Lesson 1Interactions between ingredients: how resins, woods, herbs, and essential oils combine to create top, middle, and base notesSee how resins, woods, herbs, and aromatic oils work together to make top, middle, and base notes. Master balancing strength, power, and lasting scent so your incense starts smoothly, builds depth, and ends with a steady finish.
Defining top, middle, and base notesPairing resins with woods and herbsUsing oils to lift or deepen blendsManaging intensity and diffusionBuilding a balanced incense accordLesson 2Classification of natural scent families: woody, resinous, floral, citrus, herbal, spicy, greenSort natural scents into families like woody, resinous, floral, citrus, herbal, spicy, and green. Understand how these guide your blends, their cultural meanings, and mixing them for unified incense themes.
Woody and resinous scent characteristicsFloral materials and their subfamiliesCitrus notes and freshness effectsHerbal and green tones in incenseSpicy notes for warmth and focusDesigning blends by scent familyLesson 3Sources and quality markers for raw botanicals, resins, woods, and essential oils (certifications, adulteration signs)Find reliable suppliers for botanicals, resins, woods, and oils. We discuss certifications, origins, storage, and signs from look and smell that show freshness, purity, and spot fake or poorly handled goods.
Evaluating suppliers and supply chainsReading certifications and safety documentsVisual and aromatic signs of freshnessDetecting common adulteration practicesStorage, transport, and shelf life careLesson 4Overview of common raw materials: resins (frankincense, myrrh, copal), woods (sandalwood, cedar), herbs, citrus peels, spices, and flowersLook at popular incense materials like resins, scented woods, herbs, peels, spices, and flowers. Know their main scents, traditional uses, and how they act when heated in sticks, cones, or loose forms.
Key resin types and their scent profilesPopular aromatic woods and their rolesHerbs and leaves for nuance and liftUsing citrus peels without harshnessSpices for warmth, depth, and energyFlowers and petals in dry blendsLesson 5Natural binders and combustible bases: makko powder, joss powder, charcoal considerations, and vegetable gumsCheck out natural binders and burn bases that keep incense together and control the fire. Compare makko, joss powder, charcoal, and gums for sticking power, smoke amount, easy lighting, and scent clearness.
Makko powder properties and handlingJoss powder roles in stick incenseCharcoal as a neutral burn baseVegetable gums for binding pastesAdjusting binder ratios for textureTroubleshooting cracking or crumblingLesson 6Essential oils vs. absolute extracts vs. steam-distilled oils: properties, volatility, and suitability for incenseCompare essential oils, absolutes, and steam-distilled oils on making, mixing, strength, and safety. Know which suit loose incense, sticks, cones, and pastes without overpowering or fading the mix.
How essential oils are producedWhat defines an absolute extractSteam distillation vs other methodsVolatility, flash point, and burn profileChoosing formats for different incense typesLesson 7Fine-particle raw materials: wood powders, powdered resins, and milling/mesh grades and their impact on burning behaviorFind out how small particles, grinding ways, and mesh sizes affect mixing, air flow, and burn speed. Pick and prep wood powders and resins for even burn, steady scent, and clean ash.
Common incense wood powders and usesPreparing and grinding resins safelyUnderstanding mesh grades and labelsEffects of particle size on burn rateBlending coarse and fine powdersScreening, sifting, and de-clumping
