Building Scent: Aromatics and Fixatives

Building Scent: Aromatics and Fixatives

The process of making natural incense is an art form in itself. To make incense, you need to combine materials that are both combustible (flammable) and fragrant. The way we go about this in natural incense making is by combining natural bases, aromatics and fixatives. (Remember, we're not using any flame accelerants, charcoal or perfume oils!)

See previous blog post “What makes natural incense burn?” for information on natural bases. 

Incense Aromatics

In short, incense aromatics are the ingredients that you want to smell! Their function is to provide complexity and pleasant aromas to your incense blend. While wood bases (sandalwood, palo santo bark) are certainly considered aromatics, those serve a very specific function so I tend to separate those out. You can make masala incense  - natural incense - without aromatics but you can’t really make it without wood bases. 

But why would you even want to do that? Aromatics fill out the scent and add character. These ingredients include:

Resins

Amber resin. Photo licensed from Adobe Stock.

Tree resins (also gum and pitch) are produced by a range of trees when an incision is made in the bark. Not all trees produce this but some of the most common resins are:

  • Pinon Resin (North America)
  • Benzoin (Somalia)
  • Myrrh (Somalia and Ethiopia)
  • Dragon’s Blood (Indonesia)

Tree resins add a richness to incense blends, providing bold, distinct aromas that linger well after the burn time. 

Herbs,  Flowers & Roots

Lavender flower. Photo licensed from Adobe Stock.

Herbs refer to a wide variety of plants and botanicals that are used for medicinal or

culinary purposes. Some herbs that are commonly used in incense are:

  • Patchouli (Southeast Asia and Africa)
  • Rosemary (Worldwide)
  • Mugwort (Europe and North America)
  • Vetiver Root (Haiti & India)
  • Lavender Flower & Stems (Europe & North America)
  • Chamomile (Worldwide)

This broad category of botanicals can provide a wide range of aromas. From very delicate, like Chamomile to bold and intense, like Patchouli, these aromatics can shift an incense blend in a multitude of directions. 

Spices

Clove buds. Photo licensed from Adobe Stock.

Spices are just as varied but refer to dried roots, fruits, stalks and seeds that add depth

and intensity. These are commonly used:

  • Clove (Indonesia)
  • Star Anise (Southwest China)
  • Cinnamon (India and Sri Lanka)

I love working with spices in incense blends. Much like in cooking, spices open up when heated and add a warming fragrance to the blend. 

How you combine these aromatics will determine how delicate or intense the incense blend will be. As with all things, experimentation is the name of the game.

Fixatives

Oak moss/lichen. Photo licensed from Adobe Stock.

The lines between base material and aromatics can break down quickly and get a little blurry. So to make matters worse (ha!), I want to introduce another term that I think will ultimately be helpful. To borrow a term from perfumery, let’s talk about fixatives. 

Fixatives - in natural incense making - refer to ingredients that turn up the volume of the aromas of all the other ingredients. They anchor the scent and interact with the other ingredients to create an overall fuller, longer lasting aroma. 

Most tree resins are natural fixatives. While resins can vary wildly in aromatic profiles, they tend to burn slowly and offer up rich aromas. This slower release helps to trap the aromas of the other botanicals and base ingredients, allowing the top and middle notes to come through.

For example. I have found that pairing Frankincense (with it’s citrusy aromas) alongside pine needles, makes both ingredients smell both more citrusy and more piney. Labdanum, patchouli leaf & honey also create a compound effect, producing an intoxicating, sweet aroma.

Now, there are plenty of botanicals and bases that also extend the aromas of incense blends.

Here are some of my favorite fixatives:

Tree Resins

  • Labdanum (Spain and Morocco)
  • Opoponax (Central America)
  • Frankincense (North Africa and India)

Wood Bases & Roots

  • Cedarwood (North America)
  • Sandalwood (India, Southeast Asia & Australia)
  • Vetiver Root (Somalia and Ethiopia)
  • White Sage (Southwestern United States & Northwestern Mexico)
  • Oak Moss (Worldwide)

Spices/Seeds/Other

  • Clove (Indonesia)
  • Ambrette Seeds (India, Southeast Asia, Australia)
  • Honey (Worldwide)

Delicate v.s. Strong Aromas

Photo by Hard Broom. All rights reserved.

Hard Broom incense, while 100% natural, tends to favor more intense, bold aromas. That’s just my personal preference. Every blend I make has a strong fixative involved, with a touch of essential oil to bring it home.

In order of intensity (delicate to bold), here’s what I’ve got in the lineup:

  1. Bergamot, Rosemary & Spruce (Fixative: Pine Resin)
  2. Lavender & Copal (Fixatives: Sandalwood & Copal)
  3. Juniper Berry, Bay Leaf & White Sage (Fixatives: Benzoin & White Sage)
  4. Frankincense, Patchouli & Vetiver (Fixatives: All of those ingredients!)
  5. Dragon’s Blood, Clove & Myrrh (Fixatives: All of those ingredients!)
  6. The Lovers Blend (Fixatives: Patchouli, Opoponax, Labdanum & Honey)

 

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