Seamus Hammond
Incense has been used for thousands of years, from early Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilisations to modern homes. Making your own incense oil is a great way to naturally add scent to your incense cones and target your spiritual practices. It's also a fantastic way to customise your incense and know exactly what you're burning. You can use essential oils or fragrance oils, and there are a few different methods to try, such as the vertical and horizontal methods. You can also make the sticks themselves using makko powder.
How to make your own incense oil
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense stick type | Blank, unscented incense sticks, made with joss/makko powder |
| Incense oil type | Essential oils, fragrance oils |
| Incense oil quantity | 20 drops of oil per incense stick |
| Incense oil application | Drop oil onto a dish, place the incense stick in the dish and gently press until the oil is absorbed |
| Incense drying time | 12-24 hours |
| Incense packaging | Special plastic bags, kraft tubes, boxes |
| Incense burners | Incense Burner with Ash Catcher, Kaizen Casa Incense Burner Stick Holder Ash Catcher, Slice of Goodness Grey Cement Incense Holder Large Cube |
| Incense safety | Never leave burning incense unattended, keep out of reach of children and pets |
| Incense oil safety | Avoid dipping sticks in DPG (dipropylene glycol) as it is not safe to burn and can make people sick |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your essential oil
If you want your incense sticks to have a strong scent, opt for using a single type of essential oil. Common choices for incense with strong scents include woodsy fragrances like sandalwood, pine, cedar, juniper, and pinion pine.
On the other hand, if you prefer a more complex fragrance, you can mix and match a few different essential oils. When mixing scents, it is recommended to start with only a few drops of each oil at a time until you achieve your desired combination. Some popular essential oils used for incense blends include herbal scents such as sage, thyme, lemongrass, rosemary, and star anise, as well as floral scents like lavender, iris, rose, saffron, and hibiscus. You can also explore other unique fragrances like orange flower, cinnamon, calamus root, frankincense, vanilla, and myrrh.
It is important to source good-quality essential oils and get a good deal, especially if you plan to make incense in bulk or for retail. You can explore wholesale programs that offer discounts and customer support to help you get started. Additionally, always wear gloves when working with undiluted essential oils, as they can irritate your skin.
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Preparing your incense sticks
Materials and Equipment:
Firstly, gather your materials and equipment. You will need a set of blank, unscented incense sticks, also known as "punk sticks" or "blank sticks," made with joss/makko powder. Avoid sticks with a combustible powder coating, as these may be toxic. You will also need your chosen essential oils—opt for natural, high-quality oils with therapeutic benefits. Other equipment includes a shallow dish or tray, aluminium foil, a dropper or graduated cylinder, a mug or cup, and gloves.
Mixing and Soaking:
Prepare your work area by lining your tray or dish with aluminium foil. Place your incense sticks on the tray, leaving even spaces between them. If you are making a small batch of around 5 incense sticks, use a graduated cylinder to measure out approximately 100 drops (around 4 ml) of your chosen essential oils. You can create your own unique blend by mixing different scents, but be sure to use only a few drops of each at a time until you achieve your desired combination. If you are making a single stick, 20 drops of oil per stick is sufficient. Using the provided dropper, gently apply the oil to each incense stick, ensuring even distribution across the entire stick. Alternatively, you can place the oil in the dish and gently press the sticks into it, allowing them to absorb the oil.
Drying and Storage:
Once your incense sticks are coated with oil, place them in a mug or cup, with the incense end facing upwards, and allow them to dry. The drying time can vary from 12 to 24 hours, or even up to 5 days for hand-rolled sticks. During this time, the oil will be fully absorbed, and the sticks will be ready for use. Store your incense sticks in a glass jar or special packaging like plastic bags, kraft tubes, or boxes.
Safety Considerations:
When working with essential oils, always wear gloves to protect your skin from irritation. Additionally, be cautious when using dipropylene glycol (DPG) as it can produce hazardous decomposition products when burned. Always refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for DPG to ensure safe handling and avoid exposure to extreme temperatures or pure oxygen.
Making your own incense sticks is a rewarding and customizable process. You can experiment with different essential oils, create unique blends, and even prepare them as gifts for friends and family with similar interests. Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of your homemade incense and the satisfaction of crafting them yourself!
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Mixing your oils
When mixing your oils, it is important to note that the number of drops of oil per incense stick varies depending on the source. Some sources suggest using 20 drops of oil per incense stick, while others suggest using 100 total drops of oil for a small batch of 5 incense sticks. It is recommended to use a graduated cylinder for measuring the oil drops, or you can simply add the drops directly into your dish. If you are using multiple essential oils, make sure to blend them together first to create a harmonious fragrance.
When preparing your incense sticks, always use premade, unscented sticks, which will soak up the fragrances. Place your chosen number of incense sticks in a shallow dish or tray lined with aluminium foil, leaving even spaces between them. Using a provided dropper, gently press the sticks into the oil, ensuring that the oil is evenly distributed across the whole stick and that the stick has absorbed all the oil.
If you are making a small batch of incense sticks, you can simply drop your oils directly into your dish and gently stir them with the end of a spoon or a glass stir rod. Then, place your desired number of blank sticks into the dish and press gently so they absorb the oil.
You can use just one type of essential oil or blend a few different scents to create a unique fragrance. Common scents for incense include wood scents such as sandalwood, pine, cedar, juniper, and pinion pine; herbal scents such as sage, thyme, lemongrass, rosemary, and star anise; and floral scents such as lavender, iris, rose, saffron, and hibiscus.
If you are using multiple essential oils, it is important to start with only a few drops of each oil at a time and gradually increase the amount until you achieve your desired fragrance combination.
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Soaking your sticks
Firstly, gather your materials. You will need a set of unscented incense sticks, also known as blank sticks, and your chosen essential oils. It is recommended to use 20 drops of oil per incense stick, and you can choose a single oil or a blend of different oils to create your desired aroma. If you plan to make a small batch of five incense sticks, you will need a total of 100 drops or about 4 ml of essential oil.
Prepare your work area by lining a tray or dish with aluminium foil. This will create an even surface for your sticks to rest on. Place your unscented incense sticks on the tray, spaced evenly apart. If you are using multiple oils, mix them together in a separate container before adding them to the dish. Using a provided dropper or a graduated cylinder, carefully add 20 drops of oil to each incense stick, ensuring even distribution across the entire stick.
Now it's time to soak the sticks. Gently press each stick into the oil, allowing it to absorb fully. You can also turn the sticks to ensure they are thoroughly coated. This technique is known as the "horizontal method." Alternatively, for the "vertical method," bind the sticks together at the top and then soak them in a bundle for 24 hours. This method is suggested if you are making incense for retail sale, as it saves space and reduces waste since the soaking material can be reused.
Once your sticks are thoroughly soaked, place them in a glass jar, mug, or cup, with the incense end facing upwards, and allow them to dry. The drying time can vary depending on the method and climate. For the horizontal method, the sticks typically dry within 24 hours. However, for the vertical method, it is recommended to let the bundles dry for another 24 hours after removing them from the soaking solution.
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Drying your incense
Preparing the Incense Mixture
Before you begin the drying process, it is important to prepare your incense mixture properly. Start by choosing your ingredients, which may include woods, herbs, and resins. Pulverize your ingredients separately using a mortar and pestle. Freeze your resins for a short time before grinding to make them easier to pulverize. Once everything is finely ground, mix your dry ingredients (herbs and woods) together in one bowl, and your resins in another. Then, combine the two mixtures and blend them thoroughly.
Drying Techniques for Loose Incense Mixtures
If you are making loose incense, you can age your mixture for a couple of weeks to allow the aromatics to permeate and produce a single bouquet of fragrances. To enhance the drying process, you can place your mixture on a steel tray in front of a fan, in the driest room of your house. Ensure that the mixture is spread out on the tray to maximize its exposure to the air. Alternatively, you can use the vertical method by soaking the incense sticks in your mixture for 24 hours, then hanging or standing the bundles up for another 24 hours to dry.
Drying Techniques for Incense Sticks and Cones
If you are making incense sticks or cones, you can use essential oils to scent your incense. Place your unscented incense sticks on a tray lined with aluminum foil and add 20 drops of essential oil to each stick, ensuring even distribution. Once the oil is applied, place the sticks in a glass jar and let them rest for 24 hours. For a more natural approach, you can create herbal incense sticks by bundling dried herbs together with cotton twine. Measure and cut the cotton twine about eight times the length of your bundle, then tie and wrap it tightly, leaving a long handle at one end. When you're ready to use the incense, light the handle end and hold it over a heat-proof dish.
Drying Techniques for Incense Pellets
If you're making incense pellets, you can use resins or dried fruits to bind your pellets. Combine all your other ingredients first, then add them to a pliable resin like labdanum and knead well. Dry these pellets in a ceramic jar with a lid for 2-3 weeks. Honey can also be added as a preservative for the dried fruit, enhancing the fragrance of your mixture.
Tips for Humid Climates
If you live in a humid climate, you may need to take extra precautions to prevent mold growth on your incense. Charcoal can be used in kneaded incense to speed up the drying process, but it will also make the incense burn faster. Additionally, consider using thinner, coreless sticks, as they will dry faster and more easily.
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Frequently asked questions
A long, narrow dish, such as an olive dish, is ideal for making incense oil. If you don't have one, you can take a piece of aluminium foil and fold it into a "V" shape, making sure to fold up the ends so the oil won't spill out.
Each incense stick takes about 20 drops of essential oil. You can use just one type of oil or a blend of different oils. If you are making a small batch of 5 incense sticks, you will need a total of about 100 drops of oil (or 4ml).
Different sources suggest different drying times for incense sticks. Some say 24 hours, while others say 12-15 hours. One source recommends letting hand-rolled incense sticks dry for up to 5 days.
You can use dipropylene glycol (DPG) to prevent black smoke. However, DPG should not be burned as it is not safe and can make people sick. If you are going to use DPG, consider creating a clean room in your home and investing in a high-quality respirator and other protective gear.
