How to make Homemade Incense

How to make Homemade Incense

Crafting incense involves essential components. Incense varieties like cones or sticks require a base for even heat distribution. This could be woods or herbs of any kind, just something that likes to keep burning unlike resins.

 Combustion, usually facilitated by charcoal, is necessary to release the aroma carried by aromatic compounds which is of course the heart of the incense being the main components we experience through the dance of smoke to the scent we breath in the air. 

Binders hold the blend together; some like makko powder also aid combustion. Blending the ingredients in proper ratios forms a dough, using water, tea, or juice. Shaping this dough creates cones, sticks, coils, or ropes. Using foraged or homegrown ingredients is safest; burning synthetic scents, glues, dyes, or solvents can emit harmful fumes during creation and burning, if you haven't already check out our article on aromatics to learn more.

Selecting your core ingredients is one of the best parts! Look around outside in nature (preferably somewhere further off the road where it will be less affected by passing cars) and find some local plants or resins that you feel called to. 

Take the plant properties and your health into consideration, perhaps you want to select lavender to aid in sleep or cinnamon to enliven your energy. Just be sure to select ingredients that are not treated with chemicals or pesticides to avoid aromatic toxicity, that's why it’s always best to forage or grow it yourself.

Some Suggested ingredients:

Sleep Aid: Lavender

Energy Uplift: Cinnamon, grapefruit

Meditation: Sandalwood, rose, Frankincense

Therapeutic/Healing: Frankincense, Copal, Sage, Palo Santo, oud wood, siam benzoin

Focus: Anything Citrus, Lemongrass, Cedar, Pine, Elemi canarium( good for coughs too)

Calm/Inviting Space: Anything Floral, rose, Jasmine, Lavender, Acacia flower

To begin, some supplies will make the job much easier such as: 

• A bowl for each ingredient and mixing 
•  mesh screen of various sizes 
• a grinder
• a butter knife 
• dehydrator/heater/oven/fireplace/sunlight.

Ingredients:

• Base: Could be Woods, Herbs, Makko, just anything that supports consistent burning.
• Binders: Such as Makko, Acacia gum, or Joss powder.
• Combustion Agents: Like Makko powder or Charcoal.
• Scents: Dry herbs, spices, resins, oils, honey, sugars, berries, woods, flowers, leaves.
• Water/Liquids: Water, tea, coffee, hydrosol, juice, wine.
• Sticks (if chosen) you could order wooden sticks or break off small branches from a tree or even stems of a wood like plant.

Process:

Prepare Ingredients: Grind and sift each ingredient separately into a fine, consistent powder using a grinder and a mesh screen.

Mixing: Use separate bowls for each ingredient (base, aromatics, etc.). For Makko powder as the base and binder, aim for balanced ratios (around half and half) for dry ingredients; adjust to 60-70% Makko for wetter, resinous aromatics such as frankincense.

Adding Liquids: Slowly add small amounts of water, mixing it into the powder until it reaches a doughy consistency. Be cautious not to add too much water and make a sloppy mess; the mixture should be formable and hold its shape. It is easier to add more than to have to wait for it to dry to the right consistency or use more powdered product.

Shaping: Break off pieces and shape them into cones, sticks, ropes, or coils. Place them on a screen, baking sheet, or any suitable surface.

Drying: Put the shaped incense into a dehydrator or a warm, dry place. If in the oven, set to the lowest temperature setting possible and check every few hours. Without the oven It takes about a day or two to fully dry, depending on the conditions.

Final Testing: Once dry, light the incense and experience the aroma. If you're unsatisfied with the results, you can crumble the incense back into a bowl and adjust the ingredients according to your preferences.

Enjoy your homemade incense, and feel free to experiment with different ingredients and ratios to find your perfect blend!

Prepare Ingredients: Grind and sift each ingredient separately into a fine, consistent powder using a grinder and a mesh screen. You can throw each one into a blender or food processor, otherwise a mortar and pestle works.

Mixing: Use separate bowls for each ingredient (base, aromatics, etc.). For Makko powder as the base and binder, aim for balanced ratios (around half and half) for dry ingredients; adjust to 60-70% Makko for wetter, resinous aromatics such as frankincense.

Adding Liquids: Slowly add small amounts of water, mixing it into the powder until it reaches a doughy consistency. Be cautious not to add too much water and make a sloppy mess; the mixture should be formable and hold its shape. It is easier to add more than to have to wait for it to dry to the right consistency or use more powdered product.

Shaping: Break off pieces and shape them into cones, sticks, ropes, or coils. Place them on a screen, baking sheet, or any suitable surface.You can even use branches or bush sticks like so:

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Drying: Put the shaped incense into a dehydrator or a warm, dry place. If in the oven, set to the lowest temperature setting possible and check every few hours. Without the oven It takes about a day or two to fully dry, depending on the conditions.

If using a dehydrator, set to 104 and check it the next day

Final Testing: Once dry, light the incense and experience the aroma. If you're unsatisfied with the results, you can crumble the incense back into a bowl and adjust the ingredients according to your preferences.

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