HERBAL INCENSE INFORMATION III/III

      Title: HERBAL INCENSE INFORMATION III/III
  Categories: Seasonings, Info
       Yield: 1 Info below
  
       1    Info below
  
                      - Tools, Methods, and Recipes -
   
   "The recipes that follow are simply examples of what's possible. You
   can apply the basic methods and proportions to the creation of your
   own [scents]. You'll want to keep a journal of your formulations,
   lest the perfect blend be created only once!
   
   "You'll need a blender, a wooden spoon, a bowl or two, and a set of
   measuring spoons and cups.  Be aware that porous utensils may take up
   some scents from your aromatic ingredients. Brown paper will protect
   your work surfaces, and a wooden board can serve as a drying surface.
   
   "The volume of aromatic substances should be about twice that of the
   base, and all dry ingredients should be powdered. Use about three
   parts liquid to five parts dry mixture. Besides changing the bonding
   agent from a dry powder into a glue, the liquid also serves to
   dissolve the potassium nitrate."
   
   "For each recipe except the loose incense, mix together liquid and
   potassium nitrate and add enough tragacanth to make a thick paste
   (start with 1 teaspoon and add more as needed). Then stir in the
   blended dry ingredients.  If the dough is too soft, add more
   tragacanth powder; if too dry, add more liquid. The consistency
   should be like that of soft putty or moist dough - neither too runny
   nor too dry to be easily shaped.
   
   "You may shape prepared incense dough into all manner of cones,
   cylinders, or coils or roll it onto sticks. Bamboo skewers split
   lengthwise with a razor blade make suitable sticks. After forming
   cones, cylinders, and coils, place them on a wooden board and set
   them aside to dry in a sunny window, a warm attic, or even a closed
   vehicle on a hot day. Avoid humidity, which will make your incense
   mildew. When drying stick incense, poke the lower ends of the sticks
   into a piece of clay or styrofoam.
   
   "When the incense is thoroughly dry, store it in airtight containers.
   Dark, dry conditions will help to preserve color and scent."
   
   "Loose incense consists of dry ingredients which are simply mixed
   together and sprinkled over smoldering charcoal. Store as you would
   other kinds of incense.
   
   "...charcoal is referred to as a base ingredient, a coloring agent,
   and the smoldering heat source for loose incense. Most books
   recommend willow charcoal (available from incense suppliers), but any
   charcoal can be used. The briquettes that are made for use in
   barbecue grills are suitable unless they have been impregnated with
   lighter fluid or other chemicals to enhance burning.
   
                            - Incense Alert -
   
   "Most people can make and use incense with no untoward effects, but
   some, especially those with hay fever, asthma, or certain skin
   problems, may have adverse reactions to the ingredients or the smoke.
   And be aware of the fire hazard when using incense: smoldering
   incense improperly contained can ignite your furniture, drapes, or
   other flammable things in the home. It's best to keep incense and
   fire out of the reach of children."
   
                   - Smudge Sticks and Sweet-Grass Braids -
   
   "Simple and exquisite incense from the Native American tradition can
   be enjoyed by growing and/or gathering special herbs from the wild.
   Sprigs of sage (Salvia apiana or S. officinalis) and cedar (Juniperus
   virginiana) can be bound together with cotton string into a
   cigar-shaped smudge stick, which is then burned a bit at a time.
   
   "Clumps of sweet grass (Hierochloe odorata) may be pulled up by the
   roots and hung, roots up, to dry. The blades are then braided and
   burned a little at a time..."
   
                               - Suppliers -
   
   ~ Excelsior Incense Works/1413 Van Dyke Ave./San Francisco, CA 94124.
   Complete incense supplies.
   
   ~ Hill Woman Productions/Box 317 Cross Island/Fineview, NY 13640.
   Top-quality charcoal, oils, powdered herbs, and hand-blended incense.
   
   ~ Matchless Gifts/Box 7855/Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-7855. Complete
   incense supplies.
   
   Excerpted from Sandy Maine's "Herbal Incense" article in "The Herb
   Companion."  Dec. 1992/Jan. 1993, Vol. 5, No. 2. Pp. 37-38, 40.
   Posted by Cathy Harned.
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