America's Western landscapes.
When seeking high-quality incense, it is beneficial to consult specialised suppliers. Church Supply Warehouse, for instance, offers a range of incense blends, including the classic Will & Baumer Pontifical Blend, a mix of frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, and cinnamon. They provide trial samples, allowing you to explore different scents before committing to a purchase.
Lastly, remember to practise moderation and common sense when burning incense. Ensure the area is well-ventilated by opening windows, keeping doors ajar, or using air purifiers. By taking these precautions, you can safely enjoy the rich aromas of high-quality incense.
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Burn the incense in a censer or 'thurible'
To make your incense smell like church, you'll need to burn it in a censer or thurible. A censer is a vessel for burning incense, often with a hot metal plate where you can place your incense. The earliest vessels identified as censers date back to the mid-fifth to late fourth centuries BCE during the Warring States period. The modern Chinese term for "censer" is "xianglu" ("incense burner"), while another common term is "xunlu" ("a brazier for fumigating and perfuming").
Censers are often crafted as a round, single-footed stemmed basin, with apertures that make the rising incense smoke appear like clouds or mist swirling around a mountain peak. Some censers are designed to be hung from the ceiling or placed on special stands. When burning incense in a censer, you can either use direct-burning incense or indirect-burning incense. Direct-burning incense involves placing pieces of incense directly on top of a heat source or on the hot metal plate in the censer. Indirect-burning incense, also called "non-combustible incense", requires a separate heat source, like charcoal or glowing embers, as it does not generally kindle a fire on its own.
A thurible is a type of censer that consists of a censer section, chains, a metal ring to lock the lid in place, and sometimes a removable metal crucible for burning charcoals. The word "thurible" comes from the Latin "thuribulum", which is derived from the root "thus" meaning "incense". The use of incense in Christian rituals is inspired by passages in the Bible, with its use in prayer and worship carrying significant symbolism.
When burning incense in a thurible, you would place the burning charcoal inside the metal censer section, either directly or into the removable crucible. Incense is then placed upon the charcoal, and the thurible is closed and used for censing. The number of swings of the thurible and the objects or persons being censed are specified in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. For example, during an Anglican church service, if incense is used at the entrance procession, a thurifer leads the procession while swinging the smoking thurible.
By burning your incense in a censer or thurible, you can create an atmosphere of tranquillity, serenity, and sacredness, reminiscent of the traditional church incense experience.
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Try a blend like Will & Baumer Pontifical
If you're looking to recreate the classic scent of a church, you can't go wrong with Will & Baumer Pontifical. This ubiquitous blend is a traditional mainstay and is often regarded as the "classic scent" that most Catholics grew up with. It's a mix of frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, and cinnamon, creating a "'high church'" scent that's perfect for prayer, meditation, or simply infusing your home with the familiar aroma of an old cathedral.
Will & Baumer Pontifical is available in one-pound canisters, providing a rich liturgical scent that will add a heavenly ambiance to your surroundings. The raw resins used in this blend are sourced from specific regions and trees, lending a unique fragrance to the final product. The incense grains are placed in a censer or "thurible," and as they burn, they release an aromatic smoke that fills the space with sweet, sacred smells.
The art of burning incense is steeped in ritual and reverence. In the context of a church, the member of the clergy will "incense the altar," symbolising the prayers of the faithful rising to heaven and sanctifying the ceremony. The sweet scent of Will & Baumer Pontifical, with its woody, earthy notes and hints of citrus, helps create an atmosphere of tranquillity, serenity, and sacredness.
You can source Will & Baumer Pontifical from various suppliers, including Burgess Church Supply and F.C. Ziegler Company. They are known for their superior, authentic quality and are sure to elevate your sensory experience, whether you're engaging in spiritual practices or simply seeking a nostalgic fragrance.
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Frequently asked questions
The classic church smell is frankincense, myrrh, benzoin, and cinnamon.
Frankincense is a hardened resin obtained from the Boswellia tree. It is mentioned in the Bible and is used in worship.
Myrrh is a complex scent that is rich, smoky, and slightly bitter.
You can buy incense sticks that smell like church incense from ecclesiastical suppliers, or try Mother's Incense "Church Incense".
