Introduction: DIY Incense (sticks and Cones).

Homemade 100% natural incense. Easy to make.

Step 1: Materials

2 tsp. gum arabic.

2 tsp. of cinnamon or aromatic herbs (powder).

4 tsp. of coal (powder).

10 inches of wire or thin bamboo sticks.

1 piece of sandpaper.

1 little bowl.

1 bamboo stick.

Cutter and scissors.

Vegetable oil.

Optional: gloves.

Step 2: Prepare the Wire or the Bamboo (for the Sticks)

Skip this if you are going to make cones.

Remove the plastic cover with a cutter and cut the wire (or the bamboo) in pieces of 2 inches each one.


Step 3: Making the Coal Powder

Sandpaper the coal until you have enough powder. Use gloves if want to keep your hands and nails clean.

Step 4: Grind the Herbs

Skip this step if you are going to use cinnamon powder.

Use a mortar with its pestle to grind the dried herbs (lavender, peppermint, rosemary...). Make a "herbs powder".

Step 5: Mix Time!

Use the bowl and the stick to mix the coal and the cinnamon (or herbs), then add all the arabic gum and mix until you have a paste with a "Play-Doh texture" and just a little sticky.

If you think that it is pretty dry, add two or three drops of vegetable oil and mix (add more if you need it) and if the mixture is wetter than it has to be, add coal and cinnamon in equal parts.

Do not use your hands to mix, the paste is very sticky when you start mixing!

Step 6: Sticks or Cones?

Use your hands (with or without gloves, the mixture will not damage your skin or nails and it will be better if you do not use gloves) to make the sticks or the cones.

Make thin cones (the base must be smaller than 0,3 inches) or they will not burn well.

If you make sticks, put the wire pieces as you see in the image.

Let the incense sticks dry for three days (or more) and the cones for one week (or more), under the sun if it is possible.

Step 7: Enjoy!

When the sticks and cones are completely dried, make them burn like normal incense.

Step 8:

UPDATE

If you can, try with organic coal (I could not find it in my country).
The wire I used is safe (I am sure), but if you are not comfortable using wire, try bamboo or suggest me alternatives (I could not find it too).
I made cones with lavender organic oil (no chemicals added) and they take too much time drying but smell better than the cinnamon sticks. Do not use oil if it is not organic or if you are not sure that it is safe to burn (we do not want explosions).
Do not use peppermint plants! They smell horrible when you burn them!
Thanks for the support and the suggestions! And sorry if I wrote something in a wrong way!