How to Make Copal Resin Incense
Copal resin incense is the dried sap of the protuim copal tree, which is native to Central America and Southern Mexico. Copal resin incense has a long history of use among the Mayan and Aztec civilizations and is still common among the contemporary inhabitants of this region, who use it for religious ceremonies as an incense and as a medicine for respiratory ailments. Copal resin is now popular around the world for its clean exotic scent and its uplifting properties. You can make your own copal resin incense at home, provided you have access to a protium copal tree or another aromatic tree or shrub from the family Burseraceae.
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Instructions
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Making Copal Resin
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1
Find a healthy copal tree that is at least half a foot in diameter and over 10 years old, with continuous bark surrounding the trunk. Hymenea courbaril from the Caribbean and Bursera simaruba from Mexico can also be used.
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Make several incisions in the bark with your knife or machete. Be careful not to cut too deeply into the tree's interior, as this will damage the copal tree and is considered bad luck.
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Leave the tree alone for about a week. The copal tree should exude its sap resin from the cuts you have made.
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4
Return to the copal tree and hand collect the resin from the bark. Roll the resin into balls that are pea to marble sized and place in the bucket.
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Let the copal resin balls dry away from the sun on a tray or sheet of paper that doesn't allow them to touch each other. Copal resin will completely dry in about two to three weeks, depending on the size of the balls, and take on a crystalline appearance.
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Burn the copal resin incense in a ceramic or other natural container and let the beautiful smell lift your spirit.
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