Anisha Riggs
Incense sticks are a great way to fill your home with a wonderful, fragrant scent. The process of making them is calming and creative, and you can customise your scent by mixing and matching essential oils and natural ingredients. When making incense sticks, you can use a variety of tools and fillers to help you get the job done. For example, you can use a clay gun, beef-jerky or sausage extruder, or a sugar-paste gun to make the sticks. You can also use a variety of fillers in your incense burner, such as charcoal, sand, rock, or salt. However, these materials can block the flow of oxygen to the incense, so it is recommended to use white ash, which is the preferred choice of incense users.
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What You'll Learn
Use natural ingredients like dried herbs, resins, or woods
Natural ingredients like dried herbs, resins, or woods are the traditional way to make incense sticks. This craft has a long history in China, with records dating back more than 500 years, and it later spread to Japan and beyond.
To make incense sticks using natural ingredients, you will need various wood, resin, herb, or floral incense powders. For beginners, it is recommended to start simple with a base of sandalwood and 2-3 other types of powders. You can experiment with resins such as frankincense or myrrh, but these should be used sparingly as they have a strong fragrance. Traditional Chinese incense uses only powders, with no essential oils, but modern Chinese incense makers often substitute some powders for oils.
When preparing your natural ingredients, it is important to ensure that the powdered materials are fine enough to pass through a sieve. This helps to create a smooth and consistent incense dough. The ideal particle size for the powders is to pass through an 80-mesh screen sieve (0.18mm/0.007") or, even better, a 100-mesh screen sieve (0.15mm/0.0049"). While coarser powders can still be used, they may affect the flammability, scent, and brittleness of the final product.
Once you have prepared your natural ingredients, you can begin the process of making the incense dough. Mix your chosen powders and essential oils in a bowl, using a spoon or chopsticks to combine them thoroughly. The amount of natural powders and oils needed will depend on the length and number of incense sticks you want to make. It is recommended to allow the incense dough to rest after initial kneading, which can help improve its consistency. The resting time can vary from a few hours to overnight, but be cautious as the dough may develop mold if left too long in a humid environment.
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Choose the right fragrance oils
When making incense sticks, it is important to choose the right fragrance oils. The type of oil you select will depend on the scent you want to create and the purpose of your incense. If you are crafting for meditation and relaxation, for example, you may want to opt for traditional incense scents like frankincense and myrrh, which are perfect for beginners. Alternatively, you can get creative and experiment with various blends to come up with your signature scent. For instance, you can try mixing lavender with sandalwood and vanilla bean.
It is recommended to use high-quality, IFRA-compliant fragrance oils designed for burning. Avoid body-safe or diffuser-only oils that may burn poorly or produce smoke. Essential oils are also a great option for their mood-altering and boosting properties, although they tend to be more expensive. When selecting your oils, ensure they are safe for burning and suitable for combustion. Some oils are not formulated to withstand heat and may produce smoke or unpleasant odours.
The fragrance oil you choose should complement the base material you are using in your incense burner. For example, if you are using charcoal, you can sprinkle the incense on top of or next to the hot charcoal. If you are using ash, which is the preferred choice of many incense users, you can create "trails" by making a trough or impression in the ash and filling it with powdered incense or wood powder. You can even add other aromatics, like resins or herbs, to burn along with the incense.
When making incense sticks, it is important to use pre-prepared, unscented sticks. Ordinary bamboo sticks will not work. You can easily find these online or at your local aromatherapy store. Once you have your sticks, you can begin the process of infusing them with your chosen fragrance oil. This usually involves soaking the sticks in a mixture of the oil and a fixative like dipropylene glycol, which helps the incense burn properly and reduces black smoke. The longer the sticks soak, the better the saturation.
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Prepare the incense mixture
To prepare the incense mixture, you will need to gather your chosen ingredients and tools. Natural aromatic ingredients such as dried herbs, spices, resins, or woods (e.g. sandalwood, frankincense, lavender, cinnamon) will form the base of your incense. You will also need tools like a grinder (mortar and pestle or blender), a glass or ceramic bowl, and a resealable plastic bag or airtight jar.
First, ensure your natural ingredients are thoroughly dry to avoid clumping. Then, grind them into a fine powder. If you are using soft gummy resins, it is recommended to freeze them overnight before grinding to prevent sticking. Once you have ground your ingredients, you can begin the mixing process.
In your glass or ceramic bowl, mix the powdered aromatic ingredients with a natural binder like makko powder. The ratio of this mixture will depend on the desired strength of your incense. A common ratio is 3 parts aromatic ingredients to 1 part binder, but you can adjust this to your preference.
Once your dry ingredients are mixed, it's time to add a liquid component. Gradually add water to the mixture, a few drops at a time, and combine until you achieve a dough-like consistency. Be careful not to make the mixture too wet. If you are using essential oils, this is the stage where you would add a few drops to enhance the fragrance of your incense. Knead the mixture well to ensure even distribution of the oils.
At this point, you should have a well-combined incense mixture that is ready for the next steps of making your incense sticks. Remember to store any leftover mixture in airtight containers to maintain its potency.
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Coat the incense sticks
To coat the incense sticks, you will need to prepare a combustible paste made from coal, bamboo fibres, and a binding agent. You can use a natural binder like makko powder, which is available at specialty stores or online. The ratio of aromatic ingredients to the binder can be adjusted based on the desired strength of the incense. For example, a common ratio is 3 parts aromatic ingredients to 1 part binder.
Once you have your paste, you can coat the thin bamboo sticks by hand or use a tool such as a clay gun or sausage extruder to create incense sticks of different shapes and sizes. These tools can be filled with the incense paste, and then you can squeeze the lever to create perfectly shaped sticks. You can also check with the manufacturers of these tools for various "dies" that can be used to produce thinner, thicker, or shaped-edge sticks.
After coating the sticks, you will need to let them dry. Lay out the incense sticks on a tray lined with paper towels and let them dry for 2-3 days in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. This drying process is crucial, as it ensures that the sticks will be ready for burning.
Finally, once the sticks are dry, you can store them in airtight containers or burn them immediately. You can also package them as gifts, but it is important to ensure proper drying before gifting them. Homemade incense sticks can be stored in zip lock plastic bags to maintain their fragrance strength.
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Dry and store the incense sticks
Drying and storing your incense sticks correctly is crucial to maintaining their quality and longevity. Once your incense sticks are ready, lay them out on a tray lined with paper towels and leave them to dry for 2–3 days in a cool, dry area away from sunlight.
After your incense sticks have dried, it's important to store them properly to prevent them from losing their fragrance and becoming brittle. Here are some key tips for storing your incense sticks:
- Keep them in a cool, dry place: Excessive heat or moisture can damage the sticks and diminish their fragrance. Avoid storing them near stoves, radiators, or other warm areas.
- Store them in airtight containers: Use airtight glass, ceramic, or metal containers to protect the incense sticks from air exposure and prevent them from drying out. Avoid using plastic containers, as they may emit odours that affect the fragrance of your incense.
- Keep them away from direct sunlight: Sunlight can fade the colour and weaken the fragrance of the incense sticks.
- Store them separately: Different incense fragrances can mingle if stored together, so keep them in individual containers or compartments to preserve their distinct aromas.
- Protect them from moisture: Incense sticks are susceptible to moisture, which can make them soggy and difficult to burn. Avoid storing them in damp environments or near liquids.
- Store them upright: Place your incense sticks upright to avoid bending and maintain their quality.
- Consider using desiccant packets: Adding desiccant packets to your storage containers can help absorb any excess moisture and keep your incense sticks dry.
- Choose decorative storage options: While functionality is important, you can also get creative with your storage choices. Consider using a bamboo tube, a mason jar, or even a cleaned and dried wine bottle to store your incense sticks.
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Frequently asked questions
The best filler for making incense sticks is a natural mineral material called white ash. This is the preferred choice of incense users worldwide as it allows for a smooth burn without blocking the flow of oxygen to the incense.
An alternative filler is to use no filler at all. You can place a lit incense charcoal in the middle of the burner and sprinkle the incense on top. However, this will make the burner very hot and it should not be handled.
Filler in incense sticks helps to hold the incense together and ensures a smooth burn. It also provides a base for the incense to burn on, absorbing any excess liquid or residue.
You can buy filler for making incense sticks online, specifically from specialty stores or websites dedicated to incense-making supplies. You can also find it in stores that sell Japanese incense, as white ash is commonly used with Japanese incense.
Yes, you can make your own filler for incense sticks by using natural ingredients such as dried herbs, spices, resins, or woods. Grind these ingredients into a fine powder and mix them with a natural binder such as makko powder.
