Incense sticks what they give. How to make incense sticks. Ingredients for aromatic incense

From this article you will learn:

What are aromatic incense made from?

How harmful can aromatic incense be?

Where are aromatic incense used?

How to choose an incense scent for specific purposes

Substances that emit a pleasant aroma have long been used by various peoples as medicinal, health-improving, and perfumery agents. They are also used in religious rituals. Mentions of how to use incense (aromatic incense) are found in the sacred texts of the Bible, Koran, and Tripitaka. And the ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks valued aromatic substances on a par with precious stones.

Types and composition of aromatic incense

There are different types of aromatic incense, which are classified depending on the place of production, appearance, composition and purpose.

• Aromatic incense with bamboo base.

These most common aromatic incense are based on a bamboo stick, a mixture of charcoal dust and herbs. They are usually bright black in color. The advantages of such flavors are that when coal burns, it does not emit any odor, and we only feel the aroma of the filler oil.

• Wood incense.

When making such aromatic incense, natural oils with a distinct floral scent are often used. They are often used during services in churches.

• No base.

This type of aromatic incense does not have a bamboo base. Therefore, they are quite fragile and exude a natural aroma.

• Plasticine incense.

They are very popular in India due to their rich aroma. With their help you can fumigate large spaces, but they produce a lot of smoke.

Aromatics can be in the form of a mixture, briquette, stick, cone, or oil.

Depending on the method of burning, incense is divided into:

Non-flammable. They are most often used in Eastern countries. Such incense is a crumbly mixture, a small briquette or ball. To light them, they are placed on hot coal. Incense has been burned in this way effectively for many millennia.

Flammable. They are most often used in Japan, China, and Southeast Asian countries. For such incense, aromatic components are finely ground and mixed with flammable substances. Making them is more difficult, but when smoking, no additional devices are needed. Such incense, which is in the form of sticks or has the shape of a cone, is set on fire, given time to flare up and extinguishes the fire, keeping it in a smoldering state.

Usually the incense mixture contains: resin, aromatic wood, spices, herbs, roots, flowers, and in some cases essential oil is added. By the way, most incense, when burned, smells completely different than under normal circumstances. And just like in perfume, there are three main “notes” in the smell of aromatic substances.

The first - volatile - you feel immediately after igniting the mixture, in some cases it may even seem unpleasant to you. Soon it is replaced by the central note - the “heart” of the aroma. We can feel it for several hours. But you will not experience all the richness of the aroma without the final note, which contains substances that fix the smell. If the quality of the ingredients is good, you will be able to feel it for several days.

Photographing the aura and energy centers (chakras)

Analysis of the aura glow will help you understand the causes of many problems related to health, emotional state, communication with other people, understanding yourself and your inner world

Certified Color Therapist
(International Academy of Color Therapy ASIACT, UK).

You will receive a detailed explanation regarding the individual characteristics of your aura. Our master will determine the level of energy in each chakra and in the entire energy system as a whole. According to the data determined by the auro-sensor, you will learn about how the energies of Mind, Body and Spirit are distributed in your life and much more.

Ingredients for aromatic incense

Ingredients for incense can be:

Natural incense(in Arabic they say “luban”) is a yellow-milky resin rich in essential oils. The more transparent the substance, the higher its quality, and therefore the price.

In the East, they believe that the tart, oily aroma of incense repels evil spirits, serves to strengthen and cleanse the aura, protects against the evil eye, and the prayer when burning incense goes directly to the Creator. This is one of the reasons for its use in religious and mystical rituals.

Frankincense has antiseptic and soothing properties and helps strengthen the immune system. In ancient times, this resin was used to treat wounds, burns, bleeding and ulcers, and its aroma helped with diseases of the respiratory and nervous systems.

Dew incense(in Arabic it sounds like “luban jawi”) - a grayish-orange resin of tropical trees and shrubs of the styrax family with a resinous-floral balsam smell. It is also called benzoin resin or styrax.

In the Ancient East, it was used as a component of incense for purification and prosperity. In addition, dew incense was used in the treatment of diseases of the urinary and respiratory systems - by inhaling its smell, people stopped being nervous, their memory improved and their mood lifted.

Myrrh(in Arabic it sounds like “murr” and means “bitter”) . This tan-colored aromatic resin was as popular as incense in ancient times. It was often used in the production of incense and perfume, and was also used in medicine, in embalming the dead, as an antidote to various types of poisonous substances, and in the treatment of scorpion and snake bites.

The dark color and transparency indicate the high quality of myrrh. It has a pleasant enveloping, vanilla-tasting, but bitter aroma, which when smoked becomes similar to the smell of earth.

To ensure that low-quality myrrh gives a more pleasant aroma when burning incense, it can be soaked in wine for several days or a weak solution of vinegar can be used for this.

In addition to the fact that myrrh is included in many incense, it is used as an odor fixative, helping other aromas to appear fully. This substance works best when burned, rather than in an oil composition. The aroma of myrrh, when smoked, treats insomnia, calms the nerves, and helps strengthen the aura.

Gum(galbanum) – has been used in incense as a medicinal substance since ancient times. It has a yellow color, a strong odor and a pungent taste. Both in aroma and medicinal qualities it is very similar to myrrh. In incense it is used as an odor fixer and enhances the aromas of other components.

The next component of aromatic incense is the bright red resin of the dragon tree, which is called “ Dragon's blood" The tree now grows only on the Yemeni island of Socotra. It has always been considered sacred, and the resin was used in the treatment of various diseases and in religious and magical rites. By the way, this resin was part of the varnish that was used to coat the famous Italian violins.

The resin, when smoked, emits a heavy resinous odor with light fruity notes. It is added to incense in order to attract money, passion, strength, success, cure infertility and impotence, and cleanse the aura and premises of various negative phenomena. It is believed that Dragon's Blood increases the potency of the beneficial properties of other components of the aromatic incense.

The next component of aromatic incense is asafoetida. This is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Umbelliferae family. Its milky juice is used as a spice (can replace garlic and onions) and as a component of incense. In Indian and a number of south-eastern languages, the name of asafoetida sounds like “hing”; in Europe it is called “Devil’s grass” or “Devil’s feces”, since it tastes very unpleasant, to the point of nausea. Its juice smells like a mixture of rotting onions and garlic, spreads very quickly and does not fizzle out for a long time. But those who smoke professionally know that after frying asafoetida in oil, its taste and smell become pleasant.

In its finished form, the spice asafoetida is a granular mass, the tonsils of which are glued together. Outside they are yellowish in color, and in cross section they are milky white with pinkish veins. When air enters, the cut site oxidizes and acquires a red-brown color. Sometimes asafoetida is ground to a powder consistency and mixed with rice flour.

As a spice, asafoetida helps improve digestion and is used in the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract. When burned, aromatic incense based on asafoetida helps get rid of headaches and calms the nerves.

The warm balsamic scent of an aromatic incense can be achieved by using the flammable resin of a perennial herbaceous plant - sweet myrrh(opopanaxa). Its homeland is considered to be Türkiye, Somalia, and Iran. Due to the protective and antiseptic qualities that the smell of opoponax has, it is used in the treatment of asthma, hypochondria, and hysteria.

Borneol, or East Indian camphor, is a whitish-yellow liquid or oily, viscous dark mass (depending on the amount of camphor) with a specific odor that forms under the bark of camphor trees. It has pronounced disinfectant, antiseptic and antiviral qualities, has a beneficial effect on the nervous system, helps strengthen the immune system and improve tone. In the ancient East, in particular in Persia, India, and China, camphor was considered the only cure for many diseases.

Sandalwood resin is used in many aromatic incense, as well as in perfumery and aromatherapy, which has a refined, tart aroma with a strong woody balsamic note, reminiscent of the scent of roses. Sandalwood is a mild aphrodisiac that enhances sexual desire. Aromatic sandalwood-based incense is used to treat insomnia, depression, throat diseases, runny nose, nausea and heartburn.

The most valuable and sacred oil used in the creation of aromatic incense is a substance obtained from oud wood– trees of the Aquilaria genus. They are native to Southeast Asia and Arabia. The oil is obtained only from wood infected with a special fungus.

Infected wood, producing resin, which is saturated with volatile aromatic substances, becomes heavier than water and acquires special value. It takes 300 years for this wood to be used. In 756 AD e. A piece of Oud wood was presented to the Emperor of Japan, and since then it has been kept in the treasury of the imperial family.

The darker the color of the wood used for incense, the higher its quality. Most often it is used in protective aromatic incense, as well as those aimed at success and well-being.

Bark or oil from leaves and branches is also used in aromatic incense. Cassia- a cinnamon tree that grows in China, Arabia, and some countries of Southeast Asia. It is also called fragrant or Chinese cinnamon. However, Cassia bark is harder, thicker, and rougher in texture than common cinnamon and is much more difficult to break. Although it smells almost exactly like cinnamon, that’s why they call it “Chinese cinnamon oil.”

Aromatic incense based on Cassia oil is used to strengthen the nervous system, raise tone, and also to protect against the evil eye, to attract prosperity and love, and to increase mental energy. It is not for nothing that in traditional Chinese medicine Cassia is among the 50 main medicinal plants.

Cedar. In aromatic incense, sticks of Lebanese, Japanese, Atlas and some other types of cedar are often used. The aroma of this wood is soft, velvety, and has notes of resin. The oil is used when incense for medicinal purposes (for diseases of the respiratory system, to strengthen the immune system) and in religious rituals. It awakens sensuality and fills the body with energy. In addition, it repels insects, so it is often used in repellent solutions.

Juniper. This evergreen coniferous plant has a very tart and fresh aroma. Dried berries and wood are used in aromatic incense. Sessions of inhaling the scent of this plant contribute to a person’s more positive perception of the surrounding reality, increases his intuition, and eliminates fear.

Musk. It has long been used in traditional oriental medicine. This is the odorous secretion of the glands of the male musk deer (musk deer), which lives in Siberia, the Himalayas and other Asian countries. For example, more than 400 drugs based on this substance are produced in China alone.

Natural musk has a dark purple color, tastes bitter, feels oily to the touch, smells spicy, slightly tart, stimulating - it is considered the most persistent of all known. In perfumery, it is used to enhance and consolidate other aromas. Today, synthetic musk or analogues of animal and plant origin are used more.

The aroma of musk is a strong aphrodisiac, perfectly relieves stress, and helps with mental fatigue. Musk is added to aromatic incense aimed at promoting courage and enhancing sexual attractiveness.

Ambergris. This is a substance that is formed in the digestive tract of male sperm whales. Fresh amber looks like gray wax with an unpleasant fecal odor. Gradually, under the influence of light and sea water, it becomes brown, hard, and a more pleasant aroma appears (perfumers characterize it as “animal,” “sea,” “earthy”).

Previously, ambergris was often used in perfumery, magical rituals, and in medicine for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Currently, it is used mainly as an odor fixative in perfumery in the production of very expensive perfumes.

"Bird's Claws"(“Angel Nails”, “Qurayshi Nail”). These are shell shells of mollusks that mainly live in the Red Sea. Yemen is considered their homeland. The Bible also mentions how to use aromatic incense based on them. The aroma of the substance is very similar to the smell of musk and amber. When incense, it is also used as a fixative for other odors.

Before use, the shells must be soaked for several days in a henna solution (wine, water with vinegar added). This is done to remove the smell of fish. Sticks of aromatic incense based on “Angel Nails” are used as an anti-inflammatory and tonic, as well as for the treatment of female diseases.

Backgammon It is the root of a plant of the valerian subfamily, from which aromatic resin and oil are obtained. The latter has been valued since ancient times for its aromatic and medicinal properties. Even in the Bible there is a mention of how Mary anointed the feet of Jesus Christ with it, whose name “Christ” is translated from Greek as “Anointed One.” When smoked, the smell of spikenard is reminiscent of valerian - woody, sweetish, spicy and animalic. Aromatic incense helps restore a person’s mental balance, calms them down, and helps with insomnia and headaches. By the way, if you don’t have real spikenard, you can replace it with valerian root oil.

Costus. The dried roots of this herbaceous plant, which grows mostly in China and India, are used in incense. Can be used as an antiseptic. When incense, it emits the aroma of a noble tree. Most often, costus is included in incense prepared for cleansing, protection, and expulsion (both evil spirits and insects).

Vetiveria. The roots of this perennial herb are used in incense, which has a tart woody-balsamic smell with a taste of tobacco. Indians call this spice “couscous”. For a long time they have stuffed pillows with this grass and used it to weave rugs and curtains. In the Ancient East, vetiver roots were included in love incense. The herb was very popular among wealthy women, who took baths with it to restore skin elasticity and figure after childbirth. Aromatic incense with couscous has antiseptic properties and has a beneficial effect on the body, increasing its tone.

Calamus. This is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows in marshy soils. The rhizome of calamus contains starch, choline, saccharides, tannins, phytostyrenes, mucus, essential and calamus oil, and bitterness. It has long been used as a remedy for many diseases, was a symbol of male strength and a strong aphrodisiac. Its remains were even found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.

When smoked, it emits a herbal aroma, slightly reminiscent of cinnamon. Incense with calamus helps strengthen the nervous system, treat asthma, bronchitis, and relieve stress.

Star anise. The fruits of this evergreen tropical tree from the magnolia family are used in aromatic incense. The aroma of the spice is similar to anise, so they are interchangeable in incense. Star anise helps well with weakened immunity, strengthens the endocrine and nervous systems.

Carnation. Aromatic incense uses dried clove buds and essential oil made from leaves, young shoots and scalded flower buds. In addition, cloves are popular as a spice with a tart and pungent odor. It is used in incense for protection, purification, and also to attract prosperity, good luck, and success on the love front.

Ginger. A well-known spice that has a pungent aroma with a hint of honey and lemon. It is obtained from the root of the perennial plant Zingiber officinale. The stimulating and tonic properties of ginger are well known. The smell has long been used in incense, in the belief that it enhances sexuality and energizes the body.

Turmeric. These are crushed tubers of a plant of the ginger family, a popular spice. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is used in the treatment of various diseases, for example, some types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and skin infections. The aromatic incense exudes a pungent, earthy aroma with hints of ginger.

Cardamom. These are the fruits of the perennial herbaceous plant Cardamom of the ginger family. Like the previous plants, it is a well-known seasoning with a strong sweet aroma. In addition, it is used in medicine.

Coriander. It is used in perfumery, cosmetics, soap making, and also as a spice in cooking. By the way, coriander fruits were found during excavations of settlements dating back to the Bronze Age. The aromatic incense exudes a spicy aroma with notes of orange and nut.

• For daily use at home.

There are many different types of incense you can use at home. Indian incense sticks with bamboo base have become the most popular. Their advantages: low cost, availability, variety of flavors.

Slightly less famous compared to Indian ones are Thai incense. In China, incense is made based on the principles of Feng Shui. They are thin, long baseless sticks that exude a pleasant aroma in a whole range of shades that have a beneficial effect on the atmosphere of the home.

But Japanese incense is most valued. For the Japanese, making them is as much an art as ikebana and the tea ceremony. Japanese aromatic incense comes in the form of baseless sticks with a variety of scents, from simple traditional ones to complex aromatic combinations. Among them there may be special ones, for example, for people with a sensitive sense of smell, which exude a very delicate and airy aroma.

For those who are not very well versed in incense, it is better to start with the so-called family scents, which bring warmth, comfort into the atmosphere of the house, and improve mutual understanding between loved ones. Such aromas exude orange, musk, jasmine, mandarin, sandalwood, myrrh, and their combinations.

• To accompany spiritual practices and meditations.

In this case, Tibetan and Nepalese aromatic incense is most often used. They contain only natural, most often rare, ingredients that have very strong sacred and healing properties. Incense has a specific smell - the restrained, pure aroma of Tibetan plants.

Some Japanese and Chinese aromatic substances can also be used for meditation, in particular, temple sticks and sandalwood. Experts recommend aromas that help enrich the spirit and energy, helping to achieve harmony with the outside world. It can be juniper, sandalwood, musk, neroli, incense, rhododendron, rose, etc.

• For rituals.

In fact, aromatic incense is part of any magical ritual. Their choice depends on the task at hand and the specific ritual. So, if a ritual is performed for a love relationship, it is better to use rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, musk. These are aphrodisiac scents. However, for the cleansing ritual it is better to take juniper, sage, etc.

Did you know that many aromas (myrrh, cedar, incense) have such a strong effect that they are used in ritual and mystical rites in a variety of religions: both shamanism and Christianity. Also used in incense are aromatic resins (mixtures based on incense, myrrh, copal) and herbs (juniper, bison, sage) or mixtures. But now the market offers such a diverse range of incense made from natural ingredients that you can easily choose a ready-made analogue.

Usually the specialist himself chooses the incense for the ritual. You can read more about each aromatic substance in the description of the categories to which they belong, or in the extended description of the incense themselves.

Choosing the scent of aromatic incense

Remember that different incense has different effects on the body. Some improve performance, while others, on the contrary, promote relaxation and meditation.

Stimulating aromas that enhance performance include cedar, fennel, lemongrass, sandalwood, citrus, rosemary, cinnamon, and magnolia. They improve memory, invigorate, and relieve stress. In Eastern countries, it is customary to light such incense in offices.

Incense that strengthens mutual understanding and helps to establish contact with oneself and make the right decision are lavender, rose, mint, jasmine, almond, myrrh, oregano, and laurel.

There are aromas that strengthen the nervous system, promote relaxation after physical and mental fatigue, and protect against depression. These include orchid, incense, lemon balm, chamomile, tea tree, and geranium.

Incenses that can not only restore a person’s damaged aura, but also protect against energy vampirism and the evil eye are juniper, sage, cloves, jasmine, and rose.

And if you want to awaken sexual desire, then use patchouli, musk, ylang-ylang, violet, ginger, nutmeg rose - these are very powerful aphrodisiacs.

Patchouli, sandalwood, and pine have excellent disinfecting properties. They are used if it is necessary to clear the air of microbes. It’s not for nothing that earlier, during typhus epidemics, pine branches were burned in every home to protect against the disease.

Decide what effect you want to get from the incense, and only then buy the incense.

How harmful are aromatic incense?

People have different opinions about aromatic incense. They say that aroma oils and aroma sticks have the same harmful effect on the lungs as passive smoking. For example, scientists from Denmark believe that the constant use of incense is harmful to health, in particular, the risk of developing cancer increases several times.

One of the reasons for the harmful effects of incense is that it is almost impossible to purchase natural, genuine aromatic substances. Therefore, people often get sick not because of the smell of the sticks itself, but from the combustion products of the base.

The most toxic in this regard is massala, which is a mixture of chip dust and crushed plants. By the way, it is best if the aroma stick is based on charcoal, which does not produce soot, and the stick emits only the aroma of the base oil. The worst thing is that modern “craftsmen” add chemicals to the aromatic filler to create more smoke and smell.

Incense is used in many cultures for religious ceremonies or aromatherapy. The process of making incense sticks is quite simple and will appeal to those who are interested in trying to create their own scent.

Steps

Quick incense sticks (made from essential oils)

Buy a set of simple, unscented sticks. You can purchase base sticks for incense on the Internet. They are usually black and odorless and are inexpensive, about 50–100 rubles per package.

Choose your own essential oils and mix them in the right amount. Essential oils can be purchased at any pharmacy or online store. They are very different and have different concentrations. Choose the most concentrated, fragrant oils to make your incense sticks more fragrant. The following oils are popular for making incense:

Mix 20 drops of essential oil per incense stick in a shallow bowl. If you only want to make one incense stick, you will need 20 drops of essential oil; if you want to make several sticks, do not make more than 4-5 at a time. If you want to make 5 sticks at a time, you will need 100 drops of essential oil, or about 4 ml.

• If you decide to mix several scents, then start mixing a few drops at a time until you achieve the desired combination. It is very unlikely that the scent will be unpleasant, but you will still have to experiment before you find the perfect one.

1. Place the chopsticks in a shallow bowl. If the sticks won't fit, pour the essential oils onto a sheet of foil folded into a V to prevent oil from leaking out. Make sure the essential oil covers all sides of the sticks.

   Turn over and gently press down on the sticks until they completely absorb all the oil. This process does not take much time. When there is no oil left in the bowl, you can move the sticks.

   Place the sticks in a mug to dry. Before lighting the sticks, they need to dry for about 12-15 hours. However, even while the sticks dry, they will release a delicious aroma, which means that they will work even without burning!

   You can also mix aromatic oils with dipropylene glycol and soak the sticks in this mixture in test tubes overnight for a more lasting aroma. It sounds crazy, but you can buy dipropylene glycol online and it's inexpensive. Very often it can be purchased in the same online stores as the base sticks. Take a test tube of the required size. Use the same 20 drops of essential oil per stick and add dipropylene glycol in such a volume that the stick is 3/4 in the solution. Soak the stick in the mixture for at least a day, and then let it dry for 24 hours, or longer if necessary.

   • Instead of dipropylene glycol, you can use a base oil, which is used in the manufacture of scented candles.

   Hand rolled incense sticks

   1. Decide which flavors you want to mix and use 1-2 tablespoons of each. To begin with, try to take only 2-3 different scents, and only then, as you get used to it, experiment with more scents. While making incense is not difficult, there is still some trial and error involved as different scents require more or less water and makko (a flammable binding agent). All ingredients can be purchased either whole or in powder form, but powders are much easier to work with:

      Keep track of how much of each scent you use, making notes if you plan to make incense frequently. The amount of water and binding agent to use depends on the amount of ingredients in powder form, so keep track of the amounts and make a note for yourself. Usually 1-2 tablespoons per ingredient is enough, but you can use a kitchen scale if necessary.

      • Incense stick recipes usually have proportions, so if the recipe says “2 parts sandalwood to 1 part rosemary,” you can mix 2 tablespoons sandalwood with 1 tablespoon rosemary, or 2 cups sandalwood with 1 cup rosemary, and so on.

   2. Using a mortar and pestle, mix all the selected ingredients. If you are using fresh ingredients and not in powder form, you will need to grind them into powder first. Herb grinders can help with this, but try not to use coffee grinders as they get hot, which can negatively affect the aromatic compounds in the ingredients you use. When grinding, do not forget:

      Leave the powder for several hours to allow the flavors to mingle. After mixing all the ingredients, mix them again and let the mixture brew. This is not necessary, but it will give the flavor a fuller flavor.

      Determine how much makko you need by calculating the amount of dry ingredients. Makko is a flammable resinous substance needed in a certain ratio to the total mass of aroma in order for the incense to burn well. Unfortunately, this is the most difficult stage - determining the required amount of makko can only be done by trial and error:

      • If you are using only herbs and spices, you will only need 10-25% makko of the total incense.
      • If you are using resins, then you will need significantly more makko, approximately 40-80%, depending on how much resin was added. All resin mixtures require 80% Macco.

   3. Multiply the amount of spices by the desired percentage of makko to know how much makko to add. So, if you have 10 tablespoons of low gum powder, you will need 4 tablespoons of makko. You can make such simple calculations with any amount of powder and makko.

      Set a small amount of mixture aside. Take about 10% of the mixture and set aside. This part will be needed for thickening if you accidentally add too much water in the next step without ruining the whole batch of incense.

      Take a dropper and carefully add warm distilled water to your incense and mix into a paste. The texture should be like play dough as the makko absorbs water and turns into clay. The resulting mass should hold its shape, but be quite pliable. Add 3-5 drops of water, mix, and then add more and more until you get a liquid, but not too slimy, mass. Once you have the perfect texture, the mixture should not fall apart or develop dry cracks when shaping.

      Knead the resulting dough in your hands for a few minutes. This process requires constant pressure. Using your fingertips, press down on the “dough” to form a flat disk. Then fold the disk and form another ball of flour, and then crush it again. Continue to do this, turning and rotating the piece of “dough,” for a few minutes.

      Pinch off a small piece (2-5cm) of dough and roll it out into a long, thin rectangle. First, use your palms to roll out a piece of dough into a long rope or “snake”, it should be about 3/4 the size of an incense stick. Then use your fingers to flatten it. The rectangle should be flat, only a few millimeters thick.

      • If you do not use sticks, then leave the rolled out pieces of dough in the form of “snakes”. Trim the edges with a knife and let them dry, being careful not to let the dough pieces stick to each other.

   4. Place the uncovered portion of the incense stick on the dough, then roll the dough to cover 3/4 of the stick. You will need bamboo sticks; you can purchase them in the online store. Roll the dough around the stick until it completely covers it.

      • The incense stick should be slightly thinner than a regular pencil.

   5. Place the sticks on a surface lined with parchment paper and dry. While the sticks are drying, be sure to turn them over once or twice a day. To make the drying process faster, you can place the sticks on a board lined with parchment paper and put it all in a paper bag. The bag should be tightly tied or closed. Remember to turn the sticks over so they dry evenly.

      After 4–5 days, when the dough begins to hold its shape, the sticks can be burned. When the incense dries and no longer changes its shape, it can be used! If you live in a humid climate, drying may take about five days. However, in a dry climate, the sticks will dry out within 1–2 days.