Incense has been burning on altars for more than 5,000 years.  One of the oldest artifacts to evidence the use of incense during religious rites was found on a tablet placed on the Sphinx at Giza, Egypt, in about 1533 BC. In ancient times, smoldering incense served to mask the odors of animal sacrifices, but eventually became an offering in itself.  Today, it is used  in ceremonies to rouse and direct personal energy, and in purification rituals, particularly in many Oriental religions. In the West, the use of incense in religious practice is mainly restricted to Orthodox Eastern churches, and the Roman Catholic church.  The Anglican church allows the burning of incense, but it is not integral to the service.  Of course, followers of Native American, or Pagan traditions, use handcrafted incense as a natural expression, and empowerment, of their spiritual beliefs.

Home made incense can be prepared from an elaborate formula, or can be as simple as the sprinkling of a single dried herb on a bed of glowing coals.  Some traditional formulas may consist of endless combinations of dried leaves, roots, flowers, barks, resins and essential oils.  Sometimes, ground semi-precious stones, or empowered crystals, are added to lend their energies, as the ancient Meso-American peoples did with emeralds. Native Americans make a simple incense known as smudge, which is sage leaves woven or bound together.  The belief is that as the sage smolders, the atmosphere is relieved of negative vibrations, similar to the cleansing rite performed by Catholic priests, who use a mixture of frankincense and myrrh.

Incense making is a forgotten art to all but a few traditionalists.  While there are many good quality brands of incense available on the market, most of them contain artificial ingredients, and many produce an aroma that is just that - artificial.

This section  is dedicated to those of adventurous disposition and spirit.  Not only will you obtain the knowledge needed to make different forms of incense, but you will achieve the greatest satisfaction from devising private blends to help you cultivate the most reward from your personal and spiritual endeavors.

  There are basically two forms of incense: combustible and noncombustible.  We'll tackle the latter first, since it's by far the easiest method and requires little explanation.

Noncombustible incense is achieved by simply sprinkling a few pinches of dried plant material, or a blend of materials, on a smoldering charcoal block.  That's a charcoal block, not a charcoal briquette used for the barbecue!  Briquettes are of different composition, and give off toxic amounts of carbon monoxide.  Don't use them to burn incense!  Instead, occult supply stores, and many novelty shops carry a supply of raw charcoal blocks for this purpose.

While we're in a cautious mode, let it be said that you should always burn incense in some type of censor.  It could be a censor purchased just for this purpose, or a ceramic dish laid with a few inches of sand or salt.

Sometimes the sweet aroma of dried plant material can change dramatically when burned!  You'll need to experiment with blends you may already have in mind, or to discover new ones.  And, by using the noncombustible method, your mistakes, if any, will be short lived.  I would also advise that you sample mixtures on smoldering charcoal before proceeding to making them into combustible incense.

The plant material to be used should be finely ground in a food processor, blender, hand held coffee grinder, or an old fashioned mortar and pestle.

Combustible incense is made in the form of sticks (sometimes called joss-sticks), bricks, or cones. Whatever the volume and shape, combustible incense is always made with potassium nitrate, better known as salt peter.  This helps the incense to burn well, and evenly.  You can find potassium nitrate in nearly any drug store, although you may have to ask the pharmacist for it.

Gum tragacanth (or use gum arabic as a substitute) is made into a glue, and acts as a binding agent. It is the key ingredient in all molded incense. To make the glue, place a teaspoon of the ground gum in a glass of warm water and mix completely until dispersed.  A foam may rise, but it can be easily redistributed, or skimmed off if it gets in your way.  (The gum is unbelievably absorbent!  A mere ounce will absorb up to one full gallon of water in a single week!)  Allow your gum mixture to absorb the glass of water until it thickens to a paste.

 Now you will need to create your incense base.  An incense base is made up of talcum powder, sawdust, ground spice, dried herbs and flowers, or any combination thereof.  Once you have defined your base, an essential oil may be added for additional scent, the potassium nitrate is blended in, and finally, the gum-glue. 

Here's a sample mixture for cone incense:

6 parts powdered sandalwood or cedar

2 parts benzoin

1 part orris root

3-5 parts ground herb mixture of choice

6 drops essential herbal oil of choice

Mix the first four ingredients until well blended.  Add the essential oil (or combination of oils) and mix with your hands until you have a fine, crumbly mixture. Add the dried herb mixture and mix again.  Now add 10% potassium nitrate (KNO3).  In other words, use a ratio of 10:1.  If you've made 10 oz. of incense base, then add 1 oz. of KNO3.

Next comes the addition of the glue mixture.  Add one teaspoon at a time, mixing with your hands as you go. Add only enough of the glue to achieve the consistency of model clay or playdough from the entire mixture.

On a piece of waxed paper, shape the mixture into small cone shapes (just like the store bought ones you're already familiar with) and allow them to dry for a week in a cool, dry place.  The area you choose to dry the incense cones in must be free of moisture in order to dry thoroughly.

By following the sample recipe given, you can also make stick incense.  Although, this requires much more patience and tenacity than making any other form.  But, you'll amaze yourself and your friends...what better reward could you ask for?  Plan to spend the better part of a day in making these.

You will need thin wooden splints or skewers, such as thin, straight twigs, or cocktail skewers.  Each stick is dipped into the incense base until covered.  They are then allowed to dry standing on end, perhaps by poking them into a slab of clay, or a pot of dirt or sand.  This process is repeated until a satisfactory amount of layers have built up on each stick.

Block incense is made by rolling out the final mixture on wax paper to a 1/4 inch thickness - much like cookie dough.  Then cut into 1 inch squares and allow to dry thoroughly.

And there you have it!  Not so tough, although you will get good use from a kitchen apron while working the mixtures together!  Now, on to some recommended blends, the first of which is an ancient blend indeed.

Kyphi

Kyphi is an ancient Egyptian formula of which the Greek Essayist, Plutarch (46-120 AD) said: "its aromatic substances lull to sleep, allay anxieties, and brighten the dreams.  It is made of things that delight most in the night and exhibits its virtues by night."

The following is a traditional recipe for making Kyphi.  If you want to stick to it fine, but you may also omit or substitute certain herbs if some of the ingredients are difficult to obtain.

Place 1/4 cup raisins in a bowl.  Add just enough white wine to cover the raisins, cover loosely with  a tea towel or cheesecloth, and allow to steep for seven days.

On the third day, blend equal parts of the following powdered herbs in a bit of white wine:  Juniper, Acacia, Henna, Sweet Sedge Root.  After two days drain and reserve any liquid.

On the last day, drain the raisin mixture, reserving the liquid.  In a small bowl mix together equal parts of the following ground herbs: Calamus, Gum Mastic, Peppermint, Bay Laurel, Orris, Cinnamon, and Galangal.  Set aside.

In another small bowl blend together 1 tbls. powdered myrrh, and 1 tbls. clove honey. To this mixture add the ground herbs, and the raisins and herbs steeped in wine.  Blend well.  Add a little of the reserved wine if the mixture becomes too dry.  Follow the directions for making cone or block incense.

~Incense for Special Celebrations~

It should take little to convince you that our sense of smell can influence our mood at any particular time.  The aroma of freshly baked apple pie stirs visions of home and hearth; an exotic perfume reminds us of a lover; an earthy scent carries us to the first day of spring. Any real estate agent will tell you that a pot of coffee should be brewing, or a pan of onions and  mushrooms sautéing, when prospective buyers come to call. Even the atmosphere of hospitals and the workplace may become scented, as physical and mental well being is enhanced by indirect perfuming.

The following suggested blends should help you to make the best of your next special occasion. They may be sprinkled over a glowing charcoal block, or mixed with a fixative to prepare block or cone incense.

Christmas #1 ~ 2 parts frankincense, 1 part pine needles (crushed), 1 part ground cinnamon, 1 part ground nutmeg, 1 part cedar (crushed chips), 1 part juniper berries (well dried), 1 part ground clove.

Christmas #2 ~ 1 part frankincense, 1 part ground cinnamon, 1 part bay leaf (crushed), 1 part ground clove, 1 part ground mace.

Easter and other celebrations of spring ~

1 part fennel (dried leaves, crushed), 1 part anise seeds (crushed), 1 part coriander seeds (crushed), pinch of ground cinnamon, 2-3 drops geranium oil.

Halloween ~ 1 part sage (preferably the dried leaves crushed), 1 part arabic gum, 1 part bay (leaves, crushed), 1 part ground nutmeg, 2-3 drops sandalwood oil, 2-3 drops benzoin oil.

Samhain ~ 2 parts frankincense, 1 part powdered benzoin, 1 part ground cinnamon, pinch of saffron, 1-2 drops lemongrass oil, 2-3 drops vetiver oil.

St. Valentine's Day ~ 1 part sandalwood, 1 part bergamot, 3 drops patchouli oil, 2-3 drops ylang-ylang.

Romantic Evening ~ rosemary, 1 part lavender, pinch of basil, 3 drops jasmine oil, 3 drops rose oil, 2 drops vanilla.

Sweet Summertime ~

#1 - 1 part chamomile (including the dried flowers if possible), 1 part rose petals (crushed), 1 part mugwort, 2-3 drops of each: lavender, yarrow, and Bois de rose oils.

#2 - 2 parts sandalwood, 1 part benzoin, 1 part lemon balm, 2 drops orange oil.

Blends to Aid Meditation & Psychic Awareness ~

#1 - 1 part sage, 1 part frankincense, 1 part bay, pinch of ginger, 2-3 drops patchouli oil.

#2 - 1 part sandalwood, 1 part ground nutmeg, 1 part gum Arabic, 2-3 drops of each: clove, orange, clary-sage oils.

~ Incense Papers ~

Incense papers offer an interesting alternative to making traditional forms of incense.  Incense papers are made from blotter paper which has been soaked in a solution of saltpeter, and are heavily scented with strong herbal tinctures.

Tinctures are made by just covering dried herbs, finely ground, with ethyl alcohol.  Try to obtain a clear alcohol of at least 70% strength, or 140 proof.  If this isn't possible, then use a high quality vodka above 90 proof.

Place dried, powdered herbs into a glass jar with a tight sealing lid.  Add just enough alcohol to wet the powdered herbs.  Secure the lid, and allow to stand for 3 weeks, giving the jar a good shake each day.

Strain off the liquid through a paper coffee filter into a small bowl. A test of the tincture on your wrist will tell you if you have a suitable tincture.  The alcohol will quickly evaporate, leaving the scent behind.  If not, or if the scent is very faint, you must replace the alcohol and herbal mixture to the jar, and repeat the entire process.

Once a good tincture has been obtained, you can begin to prepare the papers.  Using white blotting paper, cut strips 5-6 inches in length, and 1 inch in width.  Dissolve 2 tsp. KNO3 in 1/2 cup of very warm water in a shallow pan. Soak each strip of paper in the KNO3 solution until thoroughly saturated.  Hang each strip to dry.

When all the papers have dried completely, you can begin scenting them.  Place several drops of the tincture along one side of each strip.  Make sure they are well coated with the scented tincture, by spreading the drops with a side of a butter knife, the back of a spoon, or other smooth, non-porous object.  When the papers are well coated, hang them to dry once more.  Store in air tight containers, away from heat and direct sunlight.

To light a paper, ignite on end, and quickly blow out the flame. The paper must have air circulation available in order to burn slowly, and completely.   You could devise a container which holds the paper by a "clip."  Or, a censor filled with sand or salt is suitable.  The tiny grains can be manipulated so that the paper stands upright to burn.