Natural incenses?

[Newbieoffractals]

I'd love to find some 100% natural, artificial fragrance free incense, because it gives some of my friends headaches!

Does anyone know what I should look for in such sorts of incense? What types of incenses would be good? Does anyone know of any good links for this sort of incense?

[EntwinedScylla]

I make hand-compounded incenses, some that are coal burning, and some that burn like cones (or sticks).

Making your own incense is really easy, and rather fun. You also control -exactly- what goes into it, so no surprises!

If you, yourself, aren't into craftytype stuff like that, there are websites like Alchemy-works.com (and a few others) that sell 100% natural, handmade, incenses.

[Newbieoffractals]

How do you go about making homemade incense? I'm interesting in trying that, but it would depend on how much work it would take! I've also never tried coal burning incense, which could be interesting! (With resins, I light some wood and put it in them, like a candle... Probably a bad idea.)

I'll check out Alchemy works! I'm mainly looking for sites that are legit natural, as opposed to the whole "all incense is natural" or using weird wording to imply their products are something when they aren't. So thanks a ton for the rec!

[EntwinedScylla]

Making incense at home isn't hard. It can be "tricky", though. My incense uses only two "special" ingredients, at worst. Those ingredients would be prepared Gum Tragacanth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragacanth) to "glue" everything together, and a tiny, tiny, tiny ammount of Saltpeter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate) to encourage burning in stubborn herbs. I only use those ingredients for making shaped cones or sticks.

The "tricky" comes in with experimenting to see what herbs smell good when burnt, and what... er... don't. It's also about mixing otherwise bitter and unpleasant scents, or overly sweet scents with others to achieve a balanced blend.

I started out with Wylundt's Book of Incense (http://www.amazon.com/Wylundts-Book-Incense-Wylundt/dp/0877288690) following the recipes given, and moved on to making my own blends.

The simplest incense is just a spoon full of resin or powder on a hot coal. You can make loose blends that contain a few, or dozens, of herbs and resins (and no special ingredients). One of my temple incenses has 52 ingredients. Another is just a bit of wine-soaked Myrrh on a coal disc. Complexity is going to be based entirely on what you want and like.

The long and short of making coal-burning incense is "scoop stuff together in a bowl or jar. Mix it around. Put it on a hot coal."

[WanderlustAfar]

I make hand-compounded incenses, some that are coal burning, and some that burn like cones (or sticks).

Making your own incense is really easy, and rather fun. You also control -exactly- what goes into it, so no surprises!

If you, yourself, aren't into craftytype stuff like that, there are websites like Alchemy-works.com (and a few others) that sell 100% natural, handmade, incenses.

I came to say just this.

What got me into making my own incense was a gift exchange at a Yule circle I attended. I got hand-made, labeled incense and fell in love with how much cleaner it was in general. I loved the fact that it was loose, and burning it on a coal disc was new to me, but it's now one of my favourite ways to burn incense.

[EntwinedScylla]

What got me into making my own incense was a gift exchange at a Yule circle I attended. I got hand-made, labeled incense and fell in love with how much cleaner it was in general. I loved the fact that it was loose, and burning it on a coal disc was new to me, but it's now one of my favourite ways to burn incense.

It was pretty much the same for me. I purchased a tiny, tiny (two tablespoon) packet of handmade incense at a witchy store. I burnt it on some little charcoal tabs, and went "Oh WOW!"

I have been ever-impressed with handmade incenses. Even some very silly exploits between myself and friends (incenses made as a "response" to popular blends. I.e. "Sand in my crack" vs. "Sex on the beach") and as I have moved away from commercially created stuff, I've discovered that I like handmade things far better most of the time. Now I'm teaching myself how to make beeswax candles, too!

[Newbieoffractals]

Thanks! I might try making my own at some point!

[Godgifu]

The only brand I can name off my memory with your requirement is Fred Soll's incense, which are basically just resins that he made into stick form.

It's actually not hard to make your own incenses, and then you could be sure of the ingredients. There is stuff called makko that you just mix with herbs, oils and water (about 4 parts makko to 6 parts herb or spice power -- resins should be avoided, they dampen the burn too much. Then add about 10 - 15 drops of essential oil for every teaspoon for the herb-makko kix, and then just wet it and form cones or whatever you want. Once it's dry, voila! Incense.)

Or you could go real old school and just use resins burnt on charcoal.

[EntwinedScylla]

"Newbie", if you ever have any questions about the process, feel free to PM me. I'm more than happy to help folks out!

[Newbieoffractals]

Godgifu-Are resins generally mixed with fragrance oils, or all natural? Also, how do you go about burning things on charcoal? I guess you just sorta sprinkle it on? Thanks!

[EntwinedScylla]

I would suggest avoiding the use of oils, unless you're -extremely- sparing with them (I suggest no more than 10 drops to a total volume of 1/2 cup of dry mix). Sometimes the scent is overwhealming.

As far as coal-burning, you use little charcoal tabs like these (http://laurelsmokeshop.com/images/AAAAAkR7z8IAAAAAAPwnKA.jpg). They're placed in a heat-proof dish, preferably on a bed of sand. You light the coal with a match, or VERY carefully with a lighter. Sparks race across it, and it's lit. Give it a minute or two to begin slowly burning, then heap about a half a tablespoon of incense mixture onto the cup-shaped side. Once it stops smoking, knock the ash off with a metal tool, and add another scoop.

By shopping for "Hookah coals" you'll actually get them cheaper than "Incense coals", by the by.

[Newbieoffractals]

Thanks a ton! Thanks for the tip about hookah coals!

The cup shaped side? Is this for specific incense burners, or what? Do you burn them on top of the charcoal, or on a dish that is on top of the charcoal?

[EntwinedScylla]

You burn it on the charcoal. The coal has a cup-shaped-side impressed into it.

[_Banbha_]

I would suggest avoiding the use of oils, unless you're -extremely- sparing with them (I suggest no more than 10 drops to a total volume of 1/2 cup of dry mix). Sometimes the scent is overwhealming.

As far as coal-burning, you use little charcoal tabs like these (http://laurelsmokeshop.com/images/AAAAAkR7z8IAAAAAAPwnKA.jpg). They're placed in a heat-proof dish, preferably on a bed of sand. You light the coal with a match, or VERY carefully with a lighter. Sparks race across it, and it's lit. Give it a minute or two to begin slowly burning, then heap about a half a tablespoon of incense mixture onto the cup-shaped side. Once it stops smoking, knock the ash off with a metal tool, and add another scoop.

By shopping for "Hookah coals" you'll actually get them cheaper than "Incense coals", by the by.

Are Hookah coals the same thing as incense coals?
I ask because I hope for something less toxic than the traditional incense coals. :)

[Newbieoffractals]

Ah, thanks! That makes sense! Can you use homemade charcoal, or charcoal for grills? Basically, without the cone shaped indentation?

[EntwinedScylla]

Are Hookah coals the same thing as incense coals?
I ask because I hope for something less toxic than the traditional incense coals. :)

I'm not exactly sure what's supposed to be "toxic" about them, so in order for me to answer that I'd need to know what you mean by "toxic"

[EntwinedScylla]

Ah, thanks! That makes sense! Can you use homemade charcoal, or charcoal for grills? Basically, without the cone shaped indentation?

I suppose you could, theoretically, use a grill briquette, but I wouldn't suggest it. To me, they have a distinct odor that... is ookie.

IF you're looking for something different, there's always Japanese Temple Coals. (http://www.alchemy-works.com/supplies_charcoal_and_tongs.html)

[Newbieoffractals]

Thanks! Yeah, I was concerned a bit about the lighter fluid, and I know you can sometimes find ones here that don't have the lighter fluid in them. But, I might just get incense coals to start with, and then try other stuff later! Thanks for all your help!

[_Banbha_]

I'm not exactly sure what's supposed to be "toxic" about them, so in order for me to answer that I'd need to know what you mean by "toxic"

Most incense burning charcoal contains potassium nitrate and sulfur which is both toxic and noxious.

I was wondering if the Hookah coals were more like the chemical-free Japanese coals you just mentioned and that I'm more familiar with as well.

[EntwinedScylla]

Most incense burning charcoal contains potassium nitrate and sulfur which is both toxic and noxious.


Edit: Sorry, I was foggy-brained here. "Quick Lighting" Hookah coals, or any "Quick lighting" coal generally uses Saltpeter or other such accelerators.

"Natural" Hookah coals do NOT. Neither do most Japanese coals.

Of the hookah coals, I like the Coco nara as they're made of compressed coconut, and are thus eco-friendly. 100 of them are about $15.

[Newbieoffractals]

Ah. Thanks! I might try the Hookah coals then! How long do they take to heat up then?