Thanks to Nathan for inviting me to the forum! I'm Sara, and I'm the writer behind Incense Apprentice as well as a budding incense maker.
When did you first get into incense?
Last summer (2024) when I randomly won some incense as a door prize. I idly googled, educated myself about some incense history, and realized--I could make this stuff! I got a Carl Neal book and have been deeply obsessed ever since.
What do you hope to get out of this forum?
Having fun nerding out with fellow incense nerds on ingredients, tools, and techniques.
How long have you been making incense?
Since summer of 2024. I was lucky enough to spend a week studying with Persephenie Lea last October and learned oh so much!
Favorite incense variety
My mind likes natural-ingredient-based joss sticks...but my lungs prefer nerikoh or pastilles on the warmer, as there is such a thing as burning too much incense! (Madame Pele's all-natural air pollution enflaming my lungs doesn't help, either.)
Top incense making tip
Buy SMALL samples of herbs new to you from a reputable vendor (Amazon and Etsy are of inconsistent quality) and test them on charcoal before making anything with them. I wasted a lot of money buying way to many herbs that were either stale or I didn't really care for the smell.
What other interests or hobbies do you have?
I enjoy wandering around in forests, birding, writing, live music, travel, macrame, yoga, breathwork, and reading nonfiction.
