The Public Herbarium

Frankincense (Boswellia spp.) resin

Making Natural Incense Cones

Natural incense cone making, accessible DIY approach, budget-friendly, sustainable.

What Are Incense Cones?

Incense cones are small, self-burning pyramids made from powdered plant materials, natural binders, and water. When lit at the tip, they smolder slowly from top to bottom, releasing fragrant smoke for 10-20 minutes.

How They’re Different from Other Incense:

Why This Matters: Cones are the perfect middle ground—they’re self-lighting like sticks, but you can make them entirely from natural ingredients like loose incense.

Why Make Your Own?

Complete Control: You know exactly what’s in your incense. No “fragrance oils,” synthetic chemicals, or mystery ingredients.

Budget-Friendly: A batch of homemade cones costs $3-6 to make (about 15-20 cones), versus $15-25 for commercial natural cones.

Customisation: Create scents that are perfect for you—relaxing blends for evening, energising blends for morning, medicinal blends for cold season.

Connection to Craft: There’s something magical about mixing powders, forming shapes with your hands, and watching them dry into something beautiful and functional.

Better Scent Quality: Commercial cones often smell harsh or artificial. Homemade cones smell like actual plants—complex, subtle, and natural.

NZ-Specific Benefits:

The Four Building Blocks

Every incense cone needs these four components:

1. Base Material (The Fuel)

What It Is: A combustible powder that allows the cone to burn slowly and evenly.

Best Options:

Why You Need It: Resins and herbs alone won’t burn properly. The base provides the combustible structure.

Proportion: 80-85% of your dry ingredients

2. Aromatic Materials (The Scent)

What They Are: The herbs, spices, and resins that create your desired fragrance.

Options:

Proportion: 10-15% of your dry ingredients

Why Less Is More: If you add too many aromatics, the cone won’t burn properly. The base needs to dominate for good combustion.

3. Binder (The Glue)

What It Is: A natural gum that holds everything together when mixed with water.

Options:

Proportion: 1-2% of your dry ingredients (very small amount!)

Why It’s Essential: Without binder, your cone will crumble when it dries. The binder creates a cohesive, solid structure.

4. Water (The Activator)

What It Does: Activates the binder and allows you to form shapes.

How Much: Roughly equal to your total dry ingredients (by volume)

Why It Matters: Too little water = crumbly cones. Too much water = won’t hold shape and takes forever to dry.

Essential Equipment

Basic Tools:

Grinding Tools:

Optional But Helpful:

Total Cost to Start: $0-50 depending on what you already have

Your First Recipe: Simple Sandalwood Spice

This is the perfect beginner recipe—simple, forgiving, and smells wonderful.

Ingredients:

Dry Ingredients:

Wet Ingredient:

Yield: About 15-20 small cones

NZ Cost Estimate:

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Prepare Yourself

Before you start, take a moment to centre yourself. Making incense is a meditative practice—your energy and intentions go into what you create.

Why This Matters: Traditional incense makers believe the maker’s energy affects the final product. Even from a practical standpoint, rushing or frustration leads to mistakes.

Step 2: Prepare Your Ingredients

If Buying Pre-Ground:

If Grinding Your Own:

For Spices:

  1. Measure whole spices
  2. Grind in coffee grinder or mortar/pestle
  3. Sieve to ensure fine, even texture
  4. Re-grind any larger pieces

For Sandalwood:

Target Consistency: Fine powder, like flour or confectioner’s sugar. Coarse texture = won’t burn well.

Step 3: Mix Your Dry Ingredients

Order Matters:

  1. Add base first: Pour sandalwood powder into your mixing bowl
  2. Add aromatics: Add cinnamon and cloves to the bowl
  3. Mix thoroughly: Stir with a spoon or fork until completely combined (no streaks of any single ingredient)
  4. Sift in binder: This is important! Use a fine mesh sieve to sprinkle the gum tragacanth over your mixture. This prevents clumping.
  5. Final mix: Mix again very thoroughly. The binder should be evenly distributed throughout.

Why Sifting Matters: Gum binders clump easily. Sifting ensures even distribution, which means even binding throughout your cone.

Step 4: Add Water

This is where your powder becomes dough.

The Process:

  1. Start with less: Pour 3 teaspoons of water into your dry mixture
  2. Mix immediately: Use a spoon or your fingers to start combining. The mixture will be crumbly at first.
  3. Knead gently: Using your hands, squeeze and knead the mixture for 30-60 seconds. It should start coming together.
  4. Test consistency: Try to form a small ball. It should:
  1. Adjust if needed:

Perfect Consistency: Like play dough or modeling clay—holds shape but isn’t wet.

Step 5: Knead Your Dough

Once you have the right consistency, knead for 1-2 minutes.

Why Knead:

How to Knead:

Step 6: Shape Your Cones

You have three options for shaping:

Method 1: Hand Rolling (Easiest, No Special Equipment)

  1. Pinch off dough: Take a piece about the size of a large blueberry or small grape
  2. Roll into ball: Between your palms, create a smooth ball
  3. Form cone shape:
  1. Perfect the shape:

Method 2: Finger Shaping

  1. Roll dough into ball
  2. Pinch one end to create a point
  3. Flatten the other end for the base
  4. Roll between palms to smooth into cone shape

Method 3: Cone Molds (Easiest for Perfect Shapes)

  1. Take a blueberry-sized piece of dough
  2. Place in one half of the mold
  3. Press the two halves together firmly
  4. Open carefully and remove cone
  5. Clean up any “pinch marks” with wet fingers

Pro Tip: Keep a small bowl of water nearby to moisten your fingers. This prevents sticking and helps smooth imperfections.

Drying & Curing

Drying Process

Setup:

  1. Place shaped cones on your drying surface
  2. Space them at least 2cm apart (they need airflow)
  3. Find a spot that’s:

Drying Time:

How to Tell They’re Dry:

Common Mistake: Rushing this step. Damp cones won’t burn properly—they’ll sputter, go out, or smell musty.

Curing (Optional But Recommended)

After drying, let your cones “cure” for 1-2 weeks in an airtight container.

Why Cure:

How to Cure:

  1. Once completely dry, place cones in glass jar or tin
  2. Seal tightly
  3. Store in cool, dark place
  4. Wait 1-2 weeks
  5. They’re now ready to burn!

How to Burn Your Cones

Equipment Needed:

The Process:

Safety Reminders:

  • Never leave burning incense unattended
  • Keep away from flammable materials
  • Ensure good ventilation (window open)
  • Keep away from children and pets
  • Don’t touch—remains hot for several minutes after burning

Creating Your Own Recipes

Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can create custom blends!

The Formula:

Base (80-85%):

Aromatics (10-15%):

Binder (1-2%):

Water:

Sample Recipes to Try:

“Calm Evening” Cones:

“Forest Walk” Cones:

“Winter Spice” Cones:

“Citrus Uplift” Cones:

Tips for Experimenting:

  1. Start with the proven recipe: Master it first, then modify
  2. Change only aromatics: Keep base, binder, and water amounts the same
  3. Keep notes: Write down what you try and how it burns
  4. Test before making a full batch: Make 3-4 cones first
  5. Consider burn quality: Some ingredients burn better than others

NZ-Specific Ingredients

Budget-Friendly NZ Bases:

Rosemary (Grow or forage):

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) in flower
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Pine Needles (Pinus radiata):

Pine (Pinus radiata) showing needles and cones
Pine (Pinus radiata)

NZ Native Aromatics (Use with Cultural Respect):

Kawakawa (Piper excelsum):

leaves of kawakawa (Piper excelsum) plant
Kawakawa (Piper excelsum)

Mānuka Wood:

leaves and flowers of mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)
Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium)

Pine Needles (Naturalised, abundant):

Pine (Pinus radiata) showing needles and cones
Pine (Pinus radiata)

Easily Available in NZ:

From Your Garden:

From Supermarkets:

From Online/Specialty Shops:

Troubleshooting

Problem: Cones crumble when dry

Causes:

Solutions:

Problem: Cones won’t light or keep going out

Causes:

Solutions:

Problem: Cones burn too fast or flame up

Causes:

Solutions:

Problem: Cones are sticky and won’t hold shape

Causes:

Solutions:

Problem: Uneven burn (goes out halfway down)

Causes:

Solutions:

Problem: Harsh smell when burning

Causes:

Solutions:

Safety Guidelines

When Making Cones:

When Burning Cones:

Special Populations:

Pregnancy & Nursing:

Children:

Asthma/Respiratory Issues:

Pets:

Getting Started: Your Action Plan

Week 1: Gather Materials

Week 2: Make Your First Batch

Week 3: Wait & Learn

Week 4: Burn & Evaluate

Ongoing:

Final Thoughts

Making incense cones is a beautiful blend of craft and chemistry. You’re working with ancient plant materials using methods that have been refined over centuries, but adding your own creativity and local touch.

Your first batch might not be perfect. That’s okay. The dough might be too dry or too wet. The cones might be lumpy. They might burn unevenly. Each batch teaches you something.

With practice, you’ll develop a feel for the right consistency, the perfect proportions, and the scents you love most. You’ll start recognising how different ingredients affect the burn. You’ll create cones that are uniquely yours—scents that reflect your home, your garden, and your taste.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s the satisfaction of creating something beautiful and functional from plants. It’s filling your space with natural fragrance you made yourself. It’s the meditative process of mixing, shaping, and waiting.

Start simple. Be patient. Trust the process. Enjoy the journey.

Sources & References

  1. Sylliaasen, E. (2021). Hand-Crafted Incense Workshop Series. Northwest School of Aromatic Medicine. (Traditional incense-making techniques)
  2. Tisserand, R., & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety (2nd ed.). Churchill Livingstone. (Safety for aromatic materials)
  3. Green, J. (2007). The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual. Crossing Press. (Herbal preparation fundamentals)
  4. Lawless, J. (2013). The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils (2nd ed.). Conari Press. (Plant aromatic profiles)
  5. Grieve, M. (1931). A Modern Herbal. Dover Publications. (Historical plant uses)
  6. Fischer-Rizzi, S. (1996). Complete Incense Book. Sterling Publishing. (Incense-making traditions)
  7. Watt, M. (2011). Plant Aromatics: A Data & Reference Manual. (Technical aromatic compound data)
  8. New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. (2024). Native Plant Database. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz
  9. Crowe, A. (2004). Which Native Tree? Penguin Books NZ. (NZ plant identification)
  10. Riley, M. (1994). Māori Healing and Herbal. Viking Sevenseas NZ. (Rongoā Māori context)

Rongoā Māori Disclaimer: This guide does not represent rongoā Māori preparation methods or traditional Māori medicine-making. Rongoā Māori is a complete healing system with its own protocols, karakia (prayers), and cultural practices that cannot be separated from te ao Māori (the Māori worldview). For rongoā Māori knowledge and treatment, please consult qualified rongoā practitioners through Te Paepae Motuhake or other appropriate Māori health services.

Medical Disclaimer: This guide is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The incense-making methods described are for creating ambient fragrance, not for therapeutic treatment of health conditions. Always ensure positive plant identification before use. When burning incense, always maintain proper ventilation—never burn in sealed rooms. If you are pregnant, nursing, have asthma, allergies, or respiratory conditions, consult with a healthcare provider before making or burning incense. When using plants with cultural significance to Māori (particularly taonga plants like kawakawa), approach with respect, seek appropriate permissions, and consider whether your use is culturally appropriate. Never leave burning incense unattended. Keep all incense-making materials and burning cones away from children and pets. The author and publisher assume no liability for adverse reactions, injuries, property damage, or losses resulting from the use of information in this guide.

Note on Pricing: All prices mentioned in this guide are approximate and based on New Zealand suppliers as of December 2025. Prices vary by supplier, season, and market conditions. We recommend checking current prices with your local suppliers.

The Public Herbarium is built on a foundation of scientific integrity, transparency, and care. Research sources are referenced throughout the site wherever possible. Content creation is assisted by AI tools and carefully reviewed for accuracy.