Creating Your Own Incense

Making incense is a creative and rewarding activity that allows you to enjoy personalized scents while using aromatic materials. I have a deep passion for conducting workshops where participants can create their unique blends. I emphasize the significance of nuanced interactions with complementary aromas, akin to the art of crafting an exquisite fragrance. You will need to understand the differences between Top, Middle, and Base notes. Creating a harmonious palette is key to creating your various incense aromas.

This post is for information on getting started, but this is not a start-to-finish lesson. I’ll provide a recipe for you to experiment with blending on your own, but be aware that the results may vary initially. A recipe is helpful, but understanding the essential notes is key to creating a lovely fragrance blend.

To begin, you will need to start by understanding your own olfactory abilities.

To further understand let’s begin with how people like or dislike certain foods or smells. The smell or taste triggers unpleasant reactions and in turn we steer clear of those smells or foods moving forward. Cilantro is one of those smells or tastes that is spoken about most frequently. For some, like me cilantro is an agreeable flavour that offers a nice boost to salads, sauces, and pasta dishes. For others, it is a repulsive pungent smell and bitter flavour that many refer to as tasting like soap.. Lavender has a very similar effect. Lavender has been used in many spice blends and baking for centuries and is also one of my favourites. As a child, I loved THRILLS gum, a tasty lavender-flavoured treat found in every candy shop. My brother, on the other hand, was not a fan and thought it tasted like soap. Our sense of smell is intricately linked to our sense of taste, making the two inseparable. When crafting incense, it’s essential to recognize how these two senses work together even though we are not consuming the end product. We should be aware that certain aromas, which we might not particularly enjoy, will sometimes surface in different fragrance blends. Of course, after one masters the olfactory side of things, one must master the blending side of the craft to understand small amounts of what we dislike can actually become pleasing when blended with others!

In fragrance creation, we use the term “notes” to describe the components that help us understand the formula and the necessary amounts for balance.

To begin you need to gather a few important supplies: natural resins, aromatic essential oils, and an assortment of dried herbs and blossoms. This is where you get to decide which ones appeal to you, and what you are going to want as your end result. Consider adding honey, dried fruits, peels, wine, and other ingredients based on your preferences. These ingredients work best when cones, or sticks.

I begin all my blends with resins as a base. Many can be easily ground into fine powder, making them simpler to blend with other ingredients. Feel free to explore a range of natural materials by incorporating dried herbs such as sage, lavender, or rosemary. However, it’s essential to determine your starting base first. The key is to not have competing fragrances fight with each other for recognition.

Learning to identify layers or notes is the most important part of the craft. The base should be dominant but not overpowering. Your middle note should add complexity and your top note should be what you first smell when lighting up your incense. All of these aromas should compliment each other and lend to the overall scent.

If you begin with a powdered resin, you can add other resins, and dry ingredients such as ground dried herbs and flowers. Middle notes can be enhanced with other lighter scented resin, additional dried ingredients, or even essential oils. Always ensure that the oils you choose are safe for burning. You do not want nasty chemicals emitted pungent toxic particles and black smoke into the surrounding air. A few drops of really good quality essential oil can go a long way in achieving a desired aroma.

Combine your selected ingredients in a bowl or pestle, making sure to mix them thoroughly. Grind and macerate until you achieve the desired consistency for the type of incense you are crafting. If you have a preference for sticks or cones, I suggest using a binding agent such as makko powder and a little water, honey, or a little wine which helps hold everything together. Shape your mixture into sticks or cones, and lay them out to dry completely. This can take several days, depending on humidity levels.

After they are fully dried, you can test your incense by lighting a small piece. If you have created powders then you will require a charcoal puck which is not the same as a charcoal briquette used for a BBQ. Take note that charcoal pucks are most often quick-light, which means they contain saltpetre. This natural compound releases an intense sharp smell, so be sure to heat the puck until it shines with a glowing warmth before adding your powders. I recommend Three Kings Charcoal as the most reliable.

Once your incense is burning, take the time to analyze each note you have added. Can you smell each one, do they harmonize, or is one ingredient overpowering the rest? If you are not happy with the overall aroma, adjust your recipe in future batches to better suit your preferences.

Not only is creating a beautiful fragrance a wonderful experience but making your own incense is a great way to engage all your senses and improve your living space, whether for meditation, relaxation, or a better home atmosphere. Moreover, incense serves as a thoughtful gift for friends and family who cherish natural fragrances. So gather your materials, unleash your creativity, and start your journey into the world of custom incense making!

Just think… you will not only be able to create unique incense blends for yourself, but also for friends and family.

At one point some years ago I created an entire line of incense cones based on the Zodiac signs and their most notable traits.
Once you understand the intricacies of fragrance notes—Top, Middle, and Base, you’ll be equipped to choose ingredients and scents that perfectly align with the recipient’s personality.

I want to briefly lay out the notes mentioned above:
Base notes, which are the grounding scent. Often woodsy or musky
Middle notes, add the personality. Think spices and stronger floral or herbal aromas
Top notes, are just that. Light often sweet or floral.
Personal preferences will play a part in the scents chosen.

As someone born under the zodiac sign of Leo, I created an incense fragrance for Leo that I feel best encapsulates our personalities with a deep base notes, mid range spicy tones and a fresh citrus top note. You can try the recipe below to see if you enjoy the end result. This is a powdered incense so no binders are required. If you were to create a cone I would recommend a little honey as the binder to offer a sweet note that compliments the citrus.