DIY - Incense

Below, I've tried to list a simple incense mixture for the most commonly needed incenses, focusing on recipes utilizing herbs that can be found on almost any kitchen spice rack, followed by a more complex incense recipe with less common ingredients. I've had good success with both.

For a FAQ about how to make incense, please see the post: Making Sense Out of Incense - Recipes, That Is! 

For Sabbat Incense Recipes, please see Tabs at the top of the blog. Thanks!

***A WORD ABOUT INCENSE***
---First - not all magical incenses are designed to smell *yummy* like the sticks we've all bought for years. They rely more on magical properties and meanings. With this said, you can almost always find a magical combination that suits your nose.
---Incenses made at different times or by different people from the same recipe WILL smell differently. Why? It mostly comes down to your base ingredients. Which type frankincense are you using? What exact variety of rosemary are you using? Quality and variety of your ingredients will vary by supplier.  
---You control the moisture and ending texture of the incense. You decide how far to crush something (if at all) and/or how much, if any, moisture to add to the mixture.
---About more exotic ingredients: In a pinch, you can buy cone or stick incense and crush them to obtain some of the less easily found ingredients. I did it for years when I could not find a good supplier of different resins and woods. (not on my budget, anyway)  It may not be the pure or traditional thing, but I say do what you can.
---Essential Oil vs. Fragrance Oil: Whenever your budget will allow, purchase only essential oils. Fragrance oils are chemically comprised, and are not always compatible to burning as incense; instead of a floral undertone in your incense, you can get a burnt, acrid chemical smell. Some Fragrance oils do fine - you have to just try them. If you are more concerned with magical property, nothing but essential oil is recommended.

Altar Incense - Simple
1 part sage
1 part rosemary
1 part thyme

Mix well, sprinkle on charcoal as needed.

*** If you have access to any essential oil of either of these three ingredients, your loose incense will benefit from a drop or two of the oil. 

Altar Incense- Complex
1/2 part Vervain
2 parts Lavender Buds
1 part Frankincense - crushed or powdered
1 scant part Myrrh - crushed or powdered
1 part dried Jasmine flowers or Rose  petals
5 drops Rose Oil (You can use Jasmine Oil, which is easier found and more cost effective)
2 drops Lavender oil


Crush or powder resins first.
Flowers can be left whole or chopped
Mix resins with flowers
Add oil one drop at a time.

***If you do not have access to the flower petals or lavendar buds, you can substitute with essential oils, using sawdust or oakmoss bits to use as filler.

Frankincense and/or Myrrh on its own is perfectly useable and traditional to burn as Altar incense.

 Esbat Incense - Simple
1 part Sage
1 part Rosemary
1/2 part Bay Leaf, crushed
---Addition of Rosemary Essential Oil fills out this incense, but you can use without.


Witches Circle Incense - Simple
1 part sage
-- if you have access to lavender buds, rose petals, or lavender or rose oil, these add a beautiful scent to sage.

Witches Circle Incense - Complex
2 parts Frankincense
1 part Myrrh
1 large or 2 small crushed Bay Leaf (1/8 tsp if using kitchen herb already cut)
1/2 part Sandalwood
1/2 part Dragon's Blood
1/2 part Vervain
1/2 part Patchouli herb
2 crushed, dried Oak Leaves
3-5 drops Tuberose Oil

Crush or powder resins first.
Mix resins with Sandalwood, Patchouli, Bay Leaf, Vervain and Oak Leaves.
Add oil one drop at a time.

***Sandalwood, Patchouli, Frankincense and Myrrh can be powdered from pre-made cones and sticks if you have trouble obtaining them in their regular form.

This incense is not badly affected if you change the type of oil used, though experimentation with different oils will tell you which pleases you. (Good Tuberose isn't cheap) I've used a good quality Tuberose fragrance oil instead of an essential oil with acceptable results.