How to Make Natural Incense at Home: Step-by-Step DIY Guide
- Astrid van Essen
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
A beginner-friendly guide to herbs, resins & mindful scent rituals
Introduction
Of course, you can buy incense in-store or online, but making your own is a fab little project. Creating a blend that smells right for your space is hands-on, calming, and incredibly satisfying. Whether after something earthy and grounding or floral and uplifting, homemade incense lets you customise everything from the ingredients to the shape.
This guide covers everything you need to know: the key ingredients, tools, and simple steps to shape your own incense sticks, cones, or loose blends—naturally and beautifully.
1. Natural Ingredients for Homemade Incense
At the heart of good incense is a simple blend of natural ingredients. You’ll typically need a combination of:
Base woods – like sandalwood, cedarwood, or palo santo
Resins – such as frankincense, myrrh, or copal
Dried herbs or flowers – like lavender, rosemary, sage, rose, or chamomile
Spices – cinnamon, clove, star anise, or cardamom
Optional extras – citrus peel, dried fruit, or even coffee grounds for a smoky twist
I usually start with what I have in the cupboard or herb drawer—it’s a lovely way to use up small quantities of leftover botanicals.
2. Tools You’ll Need
You don’t need anything fancy to get started. Here are the basics:
A mortar and pestle or a spice grinder (to finely grind ingredients)
A sieve (for a smooth, even texture)
A mixing bowl and spoon
A clean surface or moulds (for cones or sticks)
Air-tight jars (for storage)
3. Blending Your Custom Scent
This is where the fun begins. Think of it like perfume-making: you’re balancing base, middle, and top notes to create a scent journey.
Here are a few beginner-friendly blends to try:
Grounding Blend: sandalwood, patchouli, cinnamon
Cleansing Blend: frankincense, sage, orange peel
Relaxing Blend: lavender, myrrh, rose petals
Start small—just a tablespoon of each ingredient—and adjust by sniffing the dry mix. You can always write your recipe down to repeat it later.
4. Making It Burnable
To get incense to burn smoothly, you need a binder and enough moisture to shape it.
I use Makko powder, a natural bark powder that helps everything hold together and burn evenly.
Other options include tragacanth gum or guar gum.
Add warm or floral water/hydrosol to form a dough-like consistency. Go slow—it’s easy to add too much!
Your mix mustn’t be too dense or sticky. The right texture is a bit like clay: pliable, not wet.
5. Shaping and Drying
You’ve got three main options:
Loose incense—no shaping required. Store it in a jar and burn it on a charcoal disc.
Cones – pinch off a small piece and shape it into a cone with your fingers.
Sticks – form around a bamboo skewer or roll freehand into narrow logs.
Drying time: 3–7 days, depending on humidity. Leave your incense to dry in a warm, airy spot away from direct sunlight. You’ll know it’s ready when it feels dry to the touch and burns without sputtering.
6. Storing & Using Your Incense
Once dried, store your incense in an airtight container, ideally somewhere dark and dry. This helps preserve the fragrance.
Burn on a heat-safe surface or incense holder, and always keep an eye on it, especially around pets or children.
Final Thoughts
Making incense at home is one of those quiet rituals I return to again and again. It’s grounding, creative, and deeply personal. No two batches are exactly alike—and that’s half the charm.
Whether crafting a special blend for the season, setting an intention for the day, or just enjoying the scent of herbs in your home, this is a beautiful way to bring nature indoors.
Comments