How to Make Stick Incense

People burn incense for a variety of reasons. For some, it's part of a spiritual process. Others simply like the smell. Regardless, there is a virtually endless selection of aromas and types of incense out there. Although it's easy and inexpensive to buy your incense commercially made, more and more people are finding it rewarding to make their own incense. Although the easiest type of incense to make is the loose style, putting together stick incense isn't too difficult. Making your own stick incense allows to choose the blend of smells that works best for you. Incense in its truest form is simply a blend of wood, herbs, flowers and resin--all things you can find without much trouble, and use to make your own incense.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rubber gloves
• Gum arabic
• Warm water
• Woods, such as cedar or juniper
• Resins, such as myrrh, benzoin or frankincense
• Herbs, like sage, rosemary or cinnamon
• Orris root
• Essential oils of your choice
• Mortar and pestle for grinding herbs
• Saltpeter
• Bamboo sticks
• A Styrofoam block

1. Make the mucilage. This is what will allow the incense to adhere to the stick. Add 8 to 10 oz. of warm water to 1 tsp. gum arabic. This should form a thick, oatmeal-like paste. Add more water if needed. Cover the mucilage with a warm, wet dishcloth to keep it moist while you work on the rest of your ingredients. You'll want the mucilage to sit and thicken for at least a couple of hours.

2. Make the base of your incense. This is done by combining a wood, a resin and an herb. As a basic incense recipe, use six parts of a powdered wood, such as cedar, pine or juniper. Add two parts benzoin. Finally, mix in one part orris root.

3. Add the essential oils. Begin with six to eight drops of the oil of your choice. Blend this into the incense base by kneading with your hands. Be sure to wear your gloves! If you prefer not to use essential oils, you can also use honey or wine as a liquid.

4. Blend together your favorite herbs. Add five parts herb blend to your base mix. You should grind the herbs until they are powdery before adding it in. Use your mortar and pestle if needed.

5. Once you've got everything blended together, weigh the mixture, and calculate 10% of whatever unit you're using to measure. Add that much saltpeter. If you have 9 tbs. of incense mix, then 10% will be 0.9 tbs. of saltpeter. If you have 20 oz.. of incense, add 2 oz. of saltpeter.

6. Add the mucilage, a little bit at a time, and blend it into the incense mix. Your final result should be a bit like dough--pasty and thick, but not too clumpy. Also, you don't want it to be too moist, but it needs to be wet enough that you can shape it with your hands.

7. Roll the dough out between two sheets of waxed paper so it's very thin. Gently roll the bamboo sticks in the pressed dough, so that a thin layer of dough forms around each stick. Be sure to leave a few uncovered inches on one end for you to hold. Squeeze the dough around the stick so it will adhere better. Stick the uncovered end into the Styrofoam block, so that the stick can dry. Repeat this process until all the sticks are coated, or you run out of dough.

8. Allow the sticks to dry for five to seven days in a cool place. Once they are completely dry, store in an airtight container until ready to burn.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure you don't overdo it on the saltpeter. While this is what causes the incense to burn in the first place, if you add more than 10%, it will make your incense burn out too quickly.
• Always wear rubber gloves when handling incense. Some essential oils can be harmful if absorbed through the skin.