In Japan incense appreciation folklore includes art, culture, history, and ceremony. Incense burning may occasionally take place within the tea ceremony, just like calligraphy, ikebana, and scroll arrangement. Kōdō ( 香道), the art of incense appreciation, is generally practiced as a separate art form from the tea ceremony, and usually within a tea room of traditional Zen design. Sandalwood, cedar, and pine are all excellent bases that can add a very strong scent to your incense blend. There are types of these woods you can find that are “oil extracted” or are of lower quality that have very little scent, but most often you will need to plan for the scent of the base along with your aromatic ingredients. There are many kinds of herbs that can be used for incense, but typically you’ll find it made from things like:

Herrera, Matthew D. Holy Smoke: The Use of Incense in the Catholic Church. San Luis Obispo: Tixlini Scriptorium, 2011. www.SmellsBells.com Common incense herbs: Sage, Sweetgrass, Basil, Rosemary, Marjoram, Hyssop, Frankincense, Lavender, Rose, Juniper, Myrrh Traditional Chinese recipes actually call for the use of Elm bark powder, known as Yu bark powder (榆木粉/榆树皮粉). Unfortunately, the most desirable type of Elm bark powder for incense binding purposes is a pale colored powder, and this type of powder can be imitated by cheaper wood powders. So in recent year, the overall quality of Elm bark powders available on the market has deteriorated due to the mixing in of “fake” powders. We therefore prefer to use Nanmu powder, as this is a naturally darker wood powder which is difficult to fake, and the quality is much more stable. Place a cone in the center of a heat-proof bowl (an incense bowl is preferable) and light the tip of the cone. After several seconds, blow out the flame. The cone should continue to emit smoke until there’s nothing left but ash. Incense Safety Tips Particulate size: The incense mixture has to be well pulverized with similarly sized particulates. Uneven and large particulates result in uneven burning and inconsistent aroma production when burned. [ citation needed]

Why Use Incense?

One of the original uses of incense powder was it’s use in telling time. Incense was crafted according to carefully blended recipes which were known to burn evenly and within certain time periods. They were then able to use this incense to tell how much time has passed. x), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and adsorbed toxic pollutants ( polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and toxic metals). The solid particles range between around 10 and 500 nanometres (4 ×10 −7–2 ×10 −5 inches). In a comparison, Indian sandalwood was found to have the highest emission rate, followed by Japanese aloeswood, then Taiwanese aloeswood, while Chinese smokeless sandalwood had the least. [58] Do you know how to make incense without makko? Makko powder is excellent in incense making but many other powders work just as well. They might even produce better outcomes in terms of scent. Strengthen your connection to nature as soft clouds of frankincense, mastic, storax, sandalwood, cassia, juniper and lemongrass ascend to the universe! Let's rediscover the ancient art of how to make incense. When you’re done, place the cones on a lined baking tray and let dry for at least 12 hours. Flip the cones halfway through, so the sides dries evenly. Step 6 | Light

Jonathan Mitchell; Christopher Coles (2011). Markets and Rural Poverty: Upgrading in Value Chains. IDRC. p.50. ISBN 9781849713139 . Retrieved 5 August 2013. There are a small number of other types of ingredients, such dry animal parts (eg, musk, shells), or dry fruit parts (eg, citrus peel), but these are relatively few in numbers compared to the above categories. A variety of materials have been used in making incense. Historically there has been a preference for using locally available ingredients. For example, sage and cedar were used by the indigenous peoples of North America. [20] Trading in incense materials comprised a major part of commerce along the Silk Road and other trade routes, one notably called the Incense Route. [21]

Recommendations

Traditional Chinese incense are considered a part of a holistic health ritual, so their blend follow a similar structure as Traditional Chinese Medicine. We have simplified this to create the basic recipe structure below. The exact proportions can be tweaked and experimented with from here: Carefully mix the Makko powder into the incense mixture, ensuring a uniform consistency. Add water to the mixture gradually, just enough to make a dough-like texture that holds together. Be cautious not to add too much water to avoid a sloppy mixture difficult to shape. non-combustible incense (incense of the ancients) - "loose incense" (just the ingredients themselves, after grinding and mixing) or "incense pellets" (loose incense where soft resins, balsams, raisins or dried fruits and honey have been added to form pea sized "pellets"). This incense is heated using charcoal, makko or on mica atop charcoal. This is the easiest method of mixing incense but requires just a few more steps and utensils to burn.

Mix all your dry ingredients together first (herbs & woods), separately mix all your resins together then add your resins mixture to your dry mixture and mix together thoroughly. We like to throw the completed mixture into our mortar and pestle again and grind it all together one last time to help blend the aroma of each ingredient into the others Incense has been used as an aphrodisiac in some cultures. Both ancient Greek and ancient Egyptian mythology suggest the usage of incense by goddesses and nymphs. Incense is thought to heighten sexual desires and sexual attraction. [57] [ unreliable source?] Health risks from incense smoke [ edit ] Okay, now that you have chosen what type of incense you wish to enjoy and what kind of incense burner you'll use, it's time to start enjoying the fine art of incense making. Jennifer, Rhind (21 October 2013). Fragrance and Wellbeing; Plant Aromatics and Their Influence on the Psyche. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p.167. ISBN 9780857010735 . Retrieved 21 October 2013.However, other substances can be used to substitute makko powder based on their different uses. But remember to consider the substitute’s scent. Some are stronger and some are too mild. It should be a fragrance that serves to complement the entire blend. Makko Powder Substitute Teeth whitening powder: Combine equal parts of Makko powder, baking soda, and a pinch of salt. Wet your toothbrush, dip it into the mixture, and brush your teeth gently for a couple of minutes. Rinse thoroughly when done. The use of a wood-based binder (vs Xanthan gum, or gum Arabica) is particularly helpful for beginners. Wood helps with the burning process, as opposed to gum, which hinders the process at certain quantities. Incense burners have been found in the Indus Civilization (3300–1300 BCE). [12] Evidence suggests oils were used mainly for their aroma. This was the first usage of subterranean plant parts in incense. [13]