Katrina Rosales
Incense has been used for centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt, where it was used for healing practices. Incense is a great way to create an aromatic space, and it can be meditative and enjoyable to make your own. You can use commonly found or locally grown botanicals and resins to create your own incense, and you can even make your own incense holder with clay. To make incense, you'll need to gather your ingredients, tools, and supplies, such as dried herbs, a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder, and a binder like makko powder. You'll also need to choose a base material that burns well and has a complementary scent to your blend. Once you've gathered your ingredients, you'll need to pulverize them, weigh them, and mix them with your chosen binder and a water-based liquid. Then, you can shape your incense into cones or sticks, let them dry, and light them up!
How to Make and Use Dry Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Dried herbs, dried flowers, dried fruit, essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, extracts, honey, gum binder, water |
| Tools | Cotton twine, scissors, lighter, heat-proof dish, food processor, airtight container, baking rack, plastic or metal sheet |
| Steps | 1. Mix and grind ingredients in a bowl with a mortar and pestle. 2. Shape the incense dough into cones, pellets, or sticks. 3. Soak the shaped incense in a flat pan for 24 hours. 4. Let the incense air-dry for 24 hours or 2-3 weeks (until completely dry). 5. Store the incense in an airtight container. 6. To use, light the incense until a flame appears. |
| Tips | Use potent herbs such as basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. Soak dried fruit in red wine before using. Avoid drying incense on paper to prevent sticking. Use thinner sticks for faster drying. Avoid silica gel as it can capture and retain scents. Use distilled water. |
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What You'll Learn
Choose your ingredients: woods, resins, herbs, spices, and liquids
When choosing the ingredients for your incense, you can select from woods, resins, herbs, spices, and liquids.
Woods
The base material in your incense replaces the charcoal or other outside heat source used in non-combusting forms of incense. Good base materials burn well and burn evenly. Some base materials, like sandalwood, have very prominent scents of their own. You can either use a base with very little scent or choose one with a scent that complements the rest of your blend. Sandalwood, cedar, and pine are all excellent bases that can add a strong scent to your incense blend. Red sandalwood (which is not actually sandalwood), alder, and charcoal are all very low-scent base materials. You might find them easier to work with as a new incense maker because they contribute so little to the overall scent.
Resins
Resins are another traditional incense ingredient, commonly used in ceremonies, for healing, and for cleansing an area. Frankincense and copal are examples of resins used in incense.
Herbs
Herbs are another key aromatic ingredient in incense. Aromatic botanical powders such as lemongrass, rosemary, and lavender can be combined with a binder like marshmallow root powder.
Spices
Clove is an example of a spice that can be used in incense.
Liquids
In addition to dried and powdered aromatics, many incense makers also include liquid scents such as essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and other extracts. Any liquid that is mostly water will work to activate your binder. That means that water, tea, coffee, milk, fruit juices, and other liquids can be used to activate your binder. Herbal teas and wine are commonly used liquids. Keep in mind that essential oils do not contain water, so you cannot use them in place of water.
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Prepare your ingredients: pulverise, weigh, and store
Preparing your ingredients is a crucial step in making incense. Here is a detailed guide to help you through the process:
Pulverise
The first step is to grind and blend your chosen ingredients. If you're using dried herbs, ensure they are still potent as herbs can lose their potency over time, impacting the aroma of your incense. Popular herb choices include basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. You can also add dried flowers like roses, thyme, or eucalyptus for extra fragrance. Use a mortar and pestle to grind them into a fine powder. This step will help release the natural oils and fragrances from the herbs, creating a more potent incense.
If you're using dried fruit in your mixture, soak it overnight in a heavy red wine or water to rehydrate and enhance its fragrance. The next day, drain the excess liquid, and add the fruit to your loose incense blend. Use a food processor to blend the mixture until it reaches a consistent texture.
Weigh
Once you have a powdered blend of herbs and/or dried fruit, it's time to weigh your ingredients. A typical incense recipe uses about 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. Common wood binders include joss powder (also known as jiggit) and "tabu no ki." If you prefer a gum binder, be cautious as too much can cause the incense to bind too strongly and affect its burn. Gum binders are scent-neutral, so they won't alter your incense's fragrance.
Store
Before forming your incense into its final shape, it's crucial to store your blended mixture properly. Find an airtight container to prevent moisture absorption, especially if your mixture contains honey, as it can attract moisture and impact the burn quality. Store your incense blend in a cool, dry place until you're ready to form it into sticks, cones, or other shapes.
Remember, the drying process is essential for the quality of your incense. While you can use a fan or a dehydrator to speed up the drying, slower drying is generally better for retaining the scent. Always ensure your incense is completely dry before burning or storing it for later use.
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Mix ingredients with binder and water: use a bowl and spoon
When preparing your incense mixture, you will need a bowl and a spoon. It is recommended to use a recently washed ceramic bowl and a steel spoon. You will also need to decide on your choice of binder. Common wood binders include joss powder (also called jiggit) and "tabu no ki" (which is sometimes incorrectly referred to as "makko"). These are good choices for beginners as they are forgiving binders. Gum binders are also an option, but it is important to note that they are very strong, and adding too much can cause the incense to bind too strongly and prevent it from burning.
Prepare your chosen binder by mixing it with water to activate it. While you need to use a water-based liquid, this does not have to be plain water. You can also add other liquid scents such as essential oils, decoctions, hydrosols, and other extracts to enhance the fragrance of your incense.
Next, gather your dry ingredients. You can use dried herbs such as basil, dill, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary, and sage. It is important to ensure that your herbs are still potent, as over time they can lose their potency and impact the aroma of your incense. You can also use dried fruit in your mixture. Soak the dried fruit in a heavy red wine or another liquid overnight before adding it to your mixture.
Once you have prepared your binder, water, and chosen ingredients, it's time to mix everything together. Combine your dry ingredients with the binder and water in your bowl and mix well with your spoon. You can also use a mortar and pestle to grind the ingredients further and create a more uniform mixture. The typical incense recipe uses 1/8 teaspoon of binder for every 2 tablespoons of material. Make sure to mix thoroughly until you have a consistent incense dough.
Once your incense dough is properly mixed, you can form it into your desired shape. Sticks and cones are the most common forms, but you can get creative and experiment with different shapes. Remember to allow your incense to dry completely before storing or burning it.
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Dry your incense: use parchment paper and turn halfway
Drying your incense properly is an important step in the incense-making process. It ensures that your incense burns properly and reduces black smoke. After forming your incense into the desired shape, place your incense on parchment or wax paper. Allow your incense to dry for a minimum of 12 hours. If you are making incense balls, you will need to let them dry for several days or up to a couple of weeks, depending on the humidity of your climate.
To ensure that your incense dries evenly, turn your incense over halfway through the drying process so that the bottoms dry out as well. You can also turn your incense every day or two if you are making incense balls. If you are making incense sticks, you can try drying them in a warm oven at 150-200°F (65-93°C) and using parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Once your incense is completely dry, it is ready to be burned. Place your incense in a heat-resistant bowl filled with salt or sand. Light the tip of your incense and blow it out after a few seconds. Your incense should continue to smoke for about an hour. Always take precautions when burning incense. Keep unlit and burning incense away from children and pets. Make sure your incense bowl is properly insulated and placed on a heat-resistant surface.
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Burn safely: use a fireproof bowl, keep away from flammable objects
When burning incense, it's important to take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. Here are some detailed instructions to help you burn incense safely:
Choose the Right Burner
Select a burner that is specifically designed for incense. This could be a holder for incense sticks, which can be easily found online or in local stores, or a burner with a wide, flat bowl for coil incense. The bowl should be larger than the coil to prevent accidental fires and provide adequate ventilation. Some burners come with clips that attach to the centre of the coil, holding it above the bowl and allowing for better airflow.
Prepare the Burner
Before placing the incense, prepare the burner to ensure safe burning. For coil incense, place fire-resistant cotton in the burner with the black side facing up to prevent fire hazards. For cone incense, which produces more heat than sticks or coils, use a heat-proof burner and spread a layer of sand, salt, or uncooked rice to help absorb the heat.
Position the Incense
Place the incense securely in the burner. For stick incense, insert the stick into the hole of the holder. For coil incense, be careful not to let the coil touch the walls of the burner, as this can cause uneven burning or extinguish the incense. For cone incense, place the cone point-up in the burner.
Ventilate the Area
Always burn incense in a well-ventilated area. Keep the incense away from curtains, loose fabrics, or other flammable objects. Proper ventilation ensures that the incense smoulders and does not burn, as an open flame can be dangerous and produce the wrong kind of smoke and smell.
Light and Monitor
Light the incense with a lighter or match. For stick and cone incense, light the tip of the stick or cone, blow out the flame, and allow the ember to smoulder until it burns down. For coil incense, light the outside end, blow out the flame, and let the coil burn towards the centre. Monitor the incense while it burns, and ensure it is extinguished if the flame does not go out on its own.
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