by Carl F. Neal
A synthetic scent is often developed something like this: A designer or industrial customer wants a scent. The request could also be from within the synthesizing company itself. Let’s take, for example, sage. A chemist will examine the chemical structure of the aromatic components of the essential oil. Then the trick is to duplicate the structure of the oil artificially. One of the steps to accomplish this, with a much lower cost than the natural alternative, is to only duplicate the chemical parts of the essential oil that are detected by the human nose, leaving the undetected parts out.
The result of such experimentation has added a whole new aspect to the incense industry. Asia manufactures its own synthetic scent oils and they are regularly added to inexpensive incense. A few years ago a study was released that raised concern in the incense community. The initial data released from the research was sketchy and met with many questions. As further research developed, the general consensus among the researchers was that exposure to particulate matter on a regular basis, over a period of many years and in areas with poor ventilation, is unhealthy and ill-advised. Cancer is one of many risks that are associated with exposure to small particles, such as the ones incorporated into smoke of any kind. The research did not address the issue of the type of incense used by the participants, but I think it is good advice to have proper ventilation any time you are burning incense, candles, or charcoal. The research doesn’t prove that incense causes cancer, but it certainly should serve to increase our awareness if the health risks from smoke of all sorts.
How I have seen the debates rage over the use of synthetic chemicals in incense! My basic approach is to avoid synthetics in most instances because of the unknown factors involved. Some synthetic oils were not manufactured with the intention of having them burned, many contain questionable chemical ingredients, and some are of dubious quality overall.
Most synthetic incense is quite strong, making it a good choice for covering up undesirable odors, which is one of the few reasons I ever use synthetic incense. Another benefit to synthetic incense is that you can incorporate scents that would be difficult if not impossible to access in any other way. I personally have ethical problems with most aromatics that come from animals. This is especially true of musk. So how do you incorporate that type of scent without causing harm to the animals in question? Synthetics, of course. Synthetics also offer an inexpensive way to utilize scents that would normally be cost prohibitive.
I still hold that synthetic incense should rarely, if ever, be used in ritual or magickal practice. I know of many practitioners who don’t agree with me on this point, and I respect their feelings; but I feel that incense is an offering I make to natural forces and I should respect those forces by not using synthetic incense.
Natural
As I’m sure you have realized by now, I am a strong proponent of natural incense. I have never encountered any high-quality incense that obviously had any synthetic ingredients. I say “obviously” because there is no way to determine this with any certainty without a detailed chemical analysis. It is a shame that more incense manufacturers don’t include a list of ingredients on their incense. Let me take a moment to offer my sincere appreciation to Shoyeido for putting a list of key ingredients on their incense packages. I hope that other companies will follow suit for several reasons: to ensure that customers know what they are getting, that there are no synthetic ingredients included, and most importantly so that people with allergies to certain aromatics can use incense safely.
Is natural incense the best choice for you? Again, the question comes back to what you plan to do with the incense. If you are simply scenting a room, then any incense that doesn’t put off annoying amounts of smoke or causes you any physical discomfort will do. The question of natural versus synthetic goes far beyond incense and is an issue that many in our culture are grappling with. Food, cosmetics, and health care are all areas in which we as consumers have to make a choice. The consideration of synthetic materials in our culture is far beyond the scope of an incense book, so I won’t try to address all of those factors here, but I do feel confident in saying that if you avoid synthetic hormones in your food and drink or if you choose natural products over pharmaceuticals, then you will most likely gravitate to natural incense on your own once you are aware that it exists.
I previously mentioned that I prefer to keep my magickal and ritual incense completely natural. While that is a personal choice for me, I also believe that those who follow a nature-based path (as most Neopagans, Wiccans, Witches, Druids, Asatru, and others who are put under the general “Pagan” or “New Age” banners do) should consider this carefully. What does it say to the powers you evoke if your incense offering is composed of low-quality wood saturated with glues, synthetic fragrance oils, and an abundance of saltpeter? I admit that of the things I just listed, saltpeter sometimes does have a legitimate place on your altar, but only if you have incorporated it into the planning for your work. Using it routinely simply because it is in the inexpensive charcoal from the local New Age store is not, to me, a legitimate use.
What qualifies as “natural incense” can be debated. Does this mean only “whole herb” incense, as incense-group founder David Oller has called it, or can it include incense that uses essential oils (which are distilled or otherwise extracted from whole herbs)? Is incense “natural” if it contains a synthetic binder but is 99 percent natural? No government that I am aware of has ever set standards that would define this for us, so it is up to each individual to make that determination. For me, the ultimate test would be if the powers that you evoke were to ask you the same question, could you provide a ready answer? These points are truly rhetorical, and I won’t pretend to have the answers. This is a topic that both the Pagan and the incense communities need to continue discussing. Does synthetic incense offer the same energies as natural incense? Does it offer any energy at all?
In the West, especially in the United States, we have few incense traditions to draw upon. In many ways, we are blazing new trails in the incense world in the West, and what we decide now may have a profound impact on future generations. Discuss this with your friends, your fellow incense fans, your coven mates or kindred, and see what this trail has to offer. I expect to see a continuing evolution of knowledge and opinions in the coming decades.
I mentioned this earlier, but I feel it bears repeating. Rolled incense is not necessarily natural, and dipped incense is not necessarily synthetic. I have been guilty of making those mistaken assumptions in years past, and I hope it is something that you can avoid. For the most part, those assumptions are correct, but you should never assume that to be true.
Homemade
I admit that homemade incense has a special place in my heart. If you are interested in exploring this wonderful art, there are several books on the market and a number of online discussion groups that will teach you how to make incense at home. Homemade incense offers some unique benefits that cannot be found elsewhere. It is true that any skilled practitioner can empower or align the energies in any incense, but there is no way to equal the charge you can achieve when you create your own incense. If you choose to use synthetic incense in your practice, you can still accomplish more by making your own than buying off the shelf.
Frankly, you never know what has happened to your incense before you buy it. Even if you purchase only the finest incense from Japan and Nepal, you have no idea how long it has been in transit, how it was stored, how it was handled, etc. If you choose to make your own incense, you at least know how it has been handled, stored, and treated since it was created. You can improve the situation even further if you make incense only from ingredients that you have grown or harvested yourself.
When you start with natural ingredients, carefully prepare and blend them, and align the power within them at every step, you create incense that is not only very potent for magickal work but also replete with your energy and your intent.
Will and thought are the heart of magick. If you keep your mind focused on the purpose of the incense you are making throughout the creation process, the end result will be something unmatched by any incense created by another.
Is homemade incense the right choice for you? The first factor to consider is your own experience. Rolling your own natural incense is remarkably simple once you know a few basics; however, there are those who are simply not destined to be incense makers. There’s no crime in that since we all have our own unique set of skills in life. So my first suggestion is that you try incense making and see how well you do and if you enjoy it. Some communities have skilled incense artisans who offer classes in incense making. That is an ideal situation for many people, since it offers you expert guidance and the chance to make incense without having to invest money into tools and ingredients. Reading a good book on the topic is a great foundation for those classes.
If you find that you do not enjoy making incense, you should not force yourself. The negative feelings you have while making the incense will become a part of that incense and will be released when it is burned. I tell my students to never roll incense when they are angry or upset for this very reason.
Assuming that you do enjoy making your own incense, there are still other factors to consider when selecting incense. Do you have the space for making incense and storing the ingredients? Are you able to invest in good quality ingredients? Do you have the time? This is especially important for any self-combusting incense. Incense making is a slow process that requires patience. Blending and rolling your incense is the fast part of the operation and can literally be completed in just a few minutes. Slowly drying the incense requires sufficient storage space and the patience to allow it to dry completely before use.
Do you have access to all of the ingredients you need? I have an extensive collection of aromatics, but there are still ingredients to which I have very limited access or none at all. Large incense companies often have access to materials that most of us don’t. They can also purchase them in large quantities to reduce the cost. They can choose from a variety of sources and are not limited to what is for sale in the local herb shop.
Do you have the skill to create the incense you need? Incense making is not hard in general, but some very complex blends can take months or years to perfect. The great incense houses have master incense makers who have decades of experience making incense every day. Most incense does not require that level of knowledge and dedication, but in some instances that expertise is important.
I truly believe that everyone who uses incense should experience the joy of creating incense from raw ingredients. I hope nothing I’ve said here will discourage you. Although I’ve been an incense maker for many years, I still have a significant amount of incense that I have purchased commercially or received from my fellow incense enthusiasts. I don’t think anyone should be devoted to only making their own incense or only purchasing commercial incense. A combination of the two paths is the most beneficial and practical solution for most of us.
Rare Incense Pleasures
There are some commercial incense made with wonderful ingredients by skilled craftsman that are perfect for certain uses. I have used incense from around the world in my magickal work and have found particular incense that are ideal for certain things I wish to accomplish. Even with more than a decade of incense making experience, I cannot duplicate those specific scents. In fact, I gave up trying to do so long ago.
Some of these blends include rare grades of aloeswood or aromatics from certain botanical cultivars to which I will never have access. Some are so mysterious in their scent that I cannot even begin to assemble a list of ingredients to copy them. If you find commercial incense that works really well for you in a particular role, it would seem folly to me to avoid using it for anything other than economic reasons. Some incense is far more expensive than gold, and whenever I have had the pleasure of experiencing that type of incense, it has been bliss. However, no matter how perfect those blends are for work I may do, I can’t invest the money for their regular use although they are rare beauties.
Are these rare treasures the right choice for you? If you can afford them and have used or sampled them in the past to ensure they are right for your needs, then I believe wholeheartedly that you should employ them when possible and appropriate. Just understand that you needn’t spend a fortune on incense to get great benefit and pleasure from it.
Price
The price of any consumer good will usually impact our decision to buy or not to buy. This is true of incense as well. Many factors go into the price of incense, but the bottom line is still the same for our budgets. Incense devotees sometimes spend literal fortunes on incense purchases. In some parts of the world, incense purchasing and use is seen as “conspicuous consumption” and is a way for people to demonstrate their wealth. They will purchase rare and expensive aromatics and then burn them. I suppose it is akin to burning money in order to demonstrate that you are so wealthy it doesn’t matter to you! I find that sad on several levels, not the least of which is that rare aromatics are being wasted by those who don’t care about the scent or the effect on the brain; they are merely trying to impress other people.
For those of us who have to live on a budget, cost is a very important factor when selecting incense. I certainly don’t think that price alone should be the deciding factor in your decision, but you have to realistically consider how much you can afford to spend. No incense is worth bankruptcy (although I’ve encountered some that came close).
As I said, the price of incense is determined by a number of factors, but a dominant one is quality. Never base your opinion of the quality of incense just on price, but be aware that the finer the incense, the higher the cost. Just as with most things in life, the more valuable the materials in incense, the higher the quality and the more it will cost.
Factors beyond quality will impact the price of incense. As in any industry, marketing and packaging have to be added in to the price of incense if the manufacturers are to make a profit and stay in business. There is little advertising for incense in the United States, but there is marketing. The fancy signs, expensive displays, and promotional packages all factor into the price of incense. Likewise the shipping cost to get the product to you is reflected in the price. There is also a question of volume; the more incense a company is able to produce and sell, the lower its costs due to purchasing and producing in bulk.
These factors are certainly at play in the Western incense markets and the results can be strange indeed. Very inexpensive synthetic incense might end up costing a lot more than it should due to elaborate packaging and behind-the-scenes marketing done to retailers. The reverse can be true as well. High-quality incense can come down in price as its popularity increases (more sales = more bulk discounts, etc.). If there is a type or brand of incense that you truly love, please keep buying it. Each sale may make the difference between a price decrease or an increase! Yes, supply and demand are also important, so buying tons of one type of incense could cause a shortage and increasing prices, but take the gamble. Your support of the makers of high-quality incense is critical to future availability.
If you become a true incense fan, as I suspect you will, I would suggest creating an incense budget. See how much you can reasonably spend in a month on incense without straining your budget; now, don’t go over that number. I know, this is just basic economics and common sense, but it is easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment and find yourself skipping meals because of some nice sandalwood. One price-conscious tip is to look for variety packs of incense. Many incense companies offer these, and they are a great way to sample a variety of incense for a low price. When you find one scent you love, you can then purchase it alone in larger quantities.
One final note on price ties back to homemade incense. If you have need for incense containing expensive aromatics, it might be more c
ost effective to make the incense yourself. This is certainly true for non-combustible incense, but even with combustible incense, you may be able to get higher-quality incense on your budget if you focus your money on the ingredients and then use your own labor to avoid ultra-expensive commercial incense.
In-the-Package Scent
Now we come to a factor that many, many people overlook. If you are buying synthetic incense (like the bins you see in stores where incense is sold by the stick for pennies each), it is normal to pick it up and smell it. That is a viable prospect with a lot of synthetic incense, but don’t be fooled. Some synthetic incense is made with oils that were never intended to be burned. Have you ever brought home incense that smelled wonderful in the store but smelled like a house fire when you got it home? An oil that was meant for sniffing, not burning, is a likely cause.
This is even more important to consider when buying natural incense. Whether hand rolled, extruded, or dipped in natural oils, most natural incense has a significantly different smell when it burns. Many “whole herb” incense products have no scent at all until burned. It is very similar to purchasing wine. You have to rely far more on the package description and the help of your retailer to pick the scent you want. Just smelling the package will tell you very little or—worse yet—mislead you about the true scent.
Selecting incense is both fun and exciting. It seems like there are so many factors to balance when selecting incense, it is almost overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be a difficult task. If you are an educated consumer who knows what she wants, then the choices narrow themselves down quickly. For magickal purposes, incense doesn’t have to smell like perfume. In fact, the most appropriate incense in some magickal work may not have a pleasing fragrance at all, so don’t let your nose alone decide. Do some shopping, do some experimenting, and enjoy the journey. Incense is relaxing and enjoyable, so don’t let the process of choosing it ruin the other aspects.