The World Makes Scents / Make your own

How to Make Incense: 30 Natural Recipes

A little powder. A little water. A world of scent.

Explore 30 plant-based blends, from soft florals and garden herbs to deep woods, fragrant resins, warm spices and bright citrus. Choose a scent that speaks to you and make it by hand.

30 RECIPES  ·  6 SCENT PROFILES  ·  ALL MEASURED BY WEIGHT

Before you begin: Every recipe uses Makko powder as its base. Percentages refer to the dry blend and total 100%; water is added separately. Start with a 10 g batch: 50% = 5 g, 15% = 1.5 g and 1% = 0.1 g. Use a scale that reads to 0.01 g.

Ingredient links take you to powders available in our shop. Use fully dried, finely powdered materials throughout.

The shared method

From powder to incense

  1. Prepare your ingredients. Grind and sift dried botanicals and woods to a fine, consistent powder. Use pure resins without added perfume or fillers. Remove cardamom husks before grinding the seeds. Use fully dried lemongrass and lemon verbena leaves, ground and sifted to a fine powder.
  2. Weigh and mix. Weigh each ingredient using the recipe percentages. Mix the powders thoroughly before adding water.
  3. Incorporate the resin. Powder hard, brittle resin separately in short grinding pulses. If resin is soft or sticky, weigh it separately and work the premixed powders into it gradually. Avoid forcing gummy resin through a grinder.
  4. Add water gradually. Knead in small additions of filtered water until the dough holds together and shapes without crumbling. The amount needed varies by blend; water is separate from the 100% dry formula.
  5. Shape your incense. Roll thin, coreless sticks or small cones. Keep pieces similar in size so they dry evenly. Sticks and cones may need different drying times and formula adjustments.
  6. Let it dry completely. Air-dry with gentle airflow, turning pieces as needed. Allow several days or longer depending on thickness and humidity. Do not burn while the center is still damp.
  7. Light and enjoy. Set the dry incense in a suitable fireproof holder. Light the tip and gently extinguish the flame once a glowing ember forms.

Burn with care. Use in a ventilated space, keep away from flammable materials, children and pets, and never leave burning incense unattended. Avoid inhaling grinding dust or concentrated smoke.

Make it your own. Natural ingredients vary between harvests and suppliers. Keep notes on aroma, water used and burn performance. Make small batches when changing an ingredient or adjusting a formula.

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Floral / 5 recipes

Floral

Soft petals, lavender and gentle woodland foundations.

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Herbal / 5 recipes

Herbal

Garden herbs, dry sage and fresh aromatic accents.

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Woody / 5 recipes

Woody

Warm sandalwood, fragrant palo santo and deep cedar.

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Resinous / 5 recipes

Resinous

Pine resin, frankincense and warm, sweet balsamic notes.

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Spiced / 5 recipes

Spiced

Cardamom, cinnamon and clove layered over warm woods.

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Citrus / 5 recipes

Citrus

Lemongrass, lemon verbena and bright woodland accents.

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Ready to start blending?

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