From Preserving to Spiritual Connection: The Journey from Smudging to Artisanal Incense

Long before aromatic incense decorated the shelves of fairs and esoteric shops, smudging was already part of human daily life. Fire, since the beginning of time, was more than a source of heat — it was a bridge to the invisible. Burning herbs was a gesture full of intention: to protect, to heal, to communicate with the sacred.

The origins: smoke as a tool

In ancient times, Egyptians burned resins such as frankincense and myrrh in religious and funeral rituals. It wasn't just for the aroma: it was believed that the smoke carried prayers to the gods. Indigenous peoples of the Americas fumigated environments with herbs such as white sage and pitch to ward off negative spirits and attract positive energy.

In the East, incense took on a form and ritual. In China and Japan, the act of burning incense became a refined practice, associated with meditation, the tea ceremony and the art of contemplating the invisible. Each ingredient had a specific function: to purify, elevate the spirit, and focus the mind.

Industrialization and the erasure of meaning

Over time, incense became a commodity. Produced on a large scale, it began to be sold in supermarkets, often without any connection to its spiritual or therapeutic roots. Artificial aromas replaced real herbs. The cheap became expensive: incense lost its soul.

The rebirth of artisanal incense

In recent years, a counter-movement has gained momentum: the revival of artisanal incense. Small producers have once again started mixing resins, leaves, flowers and woods with their own hands. No more synthetic perfumes or industrial charcoal. Here, each stick is made with intention — to cleanse, balance, transform.

Those who make artisanal incense understand plants and time. They know that lavender calms, rosemary activates, and myrrh roots. Production is almost a ritual: from the selection of the raw material to the slow drying, everything is done to preserve the natural strength of the ingredients.

Why does this matter?

Because we are once again seeking meaning in things. Using artisanal incense is choosing presence. It is transforming any moment into a space for care, connection and pause.

Smudging has never been just about smell. It has always been about language—from earth to sky, from body to spirit. And in today’s handmade sticks, that language lives on.

Basic Recipe for Homemade Incense (without chemical charcoal)

Ingredients:

• 2 parts ground dried herbs (your choice)

• 1 part natural resin (e.g. frankincense, myrrh, white pitch)

• 1 part natural binding powder (this can be makko – Japanese tree bark – or gum arabic powder)

• Mineral water or hydrolate (sufficient quantity to bind)

• Optional: essential oils (a few drops)

  
  

Preparation method:

1. Grind all the dried herbs and resins well until you get a fine powder. If necessary, sift.

2. Mix the herbs, resin and binding powder in a bowl.

3. Add water little by little until you form a moldable dough, like modeling clay.

4. Shape into sticks, cones or balls with your hands or with molds.

5. Leave to dry in the shade, in an airy place, for at least 7 days (or more, depending on the local humidity). The drier it is, the better it burns.

   
   

Tip : Always test the burn before making large quantities. If it burns poorly, you can adjust the resin or binder ratio.

Practical Guide to Herbs for Smudging and Incense

	Function	Uses
Rosemary	Stimulating, purifying, strengthens the energy field	Cleansing environments, focus and vitality rituals
Lavender	Calming, relaxing, promotes peace and sleep	Before sleeping, in moments of anxiety or meditation
White sage (or common sage)	Deep spiritual cleansing, banishment of dense energies	Purification rituals, beginning of cycles, protection
Palo Santo	Connects with the spiritual, cleanses and attracts good energies	Meditations, opening of energy works
Myrrh	Grounding, spiritual protection, ancestral connection	Meditative incense, closing rituals
Frankincense	Spiritual elevation, concentration, expansion of consciousness	Meditation, prayer, introspection
Cinnamon	Attracts prosperity, love and warm energy	Rituals of abundance, attraction, vital energy
Dried rose (petals)	Harmony, love, emotional healing	Work with the heart, self-knowledge
White pitch	Energy cleansing, concentration, mental clarity	Widely used in the Amazon in shamanic rituals and healings
Lemongrass (or lemon balm)	Invigorating, relaxing, gentle purifying	Restful environments, peaceful start to mornings

handmade incense