Incense

[Guest guest]

Hey All,

 

I am starting a new endeavor and need some advice. Making incense. I will be rolling my own cones and sticks but I can't find plain sticks to put the stuff on. I find unscented punks for dipping in oil, but I want plain sticks nothin' on them. Anyone know of anywhere to get them or if I can make up something on my own?

 

LindaRed Barn Enterpriseshttp://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprisesCandles & Metal Home Decor

[Guest guest]

Linda,

I've never been happy with the blanks. What do you use to roll your own?

 

Peace,

Yvette

 

In a message dated 11/9/2001 10:09:14 PM Pacific Standard Time, redbarn writes:

 

 

Hey All,

 

I am starting a new endeavor and need some advice. Making incense. I will be rolling my own cones and sticks but I can't find plain sticks to put the stuff on. I find unscented punks for dipping in oil, but I want plain sticks nothin' on them. Anyone know of anywhere to get them or if I can make up something on my own?

 

Linda

Red Barn Enterprises

[Guest guest]

Yvette,

 

Well, as I said, I will be making incense. Key word will. The recipe I have uses powdered fragrance, Makko to hold it together and water. It makes a dough. I hope it works. All my stuff is on order, I will let ya know how it goes when it gets here.

 

If that doesn't meet my ideals of what an incense should be, then I will try the dipping method. :0) When you say you don't like the blanks....do you mean the punks or plain sticks?

 

LindaRed Barn Enterpriseshttp://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprisesCandles & Metal Home Decor

 

-

spiritedherbs

Saturday, November 10, 2001 5:26 AM

Re: Incense

Linda,I've never been happy with the blanks. What do you use to roll your own?Peace,YvetteIn a message dated 11/9/2001 10:09:14 PM Pacific Standard Time, redbarn writes:

Hey All,I am starting a new endeavor and need some advice. Making incense. I will be rolling my own cones and sticks but I can't find plain sticks to put the stuff on. I find unscented punks for dipping in oil, but I want plain sticks nothin' on them. Anyone know of anywhere to get them or if I can make up something on my own?LindaRed Barn EnterprisesMy Pictures of Aromatic Plants and Exotic Places In Turkeyhttp://members.home.net/chrisziggy1/triptoturkey.html

[Guest guest]

Hiya Linda, Yvette, All,

 

I make loose incense, never used the blank sticks or cones. I got some Tabu

powder to use as a binder to make the more Japanses style sticks and cones

... but I haven't gotten a chance to play around with it yet. Good luck with

the Makko!

 

*Smile*

Chris (list mom)

 

Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil - BIG SALE

http://www.alittleolfactory.com

 

Doug & Linda Manley wrote:

 

Yvette,

 

Well, as I said,

I will be making incense. Key word will. The recipe I have uses

powdered fragrance, Makko to hold it together and water. It makes a dough.

I hope it works. All my stuff is on order, I will let ya know how it goes

when it gets here.

 

If that doesn't

meet my ideals of what an incense should be, then I will try the dipping

method. :0) When you say you don't like the blanks....do you mean the

punks or plain sticks?

 

Linda

Red Barn Enterprises

 

http://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprises

 

Candles & Metal

Home Decor

 

 

-

 

 

spiritedherbs

 

 

To:

 

 

 

Saturday, November 10, 2001 5:26 AM

 

Re: Incense

 

 

Linda,

I've never been happy with the blanks. What do you use to roll your own?

 

Peace,

Yvette

[Guest guest]

Chris,

So....what is Japanese style sticks? Have you tried the Makko? I'm tellin ya this is all new to me. I love incense but the stuff in the store makes me ill. I read your files about incense and now I know why it made me ill. So I will just have to make my own.

LindaRed Barn Enterpriseshttp://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprisesCandles'>http://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprisesCandles & Metal Home Decor

 

-

Christine Ziegler

Saturday, November 10, 2001 9:56 AM

Re: Incense

Hiya Linda, Yvette, All,I make loose incense, never used the blank sticks or cones. I got some Tabu powder to use as a binder to make the more Japanses style sticks and cones .. but I haven't gotten a chance to play around with it yet. Good luck with the Makko!*Smile*Chris (list mom)Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil - BIG SALEhttp://www.alittleolfactory.comDoug & Linda Manley wrote:

 

Yvette,

 

Well, as I said, I will be making incense. Key word will. The recipe I have uses powdered fragrance, Makko to hold it together and water. It makes a dough. I hope it works. All my stuff is on order, I will let ya know how it goes when it gets here.

 

If that doesn't meet my ideals of what an incense should be, then I will try the dipping method. :0) When you say you don't like the blanks....do you mean the punks or plain sticks?

 

LindaRed Barn Enterpriseshttp://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprises Candles & Metal Home Decor

 

-

spiritedherbs

Saturday, November 10, 2001 5:26 AM

Re: Incense

Linda,I've never been happy with the blanks. What do you use to roll your own?Peace,YvetteMy Pictures of Aromatic Plants and Exotic Places In Turkeyhttp://members.home.net/chrisziggy1/triptoturkey.html

[Guest guest]

I would not suggest you try to make your own sticks. They are an impossible pain in the butt! For one, it is nearly impossible to obtain the thin bamboo strips that are the actual strips here in the US. And second, they do not use natural ingredients to produce those sticks! Natural ingredients simply do not produce such a thin coating on the stick.

 

I have tried many times to produce the sticks. I hate it! Now traditional doppa isn't so bad. That is using basically using the same recipe you use for cones or blocks and rolling it out into a log around a small stick. These are short and thick. They also have about double the binder and about triple the fragrance.

 

I have used cones blanks, and sticks blanks (which usually don't work), and I have made my own incenses. Above anything else, I prefer just taking the herbs and lighting them. Sometimes I bundle like smudge sticks, usually not. It is easy and quick:) Then next I prefer loose handmade incense. It has to go on a charcoal, but so do all my resins. If you get quality charcoal it will burn for several hours (between 4 and 6 is a good ballpark), and you can use anything on it, just add a new pinch after the first one burns out.

 

Making cones and bricks from scratch is a lot of fun, however you pretty much have to use salt peter and sawdust. Those are really the only formulas that have worked for me. They aren't really worth the effort just to get the scent. But if you like making them, then enjoy. Do fairly largish batches, since they have to cure for so long. Then once cured, store your incense in a plastic bag or glass jar! Don't let it over dry, it wont burn.

 

As for adding oils to blanks, you usually need a cutting agent for the oils. The reason for this is so your incense doesn't just burn to nothing. Since the oils are flammable and fire fuel, you can really get some big flames quick. The cutting agents retard the flame, but they are also pretty icky stuff to be breathing. A few of them are okay, but are still synthetic. The sticks, unless they are great quality blanks, usually fall apart after soaking. And it is a mini nightmare to try and saturate a stick with a dropper evenly.

 

I have had some success with substituting herbs and resins for the dusts in some of my formulas. Although I usually try to use some wood dust, I just make sure it is pure and actual dust (shavings and ground wood just don't work). Mainly anymore I make story telling powders. You toss a handful of this stuff into a campfire or sprinkle some over a candle or other live flame and you get sparks and flashes and pretty colors (plus scent of course). Some of them pop and make different noises for effect.

 

I think between the story telling powders and the loose or bulk incense, I have found the easy and happy medium.

 

 

Blessings,SosenedaQuidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur.ICQ# 47264444AIM: SosenedaA: Soseneda_ArianrhodLooking for herbs and other witchy supplies?Many wonderful handmade items from Twining Vines available at The Town Market TheTownMarket

[Guest guest]

I have the punks. I'm not really crazy about them. I'm looking for other ways. (I guess I'm just too lazy to read the books and I'm looking for someone to just tell me.)

 

Keep me posted.

 

Peace,

Yvette

 

In a message dated 11/10/2001 7:01:25 AM Pacific Standard Time, redbarn writes:

 

 

When you say you don't like the blanks....do you mean the punks or plain sticks?

[Guest guest]

Chris,

How do you make loose incense?

 

Peace,

Yvette

 

In a message dated 11/10/2001 7:57:12 AM Pacific Standard Time, chrisziggy1 writes:

 

 

I make loose incense, never used the blank sticks or cones.

[Guest guest]

Soseneda,

I had never heard of loose incense till I joined this list. What exactly is it and how is it made? I understand that it is burnt on charcoal. Is this special charcoal or coal or what? Do you add EO to herbs or just use the herbs? Sorry for so many questions but I want to make my own incense and want to make it in the best way possible.

 

The recipe I have for the cone incense says to let it set for 24 hrs. Is that not long enough cure? It is made with powder not EO. Could that be the reason it is not that long? Worth a try, not that expensive to get started with. :0) If it works, then great. If not then I will try something else. :0)

LindaRed Barn Enterpriseshttp://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprisesCandles & Metal Home Decor

 

-

Soseneda

Saturday, November 10, 2001 11:38 AM

RE: Incense

 

I would not suggest you try to make your own sticks. They are an impossible pain in the butt! For one, it is nearly impossible to obtain the thin bamboo strips that are the actual strips here in the US. And second, they do not use natural ingredients to produce those sticks! Natural ingredients simply do not produce such a thin coating on the stick.

 

I have tried many times to produce the sticks. I hate it! Now traditional doppa isn't so bad. That is using basically using the same recipe you use for cones or blocks and rolling it out into a log around a small stick. These are short and thick. They also have about double the binder and about triple the fragrance.

 

I have used cones blanks, and sticks blanks (which usually don't work), and I have made my own incenses. Above anything else, I prefer just taking the herbs and lighting them. Sometimes I bundle like smudge sticks, usually not. It is easy and quick:) Then next I prefer loose handmade incense. It has to go on a charcoal, but so do all my resins. If you get quality charcoal it will burn for several hours (between 4 and 6 is a good ballpark), and you can use anything on it, just add a new pinch after the first one burns out.

 

Making cones and bricks from scratch is a lot of fun, however you pretty much have to use salt peter and sawdust. Those are really the only formulas that have worked for me. They aren't really worth the effort just to get the scent. But if you like making them, then enjoy. Do fairly largish batches, since they have to cure for so long. Then once cured, store your incense in a plastic bag or glass jar! Don't let it over dry, it wont burn.

 

As for adding oils to blanks, you usually need a cutting agent for the oils. The reason for this is so your incense doesn't just burn to nothing. Since the oils are flammable and fire fuel, you can really get some big flames quick. The cutting agents retard the flame, but they are also pretty icky stuff to be breathing. A few of them are okay, but are still synthetic. The sticks, unless they are great quality blanks, usually fall apart after soaking. And it is a mini nightmare to try and saturate a stick with a dropper evenly.

 

I have had some success with substituting herbs and resins for the dusts in some of my formulas. Although I usually try to use some wood dust, I just make sure it is pure and actual dust (shavings and ground wood just don't work). Mainly anymore I make story telling powders. You toss a handful of this stuff into a campfire or sprinkle some over a candle or other live flame and you get sparks and flashes and pretty colors (plus scent of course). Some of them pop and make different noises for effect.

 

I think between the story telling powders and the loose or bulk incense, I have found the easy and happy medium.

 

 

Blessings,SosenedaQuidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur.ICQ# 47264444AIM: SosenedaA: Soseneda_ArianrhodLooking for herbs and other witchy supplies?Many wonderful handmade items from Twining Vines available at The Town Market TheTownMarketMy Pictures of Aromatic Plants and Exotic Places In Turkeyhttp://members.home.net/chrisziggy1/triptoturkey.html

[Guest guest]

Loose incense is any combo of herbs, resins, and oils. Sometimes they are filled with dusts. Basically the ingredients are ground to near powder, leaving some chunks, or whatever your preference. Then you stir in any extra eos and bag it u p, or put it on the charcoal.

 

It is incense charcoal, not the briquettes you put in your bar-b-que grill. You can find the incense charcoal at new age type suppliers. There are several good brands, usually you buy it in a roll of like 5 or 6 briquettes.

 

You can add eos to herbs, or just use herbs, or just resins, or whatever you want. It is easy stuff.

 

For cone incense usually it needs to cure for about a week and a half. You need oil in it or it will not burn for very long. It also needs a lot of powder (for scent and for structure). Basically you need a dust base (wood dust of some sort), then you need something to burn (like salt peter), then you need something to bind (gums are often used), then you need something to smell (eos, herbs, resins), then you need some fuel (oil). You mix all the powdered stuff, get it smelling right. Then mix all the wet stuff, again smelling right. Then you mix the two together until you get a dryish paste. Then you form it into your shape (doesn't have to be a cone), and set it on something non-porous to cure for a while. Usually, they work best if you go back after curing and add a drop of diluted eo on top of each cone or brick. Then bag up tight and light:)

 

 

Blessings,SosenedaQuidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur.ICQ# 47264444AIM: SosenedaA: Soseneda_ArianrhodLooking for herbs and other witchy supplies?Many wonderful handmade items from Twining Vines available at The Town Market TheTownMarket

[Guest guest]

Soseneda,

 

Thanks for all your help. Will let you know how my first try at it works out, or doesn't. :0)

 

LindaRed Barn Enterpriseshttp://www.geocities.com/redbarnenterprisesCandles & Metal Home Decor

 

-

Soseneda

Saturday, November 10, 2001 4:41 PM

RE: Incense

 

Loose incense is any combo of herbs, resins, and oils. Sometimes they are filled with dusts. Basically the ingredients are ground to near powder, leaving some chunks, or whatever your preference. Then you stir in any extra eos and bag it u p, or put it on the charcoal.

 

It is incense charcoal, not the briquettes you put in your bar-b-que grill. You can find the incense charcoal at new age type suppliers. There are several good brands, usually you buy it in a roll of like 5 or 6 briquettes.

 

You can add eos to herbs, or just use herbs, or just resins, or whatever you want. It is easy stuff.

 

For cone incense usually it needs to cure for about a week and a half. You need oil in it or it will not burn for very long. It also needs a lot of powder (for scent and for structure). Basically you need a dust base (wood dust of some sort), then you need something to burn (like salt peter), then you need something to bind (gums are often used), then you need something to smell (eos, herbs, resins), then you need some fuel (oil). You mix all the powdered stuff, get it smelling right. Then mix all the wet stuff, again smelling right. Then you mix the two together until you get a dryish paste. Then you form it into your shape (doesn't have to be a cone), and set it on something non-porous to cure for a while. Usually, they work best if you go back after curing and add a drop of diluted eo on top of each cone or brick. Then bag up tight and light:)

 

 

Blessings,SosenedaQuidquid Latine dictum sit, altum videtur.ICQ# 47264444AIM: SosenedaA: Soseneda_ArianrhodLooking for herbs and other witchy supplies?Many wonderful handmade items from Twining Vines available at The Town Market TheTownMarketMy Pictures of Aromatic Plants and Exotic Places In Turkeyhttp://members.home.net/chrisziggy1/triptoturkey.html