How to Make Self-Lighting Powdered Incense

Incense has been used for centuries for medicine, spiritual practice and sensory enjoyment. Incense in our daily lives has become so common that it can even be found at your local discount store, but that doesn't mean that the quality is the same as a more natural, hand-ground powder. Store-bought incense can contain artificial dies, synthetic chemicals and toxins, so opt for a more natural alternative and try making your own.



Start with this beginning recipe, and once you become familiar with different herbs and woods you can try grinding your own blends to suit your taste.

Things You'll Need

• Mortar and pestle
• Measuring spoon
• 2 parts rose petals
• 1 part calamus
• 1 part spikenard
• 2 parts aloeswood
• 2 parts sandalwood

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Instructions

Making your Own Self-Burning Incense Powder

• 1

  Measure all of your ingredients before you begin grinding, but be ready to measure them once again afterward. This ensures the most accurate measurements. Because the recipe calls for parts, an easy guide for small batches would be a tablespoon.

• 2

  Grind each ingredient separately, starting with herbs and moving on to heavier woods and resins. Measure each ingredient again after grinding and, if needed, grind a bit more if it doesn't measure up.

• 3

  Return all of the ingredients to the mortar and use the pestle to mix and grind the powders even further to ensure they are properly "merged." Your incense is now ready to be used or, if you like, stored in a container to "age" for a few weeks, blending the scents even further.