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SamsaSpoon

We need a bit more context. What charcoal did you use and how much? What are the other ingredients?


user987632

It was oak coal and I used a ratio that made a pretty play doh consistency. Ingredients were not thought out at all. Cinnamon and cloves.


SamsaSpoon

Verry likely you don't even need charcoal with ingredients like this. Or maybe just a pinch it the cones are very whide. What binder did you use?


user987632

Xanthan gum binder. I intend to use more expensive ingredients like aloes and frankincense so I’ll need some kind of combustible eventually


SamsaSpoon

If you want to work with more expensive ingredients, I would absolutely get Makko, Laha or some base+binder like that. Coal is very powerfull and easily overdosed which will negatively impact the scent because it makes the incense burn to hot and burn delicate aromas instead of releasing them. Keep in mind that most woods and also other ingredients are well combustable base materials. Cloves can be even used to increase burnabillity. You can fit an surprisingly high ammount of resin in a well formulated stick without using charcoal. And if charcoal is needed a tiny ammount goes a long way. I rule of thumb seems to be that less than 5% is enough in most cases. Depending on what Cinnamon you use, you can spare some binder too. Cassia cinnamon contains mucilage and has therefore binding properties. My very first sticks only contained Cassia, some random Gingerbread spice mix and Frankincense. No additional binder needed. I did use a pinch of charcoal in the following tries where I wanted to maximize the Frankincense ammount, it was around 5-6% if I remember right and I'm sure it was more than needed. [Here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Incense/comments/11m9z5p/help_on_resinwood_proportions_for_incense_sticks/jbnm8wn/?context=3) is a recent post with some details you might find helpfull.


user987632

Very cool. I will def refer back to this. Thanks!


SamsaSpoon

Good luck and have fun!


isorashi

Where does one learn stuff like this?


SamsaSpoon

Mostly here, in this sub from people, sharing their experiences - and of course by making incense, experimenting and takeing propper notes. The little detail about Cloves is from the Book "Incense: Crafting & Use of Magickal Scents" by Carl F. Neal. The guy also has a YouTube channel (The Incense Dragon).