Welcome to the first post in the Scented Notes series!
I've always been intrigued by the musky scent of incense wafting lazily through the air. Occasionally, I'd buy a pack of sticks at a local dept store but always came away feeling like I'd been cheated by the synthetically scented smoke that filled the room when they were lit. Being much more into potpourri at the time, I walked away. But...
The idea crossed my path again during my early mom years but was always tainted by the fear that there may be toxins in the store bought sticks and cones I found locally. It never occurred to me that I could make my own.
Enter teenagers and their interest in saving the Earth, patchouli and the romance of homemade things to open my eyes to the charm of incense again.
My friend, Sadie, @
All Natural Me always has that fresh yet earthy scent around her which seems the most natural thing in the world and prompted my oldest to ask her about her "perfume."
~Nag Champa~
Sadie tucks sticks of her favorite incense around in her life much like sachets and is rewarded with an aura of earthy goodness!
After finding a specialty store nearby, my oldest bought nag champa sticks to cleanse the air in her room. A wonderful companion to the stretching and breathing exercises she'd begun.
It was great but there's always that little "I can do this myself" thought that continually invades my mind. I'm afraid my daughters have inherited it, too.
We discovered the
how-to booklet at Mountain Rose Herbs but alas, she was off to college before we had a chance to try it because we realized we didn't have everything we needed to make the incense.
Well, since then, the folks at Mountain Rose Herbs have generously pitched in to get me started and look what we made!
I found a recipe shared by Rosalee de la ForĂȘt
@
HerbMentor.com and we modified it a bit based on the ingredients we had on hand.
Here's what we used:
1 tsp. patchouli powder
3/4 tsp. makko powder
1/2 tsp. powdered orange peel
1/4 tsp. powdered frankincense
1/4 tsp. powdered benzoin gum
4-5 drops sweet orange essential oil
(one for each cone)
After mixing the powders together, add water a few drops at a time until the mixture is moldable.
Form into cones. Dry 24 hours.
Tip over to allow the bottom to dry out.
Time to enjoy! Place your cone in a heat safe bowl and light. After burning for a few seconds, blow out the flame and enjoy the peaceful aroma!
Sleep Aide Incense Cones
After the success of our first incense cones, we thought of using them for a more specific purpose. Since a few of us had been having trouble sleeping, we decided to substitute valerian root for the orange peel. And
Voila!
These incense cones, burned about a half hour before bed and carefully extinguished, promoted a good night's sleep!
Check out the
Incense Making Kit offered by Mountain Rose Herbs by clicking
HERE.
The kit includes various powdered herbs, woods and resins as well as a small mortar and pestle and the
Making Your Own Incense booklet
Or you can purchase the
Making Your Own Incense booklet or other incense accessories
HERE.
If you already have some of the ingredients on hand but still need a few things you can go to the Mountain Rose Product Index to find what you're looking for by clicking
HERE.
A little bit about what Mountain Rose Herbs represents:
Since 1987, Mountain Rose Herbs has been known for its uncompromising commitment to organic agriculture, sustainable business practices, and a steadfast focus on the pure aesthetics and freshness of botanical products. Their wide range of certified organic product offerings includes bulk herbs and spices, aromatherapy and essential oils, tea and tea supplies, and natural health and body care. Every aspect of product creation is carried out in accordance with strict quality control and organic handling procedures by employees who care. From fragrant and beyond-fresh organic herbs and spices to soothing essential oils and delicious herbal teas, the quality and integrity of Mountain Rose Herbs is unparalleled - with smiles guaranteed.
And it's all true!
To kick off the new series and help me celebrate my second blogging anniversary on June 4th, the folks at Mountain Rose Herbs are helping me host a giveaway! (now closed...thanks for your participation!)
They've generously agreed to send the lucky winner one bottle of lemon and one bottle of peppermint essential oil to get you started on your own incense adventure or for whatever you like...infusing, making your own cleaning products, herbal remedies, etc!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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