You love the fresh citrus scent and want to create your own incense using orange peels, but you're unsure of where to begin. In this article, we will share with you the fastest way to make incense from orange peels. This recipe will help your incense stay fragrant for a long time, be easy to preserve, and not create much smoke when burned.
supplies
If you want to make incense in a natural and easy way, orange peels are an excellent choice. Not only is it an environmentally friendly way of using leftover fruit peels, but it also exudes a pleasant citrus aroma. Crafting incense with orange peels is easy - just stick to these steps.
Prep time: 15 mins
Drying time: 24 - 30 hrs
Prepare
- 50g of dried orange peels
- 1 tsp of cinnamon powder ( You can substitute 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder with 1 tablespoon of your preferred herb.)
- 3-4 drops of orange essential oil
- 10g Makko powder
- 90-100ml water (The amount of water needed depends on the dryness of the dough. You can adjust it accordingly)
Step 1. Dry the ingredients
Dry the orange peels in the sun, or dry them in the oven. I chose to dry them in the sun because I wanted to save electricity. Additionally, where I live, there is currently ample sunlight.
Step 2. Grinding dried orange peels
For orange peels, a mortar and pestle or a spice grinder can be employed. It's best to use a coffee grinder. Grind them until they are finely powdered and there are no large pieces left.
Step 3. Sift
Sift your powder through a flour sifter – use only finely grated orange peel powder for your mixture.
Step 4. Measure
Before beginning to blend your components, it is essential to measure the correct proportions of ingredients. This will ensure that your incense is consistent in fragrance and texture. For this recipe, you will need:
- 50g of dried orange peels
- 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder ( You can substitute 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder with 1 tablespoon of your preferred herb.)
- 3 drops of orange essential oil
- 10g Makko powder
- 100ml water
Step 5. Mix Your Ingredients
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. To give your incense a stronger orange scent, try adding a few drops of citrus essential oil.
Step 6. Test as an Incense Trail
It is recommended to test the mixture now by burning it as an incense trail. If the material burns slowly and consistently when used as a trail, it will also burn effectively when it is moistened, transformed into a dough, shaped into sticks, cones, or molds, and then dried.
Step 7. Adjust the ingredients
If the incense trail doesn’t burn well or goes out – add more makko.
If the incense trail burns too quickly and has a predominantly makko aroma, you can solve this issue by adding more incense mixture.
Fine-tune the aroma to your tastes by adjusting the amount of each ingredient. Test it again to see if it burns perfectly and has the desired scent. If it meets your expectations, proceed by adding water to the mixture. Knead until the mixture comes together into a sticky mass. If the mixture seems too dry, you can add more water. Add water until the mixture is damp but not wet.
Test the recipe again by following the instructions carefully and observing the results.
Step 8. Form Your Incense
Once you're happy with your recipe, it's time to shape the incense. Usually, I like to make incense cones because they are easy to make and easy to store. If you don't have a mold to make a cone, you can use a Coca-Cola bottle as demonstrated in the video.
Step 9. Dry the incense
You can dry the incense by placing it in the sun for 24-30 hours. Depending on the weather where you live, adjust the time accordingly.
Step 10. Store Your Incense
After your incense has dried, storing it correctly is essential to maintain its scent for a long time. Store your incense in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or plastic bag. Keep it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
Note:
Incense that is primarily made from woods, spices, and herbs only requires 10-20% Makko.
Example:
If your mixture is all herbs and weighs 100 grams test it with 20%-30% Makko:
100-gram incense mixture x 40% makko (100 x .30) = 30 grams of makko is needed to add to 100 grams of incense.
The percentage of Makko needed varies with each recipe, as each ingredient has its own combustion characteristics, etc.
Conclusion
Making your own incense at home with orange peel is a very interesting task. It helps you have an effective time to relax and relieve stress. All ingredients are under your control, so you can rest assured that your incense is 100% clean and healthy. Try making incense today for a wonderful experience with me. If you have any inquiries, please state them below, and I will provide an answer if I have useful information to share.
