Wow, now that wasn't hard! Looking it up probably will be the easiest step to making incense...
Here is what I found:
Combustible Incense-
*Can be formed into shapes such as bricks, cones or sticks.
*Harder to make but easier and faster to get lit.
*Needs a binding material
*A combustible material is used to make the sticks or cones. (Potassium Nitrate/saltpeter)
Non-combustible incense-
*A loose incense, sprinkled onto glowing charcoal blocks (not self-igniting charcoal used for grilling)
*The ingredients are ground or made into pellets.
*Incense is easier and more practical to make.
*It is heated by charcoal, makko, or mica atop charcoal.
*Used to billow clouds of smoke
I will have more info when I get more than one source.
How to make Loose/Noncombustible Incense-
Procedure:
Finely grind each ingredient into a powder using a morter and pestle or electric grinder. Mix the resins and gums together in a ceramic bowl. Then, mix the powdered herbs, add any liquids such as essential oils or honey (a few drops). Mix any powdered stone that your recipe may call for. Now that is all done. Store in a tightly closed jar and label.
How to make Stick/Cone Incense-
Tools you may need:
-A small kitchen scale
-Morter and pestle or grinder
-Wax paper
-Bowls for mixing
-For stick incense you will need some type of sticks. Bamboo splints, straw, twigs or wooden skewers
-For stick incense you will need something to hold the sticks upright as they dry. Clay will work.
Procedure:
To make tragacanth glue:
place a teaspoon of the ground herb in a glass of warm water. Mix until all ot the particles have dispersed. Let the tragacanth absorb the water until it turns into a thick paste. If you are making stick incense the consistancy of the paste should be thin and thicker for cones or blocks. Learn the consistancy by trial and error... Once the glue has been made, cover and set aside.
To make incense base *from cunningham's book:
6 Parts ground Charcoal
1 part ground benzoin
2 parts ground sandalwood
1 part ground Orris root
6 drops essential oil
2 to 4 parts mixed incense
Mix the first four ingredients. Add the drops of essential oil and mix with your hands. Look for a fine texture. You can run the mixture through the morter and pestle or grinder again to obtain the right texture. Add 2 to 4 parts of the completed incense mixture(noncombustable mixure) and combine well using your hands. Using a kitchen scale, weigh the incense and add 10% potassium nitrate.
10 ounces of incense= 1 ounce of potassium nitrate
Mix until powder is blended. Add the glue a teaspoon at a time and mixing with your hands. For cone incense the mix should be like dough. On wax paper shape the mix into cone shapes. Let it dry for up to a week in a warm place.
To Make Blocks:
place 1/3 inch thick dough square on wax paper. Cut with a knife into 1 in" cubes. Seperate and dry.
To Make Sticks:
After finding the right consistancy of the dough, dip the sticks into the mixture and sit them upright. Dip again. You may need to dip several times. When the sticks are thick enough poke them upright into clay and allow them to dry.
Resources:
Thank my lucky stars I have these books!
The Complete Book of Incencse, Oils & Brews by Cunningham
Incense:Crafting & Use of Magical Scents
How to Make Incense
Here is what I found:
Combustible Incense-
*Can be formed into shapes such as bricks, cones or sticks.
*Harder to make but easier and faster to get lit.
*Needs a binding material
*A combustible material is used to make the sticks or cones. (Potassium Nitrate/saltpeter)
Non-combustible incense-
*A loose incense, sprinkled onto glowing charcoal blocks (not self-igniting charcoal used for grilling)
*The ingredients are ground or made into pellets.
*Incense is easier and more practical to make.
*It is heated by charcoal, makko, or mica atop charcoal.
*Used to billow clouds of smoke
I will have more info when I get more than one source.
How to make Loose/Noncombustible Incense-
Procedure:
Finely grind each ingredient into a powder using a morter and pestle or electric grinder. Mix the resins and gums together in a ceramic bowl. Then, mix the powdered herbs, add any liquids such as essential oils or honey (a few drops). Mix any powdered stone that your recipe may call for. Now that is all done. Store in a tightly closed jar and label.
How to make Stick/Cone Incense-
Tools you may need:
-A small kitchen scale
-Morter and pestle or grinder
-Wax paper
-Bowls for mixing
-For stick incense you will need some type of sticks. Bamboo splints, straw, twigs or wooden skewers
-For stick incense you will need something to hold the sticks upright as they dry. Clay will work.
Procedure:
To make tragacanth glue:
place a teaspoon of the ground herb in a glass of warm water. Mix until all ot the particles have dispersed. Let the tragacanth absorb the water until it turns into a thick paste. If you are making stick incense the consistancy of the paste should be thin and thicker for cones or blocks. Learn the consistancy by trial and error... Once the glue has been made, cover and set aside.
To make incense base *from cunningham's book:
6 Parts ground Charcoal
1 part ground benzoin
2 parts ground sandalwood
1 part ground Orris root
6 drops essential oil
2 to 4 parts mixed incense
Mix the first four ingredients. Add the drops of essential oil and mix with your hands. Look for a fine texture. You can run the mixture through the morter and pestle or grinder again to obtain the right texture. Add 2 to 4 parts of the completed incense mixture(noncombustable mixure) and combine well using your hands. Using a kitchen scale, weigh the incense and add 10% potassium nitrate.
10 ounces of incense= 1 ounce of potassium nitrate
Mix until powder is blended. Add the glue a teaspoon at a time and mixing with your hands. For cone incense the mix should be like dough. On wax paper shape the mix into cone shapes. Let it dry for up to a week in a warm place.
To Make Blocks:
place 1/3 inch thick dough square on wax paper. Cut with a knife into 1 in" cubes. Seperate and dry.
To Make Sticks:
After finding the right consistancy of the dough, dip the sticks into the mixture and sit them upright. Dip again. You may need to dip several times. When the sticks are thick enough poke them upright into clay and allow them to dry.
Resources:
Thank my lucky stars I have these books!
The Complete Book of Incencse, Oils & Brews by Cunningham
Incense:Crafting & Use of Magical Scents
How to Make Incense
