The Challenge:
Adding thick, sticky resin to powdered incense is tricky. I tried melting it, but it hardened on contact. Freezing and grinding it didn’t work either—the grinder’s heat turned it into a gummy mess.
The Solution:
Instead of adding the resin into the powdered incense ingredients, we will reverse the process. We will add the powdered ingredients into the resin.
Before You Begin:
• I’ve used up to 40% resin with 60% makko, but the scent was too strong—20–30% is better. Adjust based on your recipe.
• Resin also works as a binder, so no need for extra gums. If you use less than 15% resin, you may need a binder.
• Part of the fun with incense is exploration. Make small batches before you go big to preserve your ingredients.
• Always mix your dry ingredients well before adding the resin.
What You Need:
[upl-image-preview uuid=30d40f29-83c1-4bbf-8fda-e15cb23807aa url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713017-569085-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Optionally, you can use a #40-#80 sieve.
[upl-image-preview uuid=d5f28e51-04c7-444d-b6d4-9616b6e95994 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713029-852412-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
The Instructions:
Lay out your silicone mat or wax paper. Sprinkle your powdered ingredients onto the mat.
[upl-image-preview uuid=e2ced80f-26cd-4201-a7d7-7d26b01f5fb1 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713119-394365-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Place your resin on top of the powder and sprinkle powder onto the resin.
[upl-image-preview uuid=8241d264-1eee-4e97-8485-7f14e7ef5c6d url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713133-658469-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Fold the silicone mat / wax paper onto the resin/powder mix. Then carefully set your heavy object onto the resin/powder mix. You can leave it like this for 10 minutes and come back or you can apply downward pressure onto the resin/powder mix to flatten the resin into a pancake.
[upl-image-preview uuid=becc714d-7c59-4e28-811b-4310291be060 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713141-6230-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
You will remove the heavy object, unfold the silicone mat / wax paper and this will be the result.
[upl-image-preview uuid=1be44ce0-e446-4ab9-8a1c-b187d70840cd url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713148-581261-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Sprinkle more powder onto the resin pancake.
[upl-image-preview uuid=3dd856d5-3c3e-4399-9f80-f26afdc7faf5 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713155-239445-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Fold the pancake in half, and then in half again.
[upl-image-preview uuid=9f919172-b762-4103-837b-49a0aacb0d8a url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713164-245716-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
[upl-image-preview uuid=7314488a-0cff-44ce-a53d-c75d7712aec0 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713174-947507-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
You will want to repeat steps 3-6. No less than 6 times. You'll know you are done doing this when there is nearly no stickiness and the dough begins to break apart easily as seen in this photo.
[upl-image-preview uuid=f906687c-63d6-414e-8968-212d9707a4fc url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713186-126528-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Now you can tear the pancake into little pieces by hand. The pieces don't need to be tiny, about the size of an American dime or 1 Euro cent coin.
[upl-image-preview uuid=7348823f-6124-4d97-b472-792f429565d2 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713194-353220-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Add the little resin pieces to some of your powder. I find a 1:1 ratio is good. And grind the mix in your grinder. Note, to avoid too much heat, I suggest pulsing the grinder and then allowing it to cool down. Too hot and the resin will melt.
[upl-image-preview uuid=f73d4724-fecc-48af-b3ee-a997bd62a933 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713203-463231-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
After 20 seconds of pulse grinding, you should have something like this. If not, continue grinding.
[upl-image-preview uuid=7ef81604-b0fb-4e14-8d02-bbccdbf30286 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713213-145822-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
You can now pour the mixed powder out and feel for any lumps. If you feel lumps, you should continue grinding. You can also add more powder. Otherwise, you can use the metal sieve to isolate the little bits of resin. I like to put the sieve in a bowl and then pour the powder into the sieve.
[upl-image-preview uuid=491be146-9724-4534-9482-f22138a690ad url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-23/1750713227-738150-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
You’ll see after sieving some chunks of resin that weren’t small enough.
[upl-image-preview uuid=7948e778-de0d-4bd1-8019-988c9f680c01 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-24/1750766921-908733-image.png alt={TEXT?}]
Now you can take the resin bits and add them to more powder and re-grind until you don't see that in the sieve. You may run out of powder, that's fine. You can use the powder that has some resin in it to re-grind.
[upl-image-preview uuid=9d1dde82-b035-44cb-8832-4116d88abe05 url=https://incensemakers.org/assets/files/2025-06-24/1750767094-527737-20250623-152214.jpg alt={TEXT?}]