Preparing to Make Your Own Incense
The following incense recipes are basic instructions for making a 'non-combustible' herbal magickal incense. Non-combustible means that the incense will not burn on it's own, but will need to be burned over charcoal tablets (do not use bar-b-que charcoal). The only difference between the two types is that non-combustible incense needs the charcoal to burn (you light the charcoal and then sprinkle the incense on top of it), and combustible incense burns by itself (you can light it directly, like sticks or cones).

You can make incense sticks by thinning out your incense mixture with a liquid and dipping bamboo sticks into the mixture and re-dipping until it becomes the desired size. This is a far more difficult process to master, so I will stick to loose herbs and such as incense. If you would like to make a non-magickal incense, just skip the visualizing and empowering directions, but follow all other instructions. Making your own incense is really pretty easy, once you learn how.
One of the first steps you should take is to consider the 'goal' of the Incense you will be creating. What is the 'need'? To bring money? Create new love interests? Relaxation? Healing or health issues? Protection? Burning incense in not just a way of masking unpleasant smells, but a way to refresh your heart and mind and soul.

Please keep in mind that these recipes are not intended as medical advice. Instead, I offer these suggestions in a spirit of exploration and open-minded experimentation.
Tools Needed for Incense Recipes
First, you will want to gather your tools and ingredients together, before you start.
You will need:

• Your incense ingredients (herbs, flowers, resins, crystals, stones, oils)
• Measuring devices - eyedropper (for oils), spoons, cup, or scale, depending on the quantity you are making. Ingredients are usually measured in parts. You decided what tool you are going to measure the ingredients with based upon how much you want to make, for example a teaspoon, a tablespoon or a 1/4-cup. One of those then equals one part.
• Mortar and pestle -if your herbs/resins/flowers are not already in a finely powdered form
• Some small bowls, plates or containers for the powdered ingredients.
• A large ceramic/glass (non-metallic) mixing bowl to blend your ingredients.
• An airtight container for storing your finished incense (Ziploc bags or baby food jars work).
• Pen and paper to write down exactly what you did, so you can replicate it in the future.
  

Ingredients to Use
Here is a partial list of ingredients to consider using to make your incense. A lot of these can be found in your kitchen, dollar store, herbal store or supermarket. Be aware that many plants will smell differently when burned or smoldered.

In making your own magickal incense, choose ingredients that will have the energies needed to manifest the goal. For a love incense recipe, you would choose ingredients that are known for promoting or attracting love. These energies may be used alone, or blended to add power to the magick work. A cleansing incense recipe might be used to clear a space of all negativity prior to the magickal work. In ritual, the energies are released through smoldering, and become accessible to the witch to use towards manifesting the desired magickal goal.

Condiments found in your kitchen might include: cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, bay leaves, allspice, sage, orange, lemon or lime rind, ginger, coconut, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, salt, sea salt, sugar, basil, garlic, curry powder, star anise, and thyme.

You also might want to consider growing your herbs or flowers. Or going for a walk in the woods or along the beach and collecting what you need. Remember you will want to ask the plant's permission before taking a piece and leave a gift in exchange.

Flowers to consider are: lavender, chamomile, jasmine, rose petals, azalea, bayberry, carnations, chrysanthemum, clover, daisy, honeysuckle, hyacinth, magnolia, marigold, geranium, sweet pea, and tulips.

Tobacco is actually a good starter base for your incense. Other items that make good bases include pine sawdust, benzoin and sandalwood.

Liquids and oils that you might consider are: any essential oils, red wine, honey, tree sap, pine pitch and witch hazel.
Properties of Herbs
African Violet - Spirituality, Protection
Allspice - Money, Luck, Healing
Almond - Money, Prosperity, Wisdom
Basil - Good for bronchitis and colds. Improves concentration. Eases migraine headaches. Harmonizing influence. Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Protection
Bay - Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing, Purification, Strength
Bergamot - Stress relief, fevers, coughs. Provides spiritual protection and encourages prosperity.
Carnation - Protection, Strength, Healing
Cedarwood - Improves symptoms of bronchitis, arthritis. Healing, Purification, Money, Protection
Chamomile - Money, Sleep, Love, Purification
Chrysanthemum - Protection
Cinnamon - Counteracts symptoms of flu and other viral illnesses. Amplifies the effects of other fragrances. Spirituality, Success, Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust Protection, Love
Citronella - Natural insect repellent. Stimulant.
Citrus - (lemon, orange, etc.) Aids sore throats, fevers. Energizing. Promotes positive attitude.
Cloves - Aphrodisiac. Improves mental abilities, eyesight, and mood. Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money
Coconut - Purification, Protection, Chastity
Curry - Protection
Cypress - Eases depression for those mourning.
Daisy- Lust, Luck
Dittany of Crete - Manifestations, Astral Projection
Dogwood - Wishes, Protection
Eucalyptus - Relieves respiratory congestion, coughs, headaches. Helps protect against cold and flu germs in the air.
Fennel - Use for digestive disorders, menopause symptoms, Protection, Healing, Purification
Frankincense - Stress relief, laryngitis. Soothes nervous conditions. Spiritually uplifting
Geranium - Antidepressant. Improves menstrual problems, sore throats. Fertility, Health, Love, Protection
Ginger - Love, Money, Success, Power
Honeysuckle - Money, Psychic Powers, Protection
Hyacinth - Love, Protection, Happiness
Hydrangea - Hex Breaking
Hyssop - Purification, Protection
Jasmine - Aids sleep, meditation. Reduces anxiety, depression, and lethargy. Prophetic Dreams
Lavender - Good for relieving headaches, fainting, asthma. Relaxing, calming, and soothing. Stimulates dreaming. Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness
Maple - Love, Longevity, Money
Marigold - Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers
Marjoram - Protection, love, Happiness, Health, Money
Mint - Money, Love, Lust, Healing, Exorcism, Travel, Protection
Musk - A masculine scent, attractive to women. Strengthens courage. Myrrh - Counteracts bronchitis. Emotionally grounding.
Orange - Love, Divination, Luck, Money
Patchouli - Promotes sensuality and a cheerful, peaceful attitude.
Peppermint - Purification, Sleep, Love, Healing, Psychic Powers
Pine - Reduces symptoms of colds, sore throats, chest infections.
Rose - Excellent for improving depression and symptoms of menopause. Promotes warm, loving feelings, peacefulness.
Rosemary - Stimulating, vitalizing. Balancing effect for pain, headaches. Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep
Rue - Healing, Health, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Love
Sage - Immortality, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Wishes
Sandalwood- Sedative effects, antidepressant. Spiritually protective. Used to cleanse ceremonial space and enhance prayer and meditation.
Spearmint - Healing, Love, Mental Powers
Star Anise - Psychic Powers, Luck
Thyme- Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage
Vanilla - Recuperative, physically energizing and emotionally calming. Mental Powers
Violet - Increases emotional sensitivity.
Wintergreen - Protection, Healing, Hex Breaking
Witch Hazel - Protection, Chastity
Ylang Ylang - Sexually stimulating. Anti-depressant, good for high blood pressure, relaxing.
Ingredients You Do NOT Want to Use
There are some ingredients that are POISONOUS and TOXIC when inhaled. These you do NOT want to use - no matter how much you may like them. Included in this toxic list are:

Belladonna
Hemlock
Hemp
Hellebore
Henbane
Marijuana
Mistletoe
Nightshade - any in this family
Oleander
Sulphur
Woodruff
Wormwood
Yew
Substitutes
Instead of high price herbs or oils, or ones you can't find, or ones who are toxic, you can substitute the following. When in doubt you can always substitute tobacco.

Belladonna - use Tobacco
Camphor Oil - use Lavender Oil
Carnation - use a few Rose Petals with a few drops of Clove Oil
Hellebore and Hemlock - use Tobacco
Hemp - use Nutmeg, Star Anise or Bay
Mistletoe - use Sage
Nightshade - use Tobacco
Sulphur - Tobacco
Woodruff - use Vanilla
Wormwood - use Mugwort
Yew - use Tobacco
Magickal Intentions
Use this list for mixing your own blends depending on what your goal is.

Earth - Cypress, Fern, Honeysuckle, Rhubarb, Vervain
Air - Almond, Anise, Lavender, Parsley, Peppermint, Sage
Fire - Allspice, Basil, Bay, Cinnamon, Dill, Fennel, Frankincense, Garlic, Lime, Marigold, Tobacco
Water - Coconut, Iris, Lemon, Lilac, Myrrh, Rose, Spearmint, Thyme, Vanilla
Sun - Bay, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Oak, Orange, Rosemary, Sandalwood
Moon - Coconut, Grape, Lemon, Myrrh, Sandalwood, Willow
Mercury - Almond, Dill, Fennel, Peppermint, Thyme
Venus - Daisy, Iris, Rose, Spearmint, Sweet Pea, Thyme
Mars - Allspice, Basil, Cumin, Ginger, Peppermint
Jupiter - Anise, Clove, Hyssop, Maple, Nutmeg, Sage
Saturn - Comfrey, Cypress, Pansy, Patchouli
Uranus - Almond, Cypress, Lavender, Peppermint
Neptune - Anise, Clove, Honeysuckle, Jasmine, Lemon, Nutmeg, Sage, Sandalwood
Pluto - Allspice, Clove, Pine, Vanilla, Violet
Courage - Sweet Pea, Thyme, Yarrow
Divination - Cherry, Dandelion, Fig, Orange
Healing (to promote) - Allspice, Lemon Balm, Barley, Bay, Cucumber, Fennel, Garlic, Lime, Nettle, Onion, Peppermint, Rosemary, Rue, Sandalwood, Wintergreen
Health (to maintain) - Fern, Juniper, Marjoram, Nutmeg, Oak, Rue, Walnut
Protection - Anise, Barley, Basil, Cedar, Clove, Curry, Dill, Fennel, Garlic, Ginseng, Honeysuckle, Hyssop, Lettuce, Lime, Marigold, Oak, Onion, Pennyroyal, Pine, rosemary, Sage, Spanish Moss, Wintergreen, Witch Hazel
Psychic Powers (to strengthen) - Bay, Cinnamon, Honeysuckle, Marigold, Mugwort, Peppermint, Rose, Star Anise, Thyme
Specific Deities
Aphrodite - olive, cinnamon, daisy, cypress
Apollo - leek, bay, frankincense
Aradia - rue, vervain
Ares - buttercup
Artemis - cypress, cedar, hazel, willow, daisy
Astarte - pine, cypress, juniper
Athena - olive, apple
Bacchus - grape, ivy, fig
Bast - catnip, vervain
Brigit - blackberry
Ceres - oak, myrrh, pine
Cernunnos - bay, sunflower, oak
Cupid - sugar, red rose, white violet
Dagda - oak
Demeter - wheat, barley, pennyroyal, myrrh, rose
Diana - birch, willow, hazel, beech, apple
Dionysis - fig , apple, ivy, grape, fennel, pine, corn
Dis - cypress
Eros - red rose
Freya - daisy, strawberry
Hecate - willow, yew, mandrake, mint, cypress, dandelion, garlic
Hera - apple, willow, myrrh
Herne - oak
Horus - sunflower, lotus
Isis - gif, wheat, barley, myrrh, lotus, iris
Juno - lily, crocus, iris, mint
Jupiter - aloe, sage, acorn, oak, beech
Mars - ash, aloe, dogwood
Mercury - cinnamon, hazel, willow
Minerva - olive
Neptune - ash, all seaweeds
Odin - mistletoe, elm
Osiris - acacia, grape, ivy, cedar, clover, all grains
Pan - fig, pine, oak, fern, all meadow flowers
Persephone - parsley, willow
Pluto - cypress, mint
Poseidon - pine, ash, fig, all seaweeds
Ra - acacia, olive, frankincense, myrrh
Rhea - myrrh, oak
Rowen - clover, oak
Saturn - fig
Thor - vervain, hazel, ash, birch, rowan, oak, beech
Uranus - ash
Venus - cinnamon, daisy, apple, violet, marjoram, orchid, cedar
Woden - ash
Zeus - oak, pine, aloe, parsley, sage, wheat, fig
Magickal Properties of Stones
Astral projection: quartz crystal, opal and tourmalated quartz
Success in business: bloodstone, malachite, green tourmaline and yellow zircon
Centering and grounding: calcite, brown zircon, hematite, kunzite, moonstone, obsidian and black tourmaline
Courage: agate, amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, carnelian, lapis lazuli, tiger eye, red tourmaline and turquoise
Divination: azurite, flint, hematite, jet, mica, moonstone, obsidian and tiger eye
Dreams: amethyst and azurite.
Friendship: pink tourmaline and turquoise
Healing and Health: agate, amber, amethyst, sapphire, tiger eye, topaz, carnelian, cat's eye, coral, quartz, flint, garnet, hematite, jade, jasper, jet, lapis lazuli, peridot, petrified wood, sapphire, sodalite, sunstone, topaz, turquoise and red zircon.
Love: agate, amber, amethyst, beryl, calcite, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, moonstone, olivine, pearl, sapphire, pink tourmaline and turquoise
Money, wealth and prosperity: aventurine, bloodstone, calcite, cat's eye, jade, mother-of-pearl, olvine, opal, pearl, peridot, ruby, salt, sapphire, tiger eye, topaz, green tourmaline and brown, green or red zircon
Purification: aquamarine and calcite
Wisdom: coral and jade
Testing the Smells
After you have gathered some herbs/plants/roots/flowers, you might want to test them to see what kind of smell is produced. Light a charcoal and drop one piece at a time on the hot coal and see how you react to the smell. Keep a journal or index cards for this purpose. Record your first impression of the odor; your second opinion; what the smell reminds you of; whether it smells sweet or foul; and any other notes.
Grinding Your Incense Ingredients
Mortar & pestle are used to grind grains into flour; herbs for food, medicine or magick; and more. The mortar is usually bowl shaped and the pestle is somewhat tubular. Humans have been using a mortar and pestle for thousands of years.

No matter what incense recipes you are using, your incense ingredients will most likely need to be powdered, one by one. I prefer to do this by hand. Grinding by hand is a wonderful way of adding your own energy to the incense. It is also somewhat relaxing and hypnotic. If your intention is to create magickal incense, set your goal in your mind, before you begin (prosperity, love, health, etc). It is especially helpful to visualize the intended outcome, as you grind. Even if you are not making a strictly magickal incense, you can still add your intention to your finished incense in this way.

Some incense ingredients will be easier to grind, than others. Sometimes, you may even find that it is easier if you don't fight so hard when grinding. Be flexible. If you have to grind a stone or crystal, you might try smashing the stone with a hammer first. Then grind the smashed stone to a fine powder.

If hand grinding your incense is not possible due to physical limitations (arthritis, dermatitis), you can always use an electric coffee grinder (do not use the grinder for stones).

If you are creating your own incense recipes or blends, be sure to write down every ingredient, what quantity, and what you visualized as you go along, so you can recreate this incense in the future.
Blending Your Incense Ingredients
Now, that you have all your herbs, resins, crystals, barks, flowers, etc. finely powdered and filled with intent, you are ready to mix and blend them into a finished product. You should have already decided what tool you are going to measure the ingredients with, based upon how much you want to make, for example a teaspoon, a tablespoon or a 1/4 cup. One of those then equals one part.

Take all your incense ingredients, one by one, and add them to the large bowl. As you add each ingredient, mix them together with your fingers, visualizing the intended outcome as you do. Add your own power of intention with your hands and blending with the energies of the incense in the bowl. Know that your will is infusing the incense with the energy to help manifest the magickal goal.

Make sure you are keeping track of the herbs you are using and the amounts so you can recreate the recipe another time.

Now you are ready to add any oils or liquids to your blend. You won't need very much, just a few drops is usually sufficient. If you are making a large amount of incense, and you are short a powdered ingredient, but have that oil on hand, it is usually fine to substitute a couple of drops of oil for the herb (never synthetic or perfume oils). Blend the oils and/or liquids into your incense, visualizing as you go.
Some incense will call for a particular stone, as an ingredient. Usually, you only need a very small pinch, to give the effect. Add this in last, visualizing as you do. If you only want to boost your incense, you can normally add a pinch of amber, as it is an all around power booster.
The Recipes

Altar Purification - burn as a general incense on your Altar

3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Cinnamon

Full Moon Incense - burn during Full Moon or to get yourself in tune with the Moon

3 parts Frankincense
1 part Sandalwood

Prosperity Incense - burn to attract money

2 parts Frankincense
1 part Cinnamon
1 part Nutmeg
1 part Lemon Balm

Scrying Incense - burn prior to scrying

1 part Mugwort
1 part Vervain

Spirit Incense - burn to invite good energies

1 part Sandalwood
1 part Lavender

Universal Incense - burn for all positive workings

3 parts Frankincense
2 parts Benzoin
1 part Myrrh
1 part Sandalwood
1 part Rosemary
Car Protection Incense - burn in your vehicle for safety

2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Juniper
1 part Mugwort
1 part Comfrey
1 part Caraway
1 small Quartz crystal point

Healing Incense - burn for healing of yourself

2 parts Cinnamon
2 parts Sandalwood
1 part Rose Petals
1 part Cayenne
1 part Ginger
1 part Rue

Home Protection - burn at the doors and windows of your home

3 parts Basil
3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Dill Seed
2 parts Fennel Seed
1 part Bay
1 part Fern
1 pinch Salt
Now That You Have Finished
You now have a complete incense. Place the finished product in an airtight container, and mark it plainly with name and date. Keep it in a cool dark place.

When you are ready to use your incense, just light a charcoal tablet and fan for a minute. A charcoal tablet is ready to be used when the top is completely lit and it has a fine coating of gray ash on it. Remember charcoal tablets are very hot so always burn in a heatproof container. Once the charcoal is ready you can sprinkle a teaspoon or so of incense to the top of the tablet. If your incense recipes are being used for a spell or ritual, a tablet will burn for at least 30 minutes so you can light it at any time, and add the incense later. When the smoke begins to thin out add some more incense. Do not add a lot at once as this will put out the charcoal.

When burning incense, make sure no other combustible items are nearby, such as newspaper, cloth, curtains, and so forth. Never leave burning incense unattended. You can always put it out and light it again later if necessary.