How to Make Herbal Incense

Many of the ingredients you find in herbal incense have little or almost no scent until they are heated. For centuries, throughout the world, incense and spirituality have gone hand-in-hand. The soft aroma of herbal incenses has been embraced by many religious congregations, and continues to be used by Buddhists, Catholics, and many other organized religions.

While many people prefer to buy their incense from a retailer, there’s a high demand for instructions from those people who wish to create their own herbal incense. This is great new, as the ‘Do It Yourself’ culture always attempts the ‘hands on’ approach.

The process of creating incense itself, although a little messy, is actually quite easy. All you need to do is get the hang of it. To create your own incense, you should take things one step at a time. If it doesn’t come out to your expectations the first time, try again. You’ll master the art of incense making soon enough.

? First, you’ll need to select a binding solution. We suggest Makko. What is Makko, you ask? Makko is a water soluble binder that also acts as a burning agent. It’s completely natural, as it’s made from the barks of trees (Evergreen’s to be specific). There are no chemicals, charcoals, or synthetic elements added to the natural ingredients. It’s just that--natural.

? Mix warm water and your desired ingredients (in powdered form) with the Makko. Knead it with a fervor very thoroughly, and form the mix into small cones or sticks. Once you have your incense laid out, give it approximately twenty four hours to dry at room temperature.

Need a great base aroma? Try Sandalwood. It also makes for an excellent burning agent.

Here’s a recipe for Cone incense, to get you started. Follow the measurements carefully for a soothing calm scent that will burn wonderfully in your home.

1 Part Makko
1 Part Powder of Sandalwood
1 Part Powder of Cassia
½ Part Powder of Clove
Add a little bit of warm water to your mix and knead the combination thoroughly, until it has been blended completely. If it feels too tough, add a little more water. Form the dough mixture into small incense cones. Let the cones dry for at least 24 hours.

After you’ve created several batches of incense with the aid of instructions, you may feel brave enough to try and create your own concoction. Should you attempt this task, research different herbal incense powers to see which aromas blend well with one another. Once you create the perfect scent, you’ll never buy store-bought incense again!