Gums/Resins : Freeze gums and resins (and the mortar and pestle) for about half an hour before trying to grind them. It makes the grinding process easier. Grind them in a mortar and pestle. You can also grind pre-soaked rice in it to help fill any small holes in its surface so that the gums and resins don't stick in the holes.
Woods : Sometimes it's better to buy pre-ground wood. You can get it in small chips or powdered forms. If you do want to make your own, use a hammer and chisel. Break off small pieces of the wood and then use the hammer and chisel to get them down to pellet size. Once they are that big you can finish grinding them in a coffee grinder.
Herbs, Spices, and Flowers : Most of these can easily be ground in a mortar and pestle. With things like cloves, it can be harder to grind them. Grind them in the mortar and pestle first and then run them through a grinder or mill.
Fruit : Citrus fruits can be grated and then the grated peels can be dried and used in incense. You can also dry peels by placing them on screens, wax paper, a cutting board, and so on. Turn them occasionally. Once they are dried, you can grind them in grinders or mills and then use them in incense blends.
Source:
incensemaking.com/making-incense.htm
Re: Incense By: Lonicera
Post # 2 Mar 10, 2016
The following is a brief list of incense and their magical associations.
Allspice: wealth, luck, and energy.
Arabic, Gum: purification and protection.
Bay: purification, protection, healing, and improvement of psychic powers.
Benzoin: purification, prosperity, and improvement of mental powers.
Cedar: purification, protection, healing, spirituality, and wealth.
Cinnamon: improvement of psychic powers, wealth, healing, protection, and love.
Clove: protection, exorcism, wealth, love, and purification.
Copal: protection, cleansing, purification, spirituality, and purification of gemstones before magical use.
Dragon's Blood: love, protection, and exorcism.
Fern: indoors for exorcism and outdoors for rain.
Frankincense: protection, exorcism, spirituality, love, and consecration.
Juniper: exorcism, protection, healing and love.
Myrrh: healing, protection, exorcism peace, consecration, and meditation.
Pine: wealth, purification, healing, and exorcism.
There are two types of incense, combustible and non-combustible. Combustible incense have potassium nitrate (saltpeter) in them to help with the burning process and non-combustible incense don't. Combustible incense are usually burned in cones, sticks, and bricks. Non-combustible incense are sprinkled on charcoal blocks.
So, the first type of incense we'll talk about is non-combustible. I'll post information on it today and then tomorrow morning I'll post the second half on combustible incense that way it will all be posted around the days leading up to the chat discussions.
Making Non-combustible Incense:
Measure each ingredient before and after grinding them. You can use a scale or measuring spoons. If you measure with a scale measure them in grams. If you use measuring spoons, 1/4tsp, 1/2tsp, 1tsp, and 1 tbsp. You can use measuring cups too if you are making large amounts of incense.
Step 1. Make sure all ingredients are grind to a granular form. Grind them separately before you mix them.
Step 2. Once you are ready, mix them and if you can grind them again if you want.
Step 3. You can now add essential oils at this time. Just add a small amount, only a few drops should be needed. You can also use the oil in the place of an herb that you don't have.
Step 4. Charge your incense with your goal. (This only needs to be done if you are using it along with a spell, ritual, or any magic related purpose.)
Step 5. Heat your incense. You can do this by placing them on or near a hot charcoal block. If you place it directly on the block it can burn away quickly and makes a lot of smoke, so I would recommend just placing it right beside of the charcoal.
You can make adjustments to the incense as you like. Just remember that some ingredients can smell differently when burned so test small amounts of the ground herb before using it in your recipes.
Source:
incensemaking.com/making-incense.htm
The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews by Scott Cunningham.
Re: Incense By: Lonicera
Post # 5 Mar 10, 2016
Combustible Incense: A lot of the ingredients can be hard to find.
Making Your Glue:
Gum tragacanth glue, also known as mucilage, is the base ingredient for this type of incense. It can be found in some herbal stores and some pharmacies may carry it. It can be expensive to buy. It was 3.00 an ounce at the time of the printing of Scott Cunningham's book. The book was printed in the late 80s - early 90s so prices for the gum may have changed.
If you can't fine the Gum tragacanth glue, you can use gum arabic in its place.
To form the glue, take a teaspoon of the gum and put it in a glass of warm water. Mix it up until all of the gum is dispersed and dissolved. You can speed up the process by using a whisk. This may cause foam to rise, but you can skim it off.
Let the gum absorb the water until it becomes a thick, unpleasant smelling paste. The consistency of the mixture you are making depends highly on the type of incense you are making. Incense sticks are thinner in composition and cones and blocks are heavier in composition.
Once you have made your glue, set it aside and cover it with a damp cloth. It will continue to thicken up, so if it gets too thick just add a little water.
Making Your Incense Base :
This is for a cone incense base.
You will need:
6 parts non-self-igniting Charcoal
1 part ground Benzoin
2 parts ground Sandalwood
1 part ground Orris root
6 drops of an essential oil that is associated with the herbs added.
2-4 parts of an empowered incense (this is an incense that you have made and charged for rituals, Sabbats, spells, and so on. This is made from a non-combustible incense.)
Mix the first four ingredients until you have them well blended. Add the essential oil and mix with your hands. The powder needs to have a fine texture. If you need to, grind it in a mortar until it has the right consistency.
Once that is done, add the empowered incense and mix well. Use a kitchen scale and weigh the incense once you've mixed all of it. Then, add 10% potassium nitrate (you can usually find it at pharmacies). If you made 10 ounces of incense, add an ounce of the nitrate. Mix this until it is properly blended.
If you add too much of the nitrate, the incense will burn too quickly. If you add too little, it might not burn at all.
Now, add the tragacanth glue a teaspoon at a time. Do this until all of the ingredients are wet. For cone incense, the mixture will need to be very stiff and dough-like.
One a sheet of wax paper, shape the incense into cones. Let the incense dry for 2-7 days in a warm spot.
Source:
"The Complete Book Of Incense, Oils, and Brews." ~ Scott Cunningham
Re: Incense By: GrayGhost
Post # 6 Mar 13, 2016
Wow thanks for all the info :O that's a lot to digest
I'm glad people make these meta posts so that I can be reminded of all the projects I can do when I'm bored and no idea what to do
Oh this is great! I'm in the process of learning to make my own candles, and making my own incense would be a great addition to what I'm doing! Thank you for the information.
