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How to Make Incense Spice

Sweet, fragrant smoke and the pungent aroma of a fine musky or herbal incense transports the senses across the world or back in time. Creating homemade incense can be a cost-effective approach to creating very personal aromatherapy, crafty gifts and garden herb favorites for room fragrance or mood enhancement. Once combined with the bark of the ancient Tabu tree, the aromatic stick or cone incense will cleanse the environment and renew the spirit.

Things You'll Need

Mortar and pestle or food processor
4 tbsp. incense ingredients
Tabu bark-makko powder
Distilled water
Mixing bowl or food grade plastic bags
Measuring cup or spoons
Drying cloth or wax paper
Notebook

Instructions

- 1
  
  Pine tree bark mixes well as a fragrant scent or a substance for even burning.
  
  Combine 4 tbsp. of one of the following ingredients, or mix to preference: wine, honey, vanilla bean, coffee bean, lavender flower tips, ground clove, cinnamon, dragon's blood flower, nag champa oil, sandalwood, green tea leaves, ginger leaf, pine oil, pumpkin spice, sage or sweet grass leaves, or lemon balm with 1/2 to 1 tbsp. of makko powder in the mortar and pestle and grind materials into a fine powder.
- 2
  Place the ground mixture into the mixing bowl and add small amounts of water to the dry or damp ingredients. Mix the paste by hand with a kneading motion until it forms a gummy paste or cookie dough consistency.
- 3
  
  Mortar and pestles grind dry ingredients without contaminating food surfaces.
  
  For cones, place the paste on wax paper and form the cone shape. If using sticks, place the mixture onto wax paper and cover a portion of the bamboo stick. Replace the wax paper over the stick and roll to shape.
- 4
  Uncover the cones or sticks but leave them on the wax paper surface for approximately 24 hours so the ingredients have sufficient time to set to ensure even burning of the incense.

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