Incense is an aromatic mixture of herbs and substances that is burnt to release its spell and health properties. It has been used for healing and cleansing since pre-stone age (the first recorded case in Ancient Egypt) and is the perfect way to connect with yourself and calm down.
AND making incense on your own is easy. Customise the sweetness of the smell to the smoothness of the smoke to the vibe created all by experimenting with the countless ingredients you can use.
Combustible - used when shaping incense (into sticks or cones). A combustible or binding material is adding to the incense mixture allowing it to burn continuously on its own, and from a set point to another.
Non-combustible - loose incense (ingredient mixture after grinding) or loose pellets (soft resins have been added to the ground mixture to form small pellets) are heated using charcoal, makko or on mica atop charcoal.
For sticks and cones, simply light one end.
For mixtures, you'll need to heat up your charcoal or makko, and sprinkle your incense on as you please.
Pellets can be placed directly into a small fire such as the rim of a campfire.
Combustible - cup, bowl, saucer filled with sand or ash
Non-combustible - cup, bowl, saucer, tray with a hole for the incense
The ingredients list for your incense is pretty much anything you like. Aim for high quality natural ingredients, and to use at least one resin or wood ingredient with your herbs, and you'll be right!
Try and experiment with different substances and smells from botanical shops etc. You really can't go wrong!
HERBS - Turmeric, thyme, vanilla, vetiver, sweet grass, rosemary, sage, saffron, patchouli, orange powder, lemongrass, lavender, juniper tips, ginger, cinnamon chips
RESINS - Frankincense, Acacia, Amber, Balsam (Peru, Tolu, Copaiba), Hibiscus, Mastic, Dammar (white, brown), Burgundy Pitch, Benzoin (Siam, Sumatra), Dragon's Blood
WOODS - Pine, Sandalwood, Cedar (normal, red), Aloeswood with Agarwood, Palo Santo
Ultimately, the more powdery, the better. Mix all your ingredients into a loose mix, then grind it together into a very very fine powder.
Now add your binding agent, such as Arabic gum with charcoal (the charcoal increases combustion). There a many different binding ingredients and methods that you can use. Another common one is makko - a water soluble combustible material made from the Asian Tabunoki tree.
When you add your binding ingredient activated by water into your incense mixture, you will be able to shape your incense! The amount of water is dependent on the amount of resins/woods in your mixture, and the humidity of your environment, so work slowly at first and play it by ear!
Age and blend your mixture by letting it sit overnight (at minimum).
In a bowl, add your makko or binding ingredient to your mixture.
Begin mixing loose mixture and makko;
Play this by ear, and record notes of the ratio and ingredients used for next time!
Slowly add some drops of water and mix together with your hands - it should feel gummy and malleable. Knead the mixture well.
On/with a piece of baking paper, roll the mixture into sticks.
Allow to dry for a couple of weeks minimum (depends on your climate). Keep them away from humidity and sunlight.
Light it up and see how she burns! Enjoy the smell and feeling of your creation and observe.
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