How to Make Incense: Burning Herbs to Clear Negative Energy
- Anya I
- 2 days ago
- 8 min read
How to Make Incense: Burning Herbs to Clear Negative Energy
Table of Contents
Have you ever walked into a room and felt an unshakable heaviness or tension, like invisible static in the air? You’re not alone—and there’s a way to clear that energy and refresh your space. Today we will be talking about how to make incense at home creating loose incense blends that smell wonderful. For centuries, incense has been used to cleanse spaces, set intentions, and connect with the divine. The combination of incense with spiritual practices, like meditation or cleansing rituals, can amplify its energy and meaning. Whether you’re dissolving stagnant energy with sound tools or lighting incense to set daily intentions, this timeless practice harmonizes your space and centers your spirit. For more info on how to use incense effectively, explore additional resources Take note of how the smoke drifts through your home, carrying away negative energy and leaving a sense of renewal.
Why not bring this ancient tradition into your home? Crafting homemade incense allows you to create unique blends tailored to your energy needs—whether for love, purification, or spiritual connection. Discover the cultural roots of incense making, the science behind burning herbs, and how to create magickal recipes that honor tradition while enhancing your personal rituals. Many popular ingredients are mass-marketed, creating the impression that they are the only options available, but exploring lesser-known botanicals can lead to truly unique creations. Grab your mortar and pestle, and let’s dive into the art of making your own natural incense and learn how to make incense that suits your personal style.
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The Ancient and Cultural Context of Incense
Incense has been a part of many cultures for thousands of years, bridging the physical and spiritual realms. The history of incense burning dates back more than 6000 years, with its use evolving across civilizations. From ancient Egypt to Asia, it played key roles in rituals, worship, and sacred spaces.
Origins in Ancient Civilizations
The Egyptians used resins like frankincense and myrrh in temple ceremonies, believing the smoke carried prayers to the heavens. In India, it was central to Vedic traditions for honoring deities, purifying spaces, and enhancing meditation with good intentions.
Incense in the East
Buddhists, Taoists, and Shinto practitioners in China and Japan used these blends to connect with the divine. Japan's "Koh" ceremony turned aromatic plants and incense sticks appreciation into a meditative art form.
Middle Eastern and Western Traditions
The Middle East thrived as an incense trade hub, with frankincense and myrrh integral to rituals. In Judaism, the “Ketoret” blend was burned in temples, while Christianity adopted incense for purification and prayer.
Evolution Over Time
Once reserved for religious ceremonies, incense is now used for meditation, aromatherapy, and relaxation. While modern blends may include synthetic elements, they honor ancient traditions of creating sacred spaces. Incense is still used today in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, where its aromatic properties are believed to support holistic well-being. Among the various forms of incense, sticks are the most common found on the market, offering convenience and ease of use.
Across cultures and centuries, incense remains a tool for connection, reverence, and harmony. Whether for rituals or personal use, it continues to embody a universal desire for the sacred.
The Science Behind Burning Incense and Negative Ions
Before diving into the magick of incense making, let’s talk science. Negative ions, molecules with an extra electron, are abundant in nature—think waterfalls or forests—and help boost mood, reduce stress, and purify air. Burning incense, made from aromatic herbs, woods, and resins, releases these ions, cleansing your space both energetically and physically. Ingredients like sage and frankincense are especially powerful, blending ion science with ancient spiritual practices. Lavender essential oil, for example, is linked to calming effects on mood and heart rate, making it a popular choice for relaxation.
Tools and Ingredients for Incense Making
Tools You’ll Need
To start your incense-making adventure, you’ll want the following tools:
Mortar and Pestle or Coffee Grinder: Ideal for grinding herbs, resins, and flowers. Be sure not to reuse the coffee grinder for consumption purposes!
Mixing Bowl: Great for evenly combining ingredients.
Charcoal: Use charcoal discs as your heat source.
Glass Jars: Store blends in airtight containers to maintain freshness and aroma. (Tip: Sanitize and reuse old jars from Trader Joe’s or other upcycled spice, food, or even candle jars!)
Cast Iron Cauldron: Essential for burning your incense.
Tongs: Handy for mixing blends with fire or heat elements.
All ingredients used in making incense must be dried to ensure proper burning and to preserve their aromatic properties.
Key Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll be working with:
Resins: These are important to help stabilize your incense base so it doesn't burn out too quickly. You can grind them into a powder break them down into smaller chunks.
Aromatic Herbs: Each herb brings its own magickal intent.
Essential Oils: Some people like to add essential oils to layer complexity and intention to their incense blends.
Top Herbs and Resins for Incense and Their Magickal Properties
Choosing your ingredients is one of the most personal (and fun!) parts of incense making. Personally, I love crafting incense blends before a moon ritual—it feels like a meditative process, connecting me to the energy of the moment. Imagine the natural aroma of herbs and flowers filling the air as you pluck them fresh from your garden or gather them from your spice cabinet. Take a moment to smell and connect with each herb’s unique scent—let it inspire your creativity for larger batches. For example, here are some top picks and their magickal properties to help you craft blends with purpose and intention.
If you don't have any herbs, I'd recommend getting a herb sampler kit, it ends up being a lot cheaper than buying these one by 1 online.
Top 25 Herbs for Making Incense:
Angelica: Supports protection, healing, and spiritual guidance. Gives off a sweet, earthy, and slightly herbaceous scent.
Basil: Enhances prosperity, protection, and love. Has a fresh, sweet, and slightly spicy aroma.
Bay Leaf: Aids manifestation, protection, and wisdom. Emits a warm, herbal, and slightly floral scent.
Cardamom: Balances love, mental clarity, and harmony. Offers a warm, spicy, and slightly sweet aroma.
Cedar: Provides grounding, purification, and protection. Gives off a woody, fresh, and slightly balsamic scent.
Cedarwood: Enhances focus, clarity, and provides earthy warmth. Has a deep, woody, and grounding aroma.
Chamomile: Encourages peace, relaxation, and prosperity. Offers a sweet, apple-like, and floral scent.
Cinnamon: Boosts vitality, abundance, and power. Emits a warm, spicy, and sweet aroma.
Clove: Provides protection, energy, and love. Gives off a warm, spicy, and slightly woody scent.
Eucalyptus: Supports healing, purification, and renewal. Has a fresh, sharp, and cooling aroma.
Jasmine: Inspires love, positivity, and relaxation. Fills the air with a rich, sweet, and intoxicatingly floral aroma.
Juniper Berry: Supports protection, vitality, and clarity. Emits a sharp, fresh, and woody scent.
Lavender: Encourages peace, relaxation, and psychic clarity. Offers a floral, sweet, and calming aroma.
Mugwort: Stimulates intuition, dreams, and spiritual protection. Gives off a herbal, earthy, and slightly bitter scent.
Patchouli: Supports abundance, sensuality, and grounding. Has a rich, earthy, and musky aroma.
Peppermint: Boosts energy, focus, and cleansing. Emits a fresh, minty, and invigorating scent.
Rose Buds: Promotes love, emotional healing, and compassion. Offers a sweet, floral, and romantic aroma.
Rosemary: Improves memory, purification, and healing. Gives off a fresh, woody, and herbal scent.
Rue: Protects from negative energies and encourages healing. Has a sharp, bitter, and herbal aroma.
Sandalwood: Grounds energy and aids spiritual communication. Emits a warm, woody, and creamy scent.
St John the Conqueror: Brings strength, success, and helps overcome obstacles. Offers an earthy, slightly spicy scent.
Thyme: Encourages courage, purification, and strength. Gives off a fresh, herbal, and slightly peppery aroma.
White Sage: Purifies energy and cleanses spaces. Emits a bold, earthy, and slightly astringent scent.
White Willow Bark: Offers soothing, healing, and emotional resilience. Has a mild, slightly woody and earthy aroma.
Yarrow: Builds courage, protection, and emotional balance. Gives off a fresh, herbal, and slightly sweet scent.
Yerba Santa: Promotes healing, spiritual strength, and emotional release. Offers a sweet, earthy, and slightly resinous aroma.
Top 5 Resins for Burning Incense:
Benzoin: Calmness, emotional balance, and cleansing negativity. Gives off a sweet, warm, and vanilla-like aroma.
Copal: Energy clearing and spiritual ceremonies. Emits a crisp, citrusy, and pine-like scent.
Dragon’s Blood: Protection, purification, and strength. Has a rich, earthy, and slightly sweet note.
Frankincense: Spiritual growth, relaxation, and meditation support. Exudes a warm, resinous, and slightly citrusy scent.
Myrrh: Cleansing and healing properties. Offers a warm, spicy, and woody scent.
Sandalwood: Known for its grounding and calming properties, sandalwood is a popular choice in incense making, often used to enhance spiritual practices.
3 Easy Loose Incense Recipes for Burning Herbs
Are you looking to create incense with a deeper, more meaningful purpose? Consider crafting a blend infused with intention, carefully tailored to align with the energy or goal you wish to manifest in this moment. Using aromatic plants that you have a direct relationship with not only adds a personal touch but also helps ensure sustainable harvesting practices, preserving these resources for future generations.
Love-Enhancing Incense Recipe
Ingredients: 2 parts rose petals, 1 part sandalwood powder, ½ part frankincense resin, 3–5 drops rose or vanilla essential oil.
Why It Works: Rose attracts love and compassion, while sandalwood and frankincense deepen the heart’s connection.
Cleansing Incense Recipe
Ingredients: 1 part white sage, 1 part rosemary, ½ part copal resin, pinch of cinnamon powder, 3–5 drops lemon or eucalyptus essential oil.
Why It Works: White sage and rosemary cleanse negative energy while citrus oils bring a fresh, uplifting vibe.
Spirit Guide Connection Incense Recipe
Ingredients: 2 parts sandalwood powder, 1 part myrrh resin, ½ part patchouli powder, ½ part cedarwood shavings, 3–5 drops vetiver essential oil, pinch of dried mugwort (optional).
Why It Works: This musky, earthy blend anchors you during rituals and invites higher wisdom from ancestors and your Spirit guides.
Incense is made by combining a base, binder, aromatic ingredients, and water to create dough, which can then be shaped into sticks, cones, or other forms. Sticks and cones are the most common forms of incense, offering convenience and versatility for various uses.
PSSST: Want more recipes to incense and even magickal teas? Check out this booklet Magickal Herbs Teas and Incense Recipes by my mentor Taren S.
Simple Incense Recipe: Use What You Have at Home
Creating your own incense is easier than you might think, especially when using smaller pieces of items you already have on hand! Whether it's dried herbs, spices from your kitchen, or a few drops of essential oils, there’s plenty of room to get creative. But if you're unsure where to start and want that perfect, slow-burning incense, here’s a tried-and-true ratio you can work with to optimize your burn time and fragrance. Remember to test small batches of incense after mixing before making larger quantities to ensure the blend works as intended.
2 parts base: Sandalwood powder or white sage.
1 part scent: Lavender, rose petals, or rosemary.
½ part resin: Myrrh, frankincense, or copal.
Grind everything evenly, mix thoroughly, and store in an airtight glass jar until it’s time to use. Simple, straightforward, and perfect for beginners!
Bringing It All Together
Making incense isn’t just about the scent—it’s about crafting a powerful tool for transformation, just like using candles in your rituals . Whether you’re clearing energy, inviting love, or seeking Spirit’s guidance, each blend you make reflects your unique energy. And honestly, that’s so empowering.
Now it’s your turn! Choose a recipe or create a blend that feels right to you. Not sure where to begin? Try the Spirit Guide recipe as a starting point. Light your incense, take a deep breath, and embrace the shift. Spirit always shows up when we make space for it.
I’d love to see what you create! Share your favorite blends and tag me on Instagram @theseasonofanya so we can inspire each other to keep the magick alive.
Also, should I do a recipe for natural incense sticks? Let me know and I'll bust out the guar gum!
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