Sun 04 Aug 2019

Making your own flower incense

Incense is great for filling your home with the most beautiful scents. While you might think that you need to buy incense, many do not know that you can make your own flower incense with natural ingredients. Here you will find the method as well as some important tips.

Choosing the right plant material

The first thing you need to remember is that you should choose flowers and plants that are grown as naturally as possible and without the use of pesticides. If you are using flowers, choose those that have not yet fully bloomed. Once they are fully bloomed, they are that much more susceptible to mould and the loss of petals.

Some of the best flowers to use include: roses, stocks, carnations, gardenias, hyacinths, jasmine, freesia, lilac, lilies and geranium.

If you prefer herbs, some of the most fragrant options include: sage, bay leaves, lavender, cinnamon, chamomile, lemongrass, rosemary, thyme and vanilla.

What you need for your flower incense:

  • Cotton twine to tie the flowers and herbs together. Cotton is best because it will not melt. Other options include jute and hemp twine.
  • Flowers and herbs of your choice. Make sure that you combine the right scents that complement one another.
  • Scissors to cut the herbs and flowers.
  • A heat-proof plate on which to burn your incense.
  • A hanger to dry your flower and herb bundles.
  • A lighter or matches to smoke the incense.

Method:

  • Prepare the cut flowers and herbs by cutting the stems to a length of three to six inches.
  • Remove extra leaves from the flower stems
  • Arrange your plant material so that all of the elements are well-balanced. When it burns, you want the flower incense to release all of the aromas together.
  • You will need a length of twine that is about 8 times as long as the length of your bundle.
  • Secure the twine around the bottom of the stems and then wrap it tightly upwards and around the bundles until you get to the top.
  • Now wrap the twine downwards in the opposite direction.
  • Tie the long end of the twine to the other end that secured the knot at the bottom.
  • Remember to wrap and tie the twine tightly because the flowers will shrink as they dry.
  • Hang the bundles upside down from a hanger for about two or three weeks for your flower incense to dry completely. You should hang them in a cool, dry spot with plenty of air circulation.
  • Make sure that your bundles are completely dry before you burn them.
  • Remove the bundles from the hanger and place one on a heat-proof plate.
  • Light the herbs or flower incense until it starts to smoulder. If it ignites, blow the flame out and let it smoke,
  • Store your incense in a cool, dry place. Be careful not to mix them up because the scents from various elements can transfer to the next.

Your flower incense is perfect for giving your home a welcoming smell. Especially for special occasions and around the holidays. Make sure that you use seasonal flowers and plant material in order to keep that scent in your home authentic and fitting.