Make homemade incense.
For thousands of years, incense has played a large part in various religious ceremonies and magical rituals. Its use has not changed much; magical practitioners and several religions still use incense as a representation of air in a magical circle, to clear negative energies, or to help carry energies into the air. Many people also use incense simply to scent the air in their homes. Incense is generally inexpensive, but it can be difficult to find a scent you like. Making your own incense allows you to customize your scent, and making incense coils ensures your incense will last a long time. Coils allow people to make a lot of incense at once and store it in a relatively small area. Cones are easy to make and convenient to burn.
Instructions
1. Mix together 4 parts sandalwood powder with 1 part each dried herb, and 6 to 10 drops of each essential oil you plan to use. More than about 4 scents total (both herbs and oils) can be overpowering; try to limit your selection.
2. Add 1 part makko to your mixture. Makko is a natural binder and combustible material harvested from the Tabu-no-ki tree native to Asia. Mix this in thoroughly with your hands, and add warm water, a little at a time, stirring with your fingers until you get a thick paste similar to bread dough or play dough.
3. Split the mixture in half and place half on a piece of wax paper. Cover the other half with a damp towel. Roll the mix on the wax paper with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut it into 1/4-inch wide strips with a sharp knife.
4. Pull the first strip onto a separate piece of wax paper. Roll it slowly and gently into a long cylinder 1/8 to 1/16 inch thick. Continue until all of the strips are rolled this way. Allow them to cure for 24 hours.
5. Make cones from the rest of the mixture while the first mixture dries. Pull quarter- to silver dollar-size pieces of mixture from the ball and roll them into 1/2-inch thick cylinders. Pinch the top of each cylinder into a point and smooth it with your fingers to make a cone. Allow the cones to cure for a month before use.
6. Coil your partially cured incense cylinders by gently turning one end of each cylinder in on itself. Push the end along the body of the cylinder, curling it around the center until you reach the end. Let it cure for about a month before use.
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