Monday, March 06, 2006

Powdery Incense Recipe - inspired by Après L'Ondée

2 Tbs. orris root powder
2 Tbs. sandalwood powder
1 Tbs. Frankincense tears, ground or crushed
1 Tbs. Siamese benzoin
1 Tbs. Sumatran benzoin
2 Tbs. lavender buds
30 drops lavender essential oil
20 drops Aniseed essential oil
10 drops jasmine absolute (optional)
1⁄4 tsp each: finely and freshly ground mace, nutmeg, coriander
1⁄2 tsp. Aniseed, finely and freshly ground

Measure the dry ingredients. Crush or powder the ingredients in a mortar and pestle or a coffee grinder. Stir well with a fork or chopsticks. Store in an airtight container and let the oils soak in well into the powders. After one week, you can use as an incense (burn a charcoal pellet and place a pinch of incense on top; refresh as needed. You may also use this to fill sachets.

I love to use the traditional mortar and pestle for grinding my spices, made of marble. Brass and wooden ones may be used as well. Coffee grinder will require less work, but is incomparable to the pleasure of seeing the spices and resins gradually crushing while slowly releasing their extraordinary aromas. Orris root and sandalwood are readily available in powdered forms, and so is Siamese benzoin. These can be found in herbal stores. Frankincense and other incense are available in many Catholic church stores.

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