Incense Papers
If you have ever tried to make incense you know that it is no easy task. However, this is a simple way to have incense without all the trouble. You can make incense papers. I got the idea from Scott Cunningham's Incense, Oils & Brews. It is a remarkable book and I would recommend it to anyone!
Supplies Needed:
Salt Petre
Blotter Paper (I couldn't find any and used Construction paper and it worked just fine!)
Various tinctures (for scent)
Ok, first you take the paper and cut it into strips about 1 inch by 6 inches. Dissolve 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt petre in 1/2 a cup of very very warm water. Now soak the strips in there until they are saturated. Hang them up to dry, or if you are in a hurry, you can drape them over the racks in your oven and turn it on a low heat until they are dry. Once the strips are dry you have 2 options. You can leave them and use them in place of those messy little charcoals or you can scent them. To use them as charcoals, just light the paper, and sprinkle a thin layer of herbs or powdered incense blends over the paper. It will smolder them just like the charcoal does...just be sure to sprinkle them over it in a THIN layer or it will go out. Or to scent them yourself you will want to take tinctures and coat the paper with it and then let it dry again. If the scent is a pale one, you may want to soak it again after it dries the first time. I made vanilla ones from a tincture of vanilla bean that I made, and with only one coat it didn't smell very good, mostly like paper. It needed a second one. But stronger smells like Frankincense only need one coat...trust me! And it's that easy! Store them in airtight baggies or jars, and they are ready when you are!
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