Join us in our Ubud studio, or create at home with a DIY incense-making kit. Start with raw botanicals and make something by hand.
12 Articles
DIY & How-To Guides
Hands-on guides for formulas, rolling, drying, burn testing, tools, and troubleshooting your own incense batches.
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All DIY & How-To Guides Articles
October 12, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Choose an Incense Making Kit for Your First Batch
Choose an incense making kit with named ingredients, clear instructions, and a method that matches your experience. Before buying, check what you will...
October 12, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Keep an Incense Recipe Notebook
Keep one dated record for each incense batch. Write down the ingredients, quantities, water added, shaping method, and drying conditions, then add your...
March 22, 2026 · 4 min read
Grinding Your Own Resins: A Beginner's Guide
Resins soften when exposed to friction heat. The trick to grinding resins is cold temperature: freeze your resin tears solid for 2 hours before...
March 15, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Make Backflow Incense Cones from Scratch
Smoke flows downward when it cools inside a hollow center channel. To achieve this, backflow cones must be wider and hollowed from the base to 80% up the...
March 8, 2026 · 4 min read
Creating the 'Scent Pyramid': Top, Heart, and Base Notes
Base woods make up 50% to 60% of your blend, providing steady fuel and grounding woodiness. Heart notes give the incense its unique emotional identity....
March 1, 2026 · 4 min read
Tools of the Trade: What You Actually Need to Make Incense
The single most important tool is a 0.1g precision scale. Guessing ingredient quantities with spoons leads to inconsistent dough and failed burns every...
February 22, 2026 · 4 min read
How to Dry Incense Sticks Perfectly in Humid Climates
Dry your incense in shade with space between the sticks and gentle airflow. In humid weather, check the batch before packing it: a firm surface does not...
February 15, 2026 · 4 min read
The 'Smoke Test': Why You Must Burn Powders Before Blending
Raw rose petals smell sweet in the jar, but when lit, unblended petals can smell like burning yard waste. A quick smoke test reveals the true combustion...
February 8, 2026 · 4 min read
Why is My DIY Incense Not Burning? (Troubleshooting)
If your DIY incense will not stay lit, check drying, lighting and the holder before changing the formula. Then compare a small test batch. A stick going...
February 1, 2026 · 4 min read
Cones vs. Sticks: Which is Easier to Make at Home?
Cones are simpler for beginners because they require no bamboo splints. You simply shape the wet dough into small pyramids using your fingers. In this...
January 25, 2026 · 4 min read
Step-by-Step: How to Hand-Roll Your First Incense Stick
To hand-roll your first incense stick, make a small amount of workable dough, spread it evenly around the bamboo core, and roll with light pressure....
January 18, 2026 · 4 min read
The Golden Ratio: Binder to Wood in Incense Making
The foundation of all natural stick incense is a balanced dry weight formula: 50% combustible wood base, 25% natural binder (Makko/Laha), and 25% resins,...