How to make your own incense

Here is how to make your own incense. Making incense is fun but it takes some special preparation and supplies to do it correctly.

Let us assume for this project you want to make 100 of the 11-inch sticks.

Here is what you will need in supplies...
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• 11-inch unscented incense sticks (bundle of 100).
• Perfume Oil of your choice. You must use a good grade of perfume oil. Do not use fragrance oil.
• Dipropylene Glycol - (DPG)
• 2 (two) NSF Stainless Steel containers slightly larger than the incense sticks. Not too large. The larger the container the more oil you will need to add to the container.
• A Stainless-Steel sheet tray. (small)

Important: Do not use anything that contains alcohol or that can be dispensed through a sprayer. Do not use a perfume oil product from a department store as it contains alcohol.
 
Plastic food containers may not be substituted for the stainless-steel containers.

How to begin...
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• Place your unscented incense sticks into one stainless-steel container with the pulp side down. (Bamboo sticks will be exposed above the oil level.)
• Using your second stainless-steel container, mix the PERFUME OIL with the DPG in the stainless-steel container.

Information regarding ratios...

• 4 parts DPG to 1 part perfume oil.

• 3 Parts DPG to 1 part perfume oil

• 2 parts DPG to 1 part perfume oil. (This will make a strong aroma when burning).

***If your PERFUME OIL has a strong fragrance your ratio to DPG may need to be greater.***

• Put your unscented incense sticks into the mixture with the pulp side down.  (Bamboo sticks exposed above the oil)
•  Let it stay in the mixture for 24-48 hours. You must get all the air out of the incense sticks by submerging them in the oil and supersaturating the sticks. 

After 24-48 hours soaking in the oil mixture...

• Remove a few sticks and sample, (smell), the fragrance. If it is to your liking,...
• Remove the sticks from the oil and allow them to drain on the sheet pan.
• Elevate one end of the sheet pan slightly then place the sticks standing vertically with the exposed bamboo end down to allow the drained oil mixture to run off the sticks.

 
When the excess oil mixture has drained from the sticks...

• Lay the drained sticks flat on a screen or grate with some cardboard/paper under the grate. (This will help to absorb any oil that drips off the sticks.) Spread the sticks out in a single layer if possible.

 
***If you can add some air from a fan or air conditioner to lightly blow across the sticks that will speed up the drying process. If not, just wait a few days until the sticks appear to be dry to the touch.
 
A good dryness test is to lay a single sheet of toilet paper across the layer of sticks, wait a few minutes and see if there are oil spots...

• If it is spotted, leave the sticks to dry longer.
• If it was dry it should be done.

 
For all the technical people out there the moisture content should be no greater than 28%.
 
Light and enjoy!
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Any questions just drop us a note at: [email protected].