Antonio Mcgowan
Making your own incense powder is a therapeutic and rewarding process. The basic formula for natural incense is simple: create a properly mixed batch of incense dough, which can be formed into any shape. The key to making incense that burns properly is to pulverize your ingredients into a very fine powder. This can be done with a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. Once you have your powder, you can add a few drops of distilled water at a time until a dough forms. You can then shape your incense by hand or use a mold. After drying, your incense is ready to be lit and enjoyed!
How to Make Your Own Incense Powder
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Aromatic plants, resins, barks, gums, essential oils, hydrosols, wine, honey, dried fruits, fragrant hydrosols, marshmallow root powder |
| Tools | Mortar and pestle, coffee grinder, mixing bowl, extruder, moulds, heat-resistant bowl, tweezers or tongs |
| Process | Pulverise ingredients into a fine powder, mix with water to form a dough, shape into cones/sticks, allow to dry, light the tip |
| Tips | Avoid saltpeter due to toxicity, use makko or Super Makko for stronger incense, increase binding powder by 10% to prevent breakage, store ingredients in a cool, dark space |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing your base powder
Choosing the right base powder is an important step in making your own incense powder. The base material in your incense will replace the charcoal or other outside heat source used in non-combusting forms of incense.
There are several options for base powders that you can use. One option is to use powdered tree barks such as ash, birch, cedar, oak, pine, or sandalwood. Sandalwood, in particular, is considered the best option for any incense, but it is very expensive compared to other powdered woods. If you are looking for a more affordable option, you can try using slippery elm or wild cherry instead.
Another option for a base powder is to use a wood binder such as joss powder (also called jiggit) or "tabu no ki" (sometimes incorrectly called "makko"). These binders are easy to work with and can act as a base material in addition to being a binder. However, they typically make up a large percentage of the recipe, with some recipes calling for 75% wood binder.
Alternatively, you can use a gum binder such as guar gum or xanthan gum. Gum binders are much more powerful than wood binders, so you will need to use less in your recipe. A typical incense recipe will use just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. It's important to note that adding too much gum binder to a recipe can cause it to bind too strongly and affect its ability to burn. Gum binders also have no scent of their own, so they won't impact the fragrance of your incense blend.
Finally, you can also experiment with using aromatic plant powders as your base. For example, marshmallow root powder can be used as a substance to hold your incense blend together. You can combine it with the aromatic powders of plants such as lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender.
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Adding liquid scents
Firstly, it is important to choose the right type of liquid scent. Essential oils are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. They provide a strong aroma and can be added directly to the powder or diluted with a carrier oil for better distribution. Hydrosols, which are the water-based by-products of essential oil distillation, can also be used. These are less concentrated than essential oils and can be added directly to your powder mixture.
When adding liquid scents, it is crucial to consider the overall proportions of your incense blend. The addition of liquid scents should not disturb the original proportions of the base powder and binder. Adjust the amount of base powder accordingly to accommodate the volume of liquid scent you intend to add.
The process of incorporating liquid scents involves slowly introducing the liquid to your powder mixture. Use a few drops of liquid at a time and mix it with the powder using a spoon or your hands. The mixture will initially look crumbly, but as you continue to add liquid and mix, it will start to form a dough-like consistency. This dough should be fairly dry and just wet enough to hold together without becoming runny.
Once you have achieved the desired consistency, you can shape your incense dough into cones, sticks, or any other shape you prefer. For cones, use a small conical mold or shape them by hand. Place them on a flat surface, such as parchment or wax paper, and allow them to dry thoroughly. The drying process can take anywhere from 12 hours to several days, depending on the climate and humidity.
Finally, after your incense creations have dried completely, they are ready for lighting. Place them in a heat-resistant bowl, light the tip, and blow it out after a few seconds. Your incense should continue to smoke and release its unique fragrance. Remember to always exercise caution when burning incense and keep it away from children and pets.
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Binding your incense
There are several binding agents you can use, each with its own unique properties and effects on the final product. Here are some of the most common binding agents:
- Wood binders: Wood binders, such as joss powder (also known as jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (sometimes mislabelled as "makko"), are easy to work with and act as a base material in addition to being a binder. They are forgiving, making them a good choice for beginners. However, they typically need to be used in larger quantities, and they are not as strong as gum binders.
- Gum binders: Gum binders, such as guar gum or xanthan gum, are much stronger than wood binders. They have great binding power and only need to be used in small quantities, typically just 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. However, if you use too much gum binder, it can prevent your incense from burning properly. Gum binders are scentless and won't affect the fragrance of your incense.
- Marshmallow root powder: This natural binder is made from the root of the marshmallow plant and acts as a binding agent in incense recipes. It has a subtle, sweet fragrance that can enhance the aroma of your incense.
- Resins: Natural resins, such as frankincense and benzoin, can also act as binding agents. They are often used in combination with other binders to create a flexible, cohesive mixture.
When using a wood or gum binder, it's important to activate" the binder by adding a water-based liquid to your mixture. This can include water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or even herbal teas and wine. However, it's important to note that essential oils do not contain water, so you'll need to supplement with an additional water-based liquid.
The amount of binding agent you'll need will depend on the specific recipe and the consistency of your incense dough. It's always a good idea to start with a smaller amount and gradually increase until you achieve the desired consistency.
Once you've added your binding agent and liquid, use the back of a spoon to mash the powder and liquid together until it forms a dough. This dough can then be formed into cones, sticks, or any other shape you desire.
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Forming your incense
If you want to make sticks, you can use an extruder to get a good result. You can also roll them by hand, but this is more challenging to get right. To make cones, you can use a small conical mould, placing approximately half a teaspoon of the incense dough into the mould. You can also shape the cones by hand if you prefer. If you are making cones or sticks, you can use gum arabic or tragacanth to bind them, mixing this with charcoal or saltpeter to help them burn. However, saltpeter is a toxic substance, so it is recommended to use makko instead, which is made from the bark of the tabu-no-ki tree and is a natural combustible material that is also water-soluble. Tabu-no-ki is also the best choice if you plan to make masala sticks.
To form your incense, start by slowly adding distilled water to your powder mixture, a few drops at a time, until a dough forms. You can also use other water-based liquids such as tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, or wine to form your dough. Use the back of a spoon to mash the powder and water together. The mixture will first look crumbly, but it will eventually come together to form a dough. You are looking for a fairly dry dough that is just wet enough to hold together without being runny.
Once you have your dough, it's time to shape it. If you are making cones by hand, take a small pinch of dough and form it into a cone shape. Taller, skinnier cones tend to burn better. Place your cones on a flat surface, such as parchment or wax paper, and let them dry for at least 12 hours, turning them over halfway through the drying process. In arid climates, it can take up to 5-7 days for the cones to dry completely.
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Burning your incense
Once you've made your own incense powder, it's time to burn it! Here are some detailed instructions on how to do so:
First, choose your incense burner. You can use a natural material such as ceramic or wood, or a modern material that you feel drawn to. A small, heat-resistant bowl filled with salt or sand can also be used. If you're using loose incense powder, you can burn it on top of makko, a natural combustible material made from the bark of the tabu-no-ki tree. Alternatively, you can form your incense powder into cones or sticks, which are the most common forms.
To form incense cones, slowly add distilled water to your powder mixture a few drops at a time until a dough forms. Place approximately half a teaspoon of the dough into a small conical mold. If necessary, use a pin to help dislodge the cones. You can also shape the cones by hand. Place the cones on parchment or wax paper and let them dry for at least 12 hours, turning them over halfway through. For sticks, you can use an extruder or roll them by hand, but they may not hold their shape as well.
To burn your incense, always keep it away from drafts and flammable objects such as lampshades, drapes, and rugs. Light the tip of your incense with a flame. If using a cone, blow it out after a few seconds, and it should continue to smoke for about an hour. Be careful not to brush against the glowing tip as it can burn your skin and damage your clothing. Always keep unlit and burning incense out of the reach of children and pets, and make sure it is completely extinguished and cool before discarding. If you are pregnant, nursing, asthmatic, or have respiratory issues, consult a physician before burning incense.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a bowl, a mixing utensil, and a way to grind your ingredients into a fine powder. A mortar and pestle is recommended, but you can also use a coffee grinder.
You will need a base, a binder, and a filler. Common bases include powdered tree barks and powdered gum resin. Common binders include wood binders like joss powder and gum binders like guar gum. Common fillers include dried and powdered aromatics, essential oils, and other extracts.
First, grind your ingredients into a fine powder. Then, assemble your ingredients in a bowl and mix them together. If you are using essential oils, add them to the powder mixture. If you are using a binder, slowly add distilled water to the mixture until a dough forms.
You can shape your incense into any form you wish, but sticks and cones are the most common. To make cones, form your dough into a cone shape and let it dry for at least 12 hours.
