Antonio Mcgowan
Incense has been used for thousands of years in various cultural and spiritual practices. The word 'incense' comes from the Latin 'incendere', meaning 'to burn'. In perfumery, incense is a sought-after ingredient that adds depth and complexity to fragrances. It is often used as a base note, providing a strong, long-lasting presence that anchors other notes. Incense fragrances can be woody, spicy, or resinous, and are commonly blended with floral, herbal, and spicy notes. Natural and synthetic materials, such as essential oils, resins, woods, and synthetic aroma chemicals, are used to create incense perfumes. Incense sticks, a popular form of incense, are made by coating thin bamboo sticks with combustible paste and infusing them with scent or essential oils. They are lit to release their fragrance and are often used to improve the scent of homes. Additionally, incense can be transformed into a unique perfume by infusing its scent into alcohol or oil, creating a personalised fragrance.
How to use incense as a perfume
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Incense type | Frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood, patchouli, sandalwood, copal, labdanum |
| Incense form | Stick, Cone |
| Incense preparation | Burn incense sticks or cones to release fragrance |
| Perfume preparation | Break incense sticks into small pieces, soak in alcohol or coconut oil, filter, and pour into a spray bottle |
| Perfume application | Spray on skin, hair, or clothes |
| Scent profile | Woody, spicy, resinous, floral, herbal, sweet, earthy, warm, rich, mysterious, exotic, amber |
| Effects | Spiritual, calming, stress-reducing, anxiety-relieving, improves concentration, promotes restful sleep, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory |
| Common blends | Florals, herbs, spices |
| Usage | Personal fragrance, unique gift |
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What You'll Learn
Make perfume from incense sticks
Incense has been used for thousands of years in various cultural and spiritual practices, and its use in perfumery is well-documented. The warm, rich, and complex aroma of incense can add depth and sophistication to a fragrance.
How to make incense perfume:
There are two main methods for making incense perfume at home: an alcohol-based spray or an oil-based perfume. Both methods are easy, but they require time—at least a month or two—for the chosen medium to absorb the scent of the incense.
Alcohol-based spray:
- Break a few incense sticks into small pieces and place them in a jar.
- Cover the incense pieces with alcohol. The amount of alcohol is not precise and depends on the desired strength of the scent and the soaking time. A rough guideline is to use two incense sticks for 100ml of alcohol.
- Store the jar in a dark place while the alcohol soaks up the incense scent. Check on it occasionally and give it a sniff to see how the scent is developing.
- Once you are happy with the scent, filter the mixture through a coffee filter and pour it into a spray bottle.
Oil-based perfume:
- Break your incense stick into smaller pieces and add coconut oil. A ratio of approximately 100g of coconut oil to four incense sticks is a good starting point, but the exact measurements are not crucial; the soaking time is the most important factor.
- Store the mixture in a dark place and check on it regularly to see how the scent is developing.
A note of warning:
Some incense sticks are made with dye, which can stain light-coloured fabrics. Always test a small amount of your perfume on a piece of cloth before wearing it to check for staining.
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Use coconut oil or alcohol
Using Coconut Oil or Alcohol to Make Incense Perfume
To make incense perfume with coconut oil, you'll first need to break your incense sticks into smaller pieces. Then, add the pieces to a jar or container with coconut oil. The amount of coconut oil you use will depend on how strong you want the scent to be and how much oil you want to make. A ratio of approximately 100g of coconut oil to four incense sticks is a good starting point. You can always adjust the ratio and soaking time to suit your preferences.
It's important to store the mixture in a warm place to prevent the coconut oil from solidifying. The longer you let it soak, the stronger the scent will be. Remember to check on it every now and then to see if it has reached your desired fragrance level. Once you're happy with the scent, you can filter out the incense sticks or leave them in if you prefer. You can then transfer the oil to another container for storage.
If you want to make an alcohol-based incense perfume, the process is similar. Break your incense sticks into small pieces and place them in a jar or container. Cover the pieces with alcohol, and let it soak for at least a month or two. The longer it soaks, the stronger the scent will become. You can use any type of alcohol, but ensure it is unscented to avoid unwanted odours. Denatured alcohol is a good, inexpensive option.
During the soaking process, store the mixture in a dark place and check on it periodically. The alcohol might develop an unpleasant smell, but this will evaporate once you start using the perfume, leaving only the incense scent. To test the fragrance, you can drop a few drops on a piece of cloth and wait a few minutes. Once you're happy with the scent, filter the mixture through a coffee filter and pour it into a spray bottle.
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Incense as a base note
Incense is a popular base note in perfumery, adding depth and complexity to a fragrance. When used as a base note, incense provides a strong, long-lasting presence that anchors the other notes in the perfume.
Base notes are the foundation of a fragrance, providing depth and longevity. They are typically rich, warm, and complex aromas that linger on the skin long after the lighter top and heart notes have evaporated. Incense is a perfect choice for a base note due to its strong and distinctive scent, which can be woody, spicy, or resinous.
In perfumery, incense is often combined with other notes such as florals, herbs, and spices to create unique and sophisticated scents. For example, Black Orchid by Tom Ford combines Omani frankincense with floral and woody notes, while Acqua di Gio Profumo by Armani features a woody base of patchouli and incense.
Natural and synthetic materials can be used to create incense base notes. Natural materials such as essential oils, resins, woods, and spices are distilled or extracted to create concentrated aromatic compounds. Synthetic aroma chemicals, on the other hand, are artificially created in a lab to replicate the scent of natural materials or to produce new and unique fragrances.
The specific type of incense used as a base note can vary depending on the desired scent profile. Traditional incense fragrances like frankincense and myrrh offer exotic, sweet, and woody aromas, while other varieties such as cedarwood, patchouli, and sandalwood provide unique twists on the classic incense scent.
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Common ingredients and their scents
Incense is often made from natural materials, such as plants, resins, barks, seeds, flowers, roots, leaves, spices, and essential oils. The specific scent profile of an incense stick will depend on the ingredients used to create it. Here are some common ingredients used in incense sticks and their respective scents:
- Frankincense has a sweet, woody, and slightly spicy scent. It is one of the oldest incense scents, dating back to ancient Egypt.
- Myrrh is another ancient scent with a sweet, woody, and spicy fragrance.
- Cedarwood has a dry, woody, and slightly sweet aroma.
- Patchouli has a rich and earthy scent, often associated with sensuality and mosquito-repelling properties.
- Sandalwood is a traditional incense scent with a warm, woody, and creamy fragrance. It is one of the most important ingredients in Japanese and Chinese incense.
- Copal, derived from the copal tree, has a fresh, lemon-like aroma.
- Labdanum is obtained from the Cistus shrub and has a musky, amber-like scent.
- Cinnamon is a spicy, zingy, and soft scent with notes of vanilla and fruit.
- Nag Champa has an earthy-sweet fragrance and is commonly used in temples and meditation centres.
- Aloeswood has a meditative, citrusy scent that is said to enhance focus.
- Lavender is a soothing scent often used for headache relief, stress relief, and sleep aid.
These natural ingredients are combined with a combustible paste made from charcoal, bamboo fibres, and a binding agent to create incense sticks. The sticks are then either rolled in ground-up scent material or dipped in extracted essential oils.
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History and cultural significance
The history of incense dates back to ancient times, when it was considered a precious and sacred substance. The word "perfume" itself comes from "per fumum", meaning "through smoke", reflecting the fact that the first perfumes were burned rather than worn. Incense has been burned for thousands of years as part of religious rites, as a fumigant, and for the pure pleasure of its fragrance.
The use of incense in Ancient Egypt, where it was created using precious gums and resins from trees imported from the Arabian coast and Somalia, marks the beginning of its history. Incense relics dating back thousands of years have been discovered by archaeologists. During the Roman Empire, vast amounts of frankincense were transported to Rome from Arabia. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs all valued incense as highly as gold.
Incense was introduced to Japan in the 6th century by Korean Buddhist monks, who employed the mystical aromas in their purification rituals. Incense appreciation in Japan includes art, culture, history, and ceremony, and it is sometimes burned during the tea ceremony. During the Muromachi period in the 15th and 16th centuries, incense appreciation (known as "kōdō") became a source of amusement and entertainment for nobles in the Imperial Court.
Incense has been an important part of religious practices in many cultures. For example, in most Arab countries, incense is burned in the form of scented chips or blocks called "bakhoor" on special occasions like weddings or on Fridays, or to perfume the house. In the post-Reformation Church of England, incense (typically frankincense) was burned before grand occasions when the church would be crowded.
Incense has been traded along the Silk Road and other trade routes, including the Incense Route. The spice trade routes brought incense to Europe during the Middle Ages, where it became a highly sought-after luxury item. Perfumers and alchemists of the time began using incense to create sophisticated fragrances reserved for the wealthy elite.
Frankincense, derived from the Boswellia tree, is one of the most ancient fragrant materials known to humankind. Its aromatic properties have been exploited since the Late Stone Age, about 15,000 years ago. The resin is the precious raw material used in making incense, and it is harvested by cutting into the tree bark, causing the resin to be released. The resin is then dried and processed into various forms, such as grains, sticks, or cones, depending on local preferences and traditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Break the incense sticks into small pieces and place them in a jar. Cover them with alcohol and leave them to soak for a month or two. Filter the mixture through a coffee filter and pour it into a spray bottle. You can also use coconut oil instead of alcohol.
Incense fragrances typically have woody, spicy, or resinous notes. Common ingredients used in incense blends include frankincense, myrrh, cedarwood, patchouli, and sandalwood.
Light the incense stick and place it in an incense stick holder. Gently blow out the flame to produce glowing ash that releases the scent.
