How to Get Supplies to Make Incense Sticks
Incense has been used in every civilization since the Stone Age. It is used in religious ceremonies, medicine and for personal enjoyment. Incense is available in many different scents and shapes. Incense sticks are a popular choice and you can make them yourself. To get started, you need the right supplies.
Things You'll Need
- Gloves
- Resins, wood and herbs
- Measuring tools
- Mixing bowls or plastic bags
- Spoon
- Mortar and pestle or coffee grinder
- Maako powder
- Distilled water or hydrosol
- Wax paper
- Blank bamboo sticks
- Pen and paper
Instructions
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Wear gloves to protect your hands while making incense. Disposable latex gloves work well as they are thin and allow full use of your fingers.
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Find natural incense ingredients such as resins, wood and herbs. Make sure to have at least one resin or wood in your incense mixture as it acts as a base. Combine ingredients to make custom incense based on your preferences.
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Measure your ingredients using measuring cups or spoons or a gram scale. Also use bowls or plastic bags to hold your ingredients. Mix your ingredients in a mixing bowl using a stirring spoon.
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Use a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder to pulverize your ingredients in to a fine powder. You can buy your ingredients in a powdered form but freshest ingredients are obtained if you buy them raw and pulverize them yourself.
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Form your incense sticks using makko powder. When mixed with your loose incense mixture and distilled water or hydrosols, makko allows the mixture to be formed in to sticks.
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Roll your mixture into sticks on a flat surface covered with wax paper. The wax paper will prevent your mixture from sticking. Use blank no additive bamboo sticks and roll your mixture onto those.
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Record your recipe. Write down your exact measurements so you can make your incense again.
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Shop on-line for all the supplies you need to make incense. See Resources section.
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Tips & Warnings
Some charcoals contain saltpeter, which is a toxic substance. Use bamboo charcoal or use makko-it is better for the environment.
