Anyone can learn to make their own incense at

home, and it can be as simple or complex

as you want to make it.

But before you embark on this aromatic journey,

there are fundamental principles and a certain level
of understanding that must be in place to ensure
your incense making endeavors are to be a success.

One of the biggest challenges that novice

incense makers face...

...is investing considerable effort, time, and resources

into crafting an incense blend, only to have it not turn
out the way they’d hoped. This can lead to frustration
and even thoughts of giving up on the craft...

© 2023 All Rights Reserved - The Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine

...Their incense falls apart,
doesn’t hold its shape, ends up
not smelling as good as they
expect, ends up not burning
properly, or worst case scenario,
it won’t even stay lit for more
than a few seconds!

These issues are incredibly

common, and there's a real
shortage of resources providing
comprehensive guidance on the
fundamental building blocks of
incense.

Until now...

In this guide, I’ll be sharing with

you the 4 Elements of Incense
which encompass the various
materials necessary to craft a
strong, combustible, and
consistently burning incense.

With this knowledge you’ll be

well-equipped to create
incredible and effective blends
for health, ritual, or enjoyment.
 THE 4 ELEMENTS OF INCENSE

#1 - Base Materials

When making incense cones, sticks, or other types of

shaped incense, the first component you need to know
about are base materials.

Bases are botanical powders that make up the bulk of

an incense blend – essentially serving as its foundation.
These are most often fragrant hardwoods or other types
of wood, roots, or barks, that play multiple roles in an
incense blend.
 Combustibility

Base materials are essential for ensuring that combustible

incense, such as sticks and cones, burns completely.
Without any base material, your incense won't burn
properly.

If you use base materials but don't get the ratio right, your
incense cones may only burn partially before
extinguishing.

Achieving the correct balance of base materials to other

ingredients is crucial, and this ratio can vary depending on
the specific blend and various other factors.
 Fragrant Foundation

Most base materials emit a subtle, pleasing aroma that

enhances the overall fragrance of a blend. These materials
typically release a heavier, sweeter 'base note' scent when
burned, creating an ideal canvas for the other aromatic
ingredients to blend seamlessly.

Common base materials in incense crafting include wood

powders from aromatic trees such as Sandalwood,
Agarwood, Cedar, Juniper, and tree barks like Makko powder.

Summary: Base materials facilitate the independent burning

of formed incense and impart a rich, sweet underlying aroma
that enhances and unifies the overall fragrance.
#2 - Aromatics
The next components in an
incense formula are a diverse
range of aromatic botanical
materials found around the world.

Today's vast selection of aromatics

offers incense crafters virtually
endless possibilities for creating
unique scent combinations,
whether for pleasure, ritual
enhancement, or medicinal
purposes.

These aromatic plant materials

encompass a variety of types,
including woods, barks, roots,
seeds, leaves, needles, flowers,
certain fruits, resins, and gums.

Each type has its distinctive

properties, some with specific
applications and unique methods
of incorporation into incense
blends. Within these groups are
numerous materials that act very
differently from one another.
 There are certain materials that hinder the
burning process of cones and sticks when
used in excess, and there are
those that support it...

...The goal is to find a balance with these materials. For

example, using too much of a certain variety of plant material
such as Frankincense resin, will cause a cone or stick incense
to not burn properly or thoroughly.
Resins, gums, fruits, waxy
foliage, certain oil-dense
woods, and other materials
simply aren’t combustible on
their own, so they must be
balanced with a material that is
combustible to make sure an
incense blend burns just right.

Understanding how to create a

well-balanced blend consisting
of the proper amounts and
ratios of different aromatic
materials is a crucial skill to
learn as an incense crafter.

Summary:
Aromatic materials found in the
plant kingdom are used in
incense for their fragrance and
medicine to create a fine-tuned
aromatic profile, particular
therapeutic quality, or certain
ritualistic atmosphere.
#3 - Binders

Binders are what hold everything together

in an incense blend.

When it comes to crafting formed incense, such as cones

and sticks, natural binders play a vital role as the 'glue' for
incense crafters. Various liquid or powdered gums, resins,
viscous plant extracts, and select bark materials serve as
binders in nearly all types of incense, including many
loose incense formulations.

In certain incense types, like nerikoh and loose incense,

even ingredients like honey can serve as binders while
infusing a sweet note into the overall aroma.

Binders are the key to creating and maintaining the solid

shape of incense cones and sticks over time. Achieving
precise ratios and amounts of binders is a fundamental
aspect of successful incense crafting.
Excessive binder can affect or
prevent burning altogether,
while too little can result in a
fragile structure, resulting in
crumbly incense that doesn't
hold up well.

The secret lies in striking the

perfect balance with the unique
blend of materials at hand. With
practice, this skill can become
second nature.

Common binders include

tragacanth powder, honey, guar
gum, xanthan gum, melted tree
resins, plant gums, and makko
powder.

Summary: Binders, typically

sticky plant extracts or other
materials, solidify the shape of
incense. Activated by heat or
water (depending on the binder
used), they act as a glue when
dried or cooled.
#4 - Water

Water gives rise to form, synthesizes ingredients,

and brings life to a blend.

Whether crafting sticks, cones, or loose incense, water activates

gum binders, shaping and solidifying the incense.

Beyond its physical role, water holds

spiritual significance for many incense
crafters and medicine makers, infusing
synergy and magic. Many cultures
traditionally recite prayers, songs, or
mantras during the addition of water,
infusing positive energy and intentions
into their incense.
 When added to the dry ingredients of a blend,
water also activates the aromatic medicine of the
plants on multiple levels.

Water also unlocks aromatic properties in plants. In some

cultures, liquids like perfumes, attars, hydrosols, and essential
oils substitute or complement water.

Summary: Liquids, particularly water, mix ingredients into

incense dough, create forms, activate gum binders, and are
traditionally used in countless incense cultures to infuse
prayers and intentions to enhance spiritual and medicinal
effects.
In the world of incense crafting, we
have four fundamental elements:
Bases, Aromatics, Binders, and
Liquid or Water.

Understanding the unique qualities of

each of these elements and finding a
harmonious balance among them is
essential in your crafting journey.

So far, you've learned the

significance of having a solid base
material as the foundation of your
incense formula. You've explored
the diverse aromatic materials that
constitute the heart and soul of a
blend.

You’ve recognized the necessity of

using natural binders to maintain
your incense's shape. And you've
learned how water and other liquids
come together to harmonize and
activate the ingredients.

You now possess awareness of

these building blocks. However, to
truly succeed in creating incense
that burns flawlessly and retains
its form, you'll need to
understand how they synergize.
Next Up...
In the final lesson of this series, I'll guide you step-by-step
through the process of crafting your own great-smelling,
well-formed incense.

You'll gain insights into every stage, from raw

ingredients to the finished product. Plus, I’ll share my
simple recipe and help you with sourcing your
ingredients so you can craft my blend at home
effortlessly.

Soon, you'll be creating incense that not only delights

the senses, maintains its integrity, and burns perfectly
but also instills a sense of fulfillment and confidence in
your work.

You'll have the means to craft incense for friends and

family, whether for ritual, meditation, or pure
enjoyment. For aromatherapists, herbalists, and other
healers, this journey will add an ancient aromatic
healing dimension to your practice, deepening your
holistic approach and helping your patients address
various physiological, psychological, emotional, and
spiritual concerns.

I know you’ll love the final lesson of this series.

See you soon!"

Evan Sylliaasen