Make your own incense sticks: makko powder is back in stock

Our first-choice makko powder from Japan is back in stock! The new delivery has arrived, for anyone who would like to make their own incense sticks or cones. With its particularly fine texture and subtle scent, this powder provides a versatile base for making incense at home.

What is makko powder?

Makko is made from the bark of the tabu-no-ki tree (Machilus thunbergii) and is used as a natural binder in Japanese incense making. When water is added, the powder develops its binding properties, bringing finely ground aromatic ingredients together into a dough that can be shaped.

Makko also helps a suitable mixture smoulder evenly. This makes it possible to create incense sticks without a bamboo core and small cones that, once lit, can continue to smoulder without additional charcoal.

Create your own fragrant blends at home

Making your own incense allows you to explore different aromatic ingredients and develop personal blends. Finely ground incense woods, herbs and small amounts of powdered resins offer many possibilities, from gentle woody notes to spicy or resinous compositions.

For your first attempts, choose a simple blend with only a few ingredients. This makes it easier to observe changes in fragrance, consistency and burning behaviour. All ingredients should be ground as finely as possible.

Ingredients for your own incense blends

Our range includes various woods, herbs, resins and binders that you can use for your own experiments with makko:

• White sandalwood powder: for warm, soft and characteristically woody notes.
• Red sandalwood powder: as a wood component in the blend; considerably less fragrant than white sandalwood.
• White sage powder: for strong herbal notes with the distinctive character of sage.
• Blue sage powder: for aromatic, herbal fragrance compositions.
• Frankincense (olibanum) powder: for resinous frankincense notes.
• Myrrh powder: for warm, spicy and slightly bitter resinous notes.
• Fine palo santo shavings: for the distinctive fragrance of this aromatic wood. For fine sticks and cones, the shavings should first be ground into powder.

Use resin powders such as frankincense and myrrh sparingly at first: a high resin content can make it harder for incense to smoulder evenly. Small trial batches are also recommended when working with herb and wood powders.

Additional binders: gum arabic and gum tragacanth

Gum arabic and gum tragacanth are natural binders that can be added depending on the recipe. Their main purpose is to hold the dough together, rather than to provide fragrance. As makko already has binding properties, adding them is not always necessary. Use additional binders sparingly and test the burning behaviour with a small sample.

From powder to hand-shaped incense

1. Mix the dry ingredients: thoroughly combine the makko with your chosen, finely ground aromatic ingredients. A small trial batch is enough to begin with.
2. Add water gradually: moisten the mixture with a little water and knead it. Add more water in small amounts until you have a pliable dough that can be shaped. It should hold together without being too wet.
3. Shape cones or sticks: form small, slender cones or roll thin sticks without a bamboo core. Keeping the shapes as even as possible helps with drying and subsequent burning tests.
4. Allow to dry completely: leave the incense to dry in a dry, airy place, turning it gently if necessary. Drying time depends on the shape, thickness and humidity.
5. Light a sample: only test incense that has dried completely. Light the tip, gently blow out the flame and observe whether the ember continues to move along by itself.

How much makko does a blend need?

There is no single mixing ratio that suits every recipe. The amount required depends on the woods, herbs and resins used. Makko needs to provide enough binding strength while also helping the mixture smoulder.

Blends with a high resin content can be particularly difficult to burn evenly. Start with a small amount of resin and adjust the composition in small steps. Keep a record of the quantities used in your experiments so that you can recreate a successful blend.

If a cone or stick goes out, first check that it is completely dry. Thickness and composition can also affect its burning behaviour. Small trials will help you find a suitable blend.

A creative introduction to incense making

A little powder, water, a bowl and time to experiment: you do not need elaborate equipment to make your first incense cones. The pleasure lies in mixing, shaping and discovering, gradually developing a fragrance of your own.

Our first-choice makko powder from Japan is back in stock. Discover our extra-fine makko powder for making incense sticks and cones and begin your own small incense-making project.

Only use incense on a suitable, fireproof surface. Never leave it smouldering unattended and ventilate the room well. Intended exclusively for making and burning incense, not for consumption.