Combustible Incense (cones, sticks)
Noncombustible Incense(sprinkled onto charcoal blocks)
Herbs for Scent

Combustible Incense ~

This type of incense is made so that it can be burned in the form of blocks, cones or sticks. This can contain saltpeter(potassium nitrate) to aid in burning, where the noncombustible does not. Noncombustible is far easier & less messy to make, but combustible is quicker to use; grab and light, stick in the holder & your done. It's easier to travel with; just throw the package in your pocket, purse, suitcase, handbag, and go! And, many wonderful blends of fragrances are already created & mixed together for your use. So, as you can see, they both have their advantages & the like-wise.

Not the easiest to make, so when you've finally made a usable incense, the feeling of reward will be very great!

Gum tragacanth glue or Mucilage is the basic ingredient in all types of molded incense. Gum tragacanth is available at herb shops. To make the glue, add 1 tsp. of this ground herb to a glass of warm water. Stir thoroughly until dispersed. You can use a whisk or beater, then let the foam settle when you're done. Gum tragacanth has phenomenal absorpbtion qualities. 1 oz. herb will absorb up to 1 gallon water in a week. If you can't find or get Gum tragacanth, use Gum Arabic instead. It's reported to work just as well.

Let the herb absorb the water until there is a paste.
Sticks require a thinner paste; cones & blocks should be a thicker mucilage. This is where practice is going to come in. Don't worry if your first batch comes out wrong, sticks are the hardest to make. Don't let this bring you down, obviously many many people have perfected this art. You can too.
When you've made the glue, cover with a wet cloth & set aside. It thickens as it sits. If it becomes too thick, add a little water and whisk again.

You will need a small kitchen scale
6 parts powdered Sandalwood, Cedarwood, Pine or Juniper...(woods)
2 parts powdered Benzoin, Frankincense, Myrrh, Copal,etc...(resins)
1 part ground Orris root (to fix the scent)
6 drops essential oil (whatever the main scent is going to be with the incense, add this oil as well)
3-5 parts incense mix: Refer below for Herbs for Fragrance
saltpeter

Powdered wood is used here in place of the traditional charcoal, which can make incense smell odd. Use Sandalwood if it's included in recipes, or use one of the other woods, depending on the type of incense you want to make. Try to match the wood with the incense used in the recipe. If you can't, use Sandalwood. Always atleast twice as much powdered wood as resinous ingredients. Make sure resins never constitute more than 1/3 of final incense mixture.

Mix first 3 ingredients until blended well. Add the essential oil and mix again with clean hands. You are creating a powdered mixture with a fine texure. Can be run through a mortar until done if you want. Add the powdered incense mix(main scent) and blend well with hands.

Weigh the completed mix. Add 10% saltpeter. If it weighs 10 oz. add 1 oz. saltpeter. It should be no more than 10% of completed incense bulk. If more is added it will either burn too fast or not at all. Mix until white powder is thoroughly blended. Next, add the glue. 1 tsp at a time. Mix with hands until all ingredients are wet. You're aiming for a stiff, dough-like texture for cones & blocks. If it' s too thick it won't form well or dry quickly. It should mold easily.

For sticks, add more glue. It should be thinner than the cone mixture, but still thick enough to stay on the sticks.

Mold mixture into cones just like the ones you see already made. Let sit in a warm place for 2 - 7 days to dry. Now it's ready to use.

Stick Incense ~

Same as above. Remember to add more glue to this mixture. It should still be thick enough to stay on the sticks though. You can use bamboo or wooden splints or skewers, broom straws, very thin twigs.

Dip the sticks into the mixture, let sit upright, then dip again. Several dips are usually necessary. The incense shouldn't be more than twice the thickness of the stick. Poke the done sticks in a foam block or slab of clay, something that will hold the sticks upright so they can dry properly.

You will need a self igniting charcoal block.

A censer that is heat proof. A simple bowl filled half way with sand or salt is perfect to rest the charcoal block on.
Make sure it's wide enough so the sides aren't near each other.

Powdered Incense Mix to sprinkle onto the charcoal block.

Light the charcoal block and quickly place it in the censer.
When it's glowing and the saltpeter has stoped sparkling, sprinkle about 1/2 tsp. or so incense mix ontop of lit block.
When smoke begins to thin out, add some more incense mix.
Don't knock off the ash that forms on the top unless it starts to smell funny. If it does, just scrape it off and add fresh mix.
If block doesn't ignite right away, or evenly, light again until it's all glowing red.

One herb incense is just as effective. Powder your dried herb of choice, and sprinkle on lit charcoal block.

Herbs for Fragrance ~

Acacia, Allspice, Angelica root, Anise, Basil, Bay, Beebalm, Cardamom seeds, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coriander seeds, Costmary, Frankincense, Ginger, Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon balm, Lemon peel, Lemongrass, Lemon verbena, Lilac, Lily of the valley, Marjoram, Mint, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Orange flowers or peel, Patchouli, Roses, Rosemary, Sage, Sandalwood, Santal, Scented Geraniums, Sweet flag root, Sweet woodruff, Thyme, Vetiver root and Violets.

***Use seperate, or blend a few together. Experiment with a few first. Burn them seperately on a charcoal block so you have an idea on what they will truly smell like. Some don't smell anything like they do before they're burnt. Have fun most of all!