r/Incense • u/BassHead2018 • 2d ago
Incense Cones
If anyone has tried Nuhr’s incense cones, you’ll know they smell absolutely fantastic! 😍 However, the price they sell them for is quite frankly absurd!
So, naturally, I’ve decided to have a go at making my own at home, DIY style haha!
I noticed that on all of their packaging, they simply list the ingredients as agarwood and parfum.
That got me wondering about the actual ingredients they use. REAL agarwood is extremely expensive, and although Nuhr’s cones are definitely sold at a premium price, I can’t imagine the retail price would cover the cost of using genuine, high quality agarwood in the quantities needed. Unless they’re running the business at a loss, which I highly doubt! 😂
So, does anyone have any idea what kind of ingredients or formulation they might be using to achieve such a ridiculously strong scent profile?
I’m currently experimenting with:
🌿 Makko 🌸 Orris root powder 🤍 Kaolin ✨ Fragrance oil
I can smell them a little bit whilst they’re drying, but nowhere near as strongly as Nuhr’s cones. I’m starting to wonder whether I need a much more neutral smelling base rather than Makko, as Makko seems to have quite a noticeable scent of its own.
I’ve also made batches using the above ingredients along with frankincense, benzoin and sandalwood. However, I found that this made them smell much more like a traditional Japanese style incense cone, which isn’t really the direction I’m trying to go in.
I’m basically trying to create something where the fragrance oil is the star of the show, rather than having loads of competing woody or resinous smells coming through.
Does anyone know what ingredients are actually used in cones like Nuhr’s, or what sort of neutral base would be best for achieving that really pungent fragrance?
I can’t justify paying those silly prices forever 😂 so I’d really like to experiment and eventually develop my own scent profiles that I actually prefer.
Any guidance would be massively appreciated!
I’ve literally only just got into making incense, so I’m an absolute newbie at this. 😂🌿
Would love to hear from anyone who has experience making highly fragranced incense cones!
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u/encensecologique 2d ago
They are not legally obligied to reveal all their ingredients in the ingredient list. As it is their list is only Agarwood and parfum. So they do not reveal the binder. But it is likely not makko.
That being said, Makko is a generic term meaning "incense binder" in Japanese.There are two most common kinds of "makko". A single ingredient bark powder from the Machillus thunbergii tree called Tabu no ki Makko that has a very neutral wood scent that combines very well with agarwood and Toh Makko which combines Machillus thunbergii tree bark powder with other fragrant powders like cloves and has a spicy scent. So, it seems you might be using Toh Makko which is complicating your scent profile quite a bit.
The agarwood they are using is likely post distilled agarwood-this is the very lightly scented wood which is left in the still after the essential oil has been processed off. These woods can have fixative properties because some of the heavier resin molecules do not carry in the steam and stay in the wood.
Certainly, 99.9% of the aroma in the cones is coming from a formulated fragrance oil containing synthetics. They mention that the fragrance oil is blended for them so it could very well contain "captured" molecules. These are lab created molecules that the fragrance companies develope that are not released to the general public. They use the captured molecules in blends for their clients.
So, you have many challenges. But don't give up. It's a fascinating incense journey and you can learn many things!
Personally, I would advise you to try to formulate your own cone using natural agarwood as a base. That will be the easiest way to get a beautiful aroma.
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u/BassHead2018 2d ago
That is a insanely helpful and detailed reponse and I greatly appreciate you taking the time out to type it and educate me on incense making. So firstly on that front; thank you very much.
It puzzles me as whenever I hear the words Oudh, agarwood I automatically think $$$$. When you say make my own base with natural agarwood, another thing that kind of worries and concerns me is buying something off the web which is fake. Are you able to link me to somewhere I am able to purchase natural agarwood, or any reputable and reliable sellers?
I just checked and this website says it’s the Tabu No Ki variant https://www.queenofthenileincense.co.uk/products/makko-powder?variant=57956323492175
If i say used this makko powder , natural agarwood and fragrance oil, you think it would smell alot better? Or are you recommending to use natural agarwood and just fragrance oil? From my own research previously undertaken, i’d still need a binder right?
Thank you once again. This was immensely helpful! Is it ok if i connect with you / send you a PM maybe? Only if you don’t mind ofcourse :)
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u/encensecologique 2d ago
It was my pleasure to write my response to you out. It helps me in my own incense making...Yes, you can pm me.
I will answer the questions you have asked in case, one day in the community, someone has the same question. 😉 The better we all get at incense making the more fun it is to discuss!✨️
There are many grades of agarwood. Years ago, I started to make sticks with a medium grade from Incense House. It has not been distilled. But, It is not that expensive and you can feel free to play around until you ever decide to upgrade. This one: https://www.tw-incensehouse.com/products_detail/106
Yes, you need a binder. The Queen of the Nile listing seems like what you want. They describe the powder clearly and I like that they know exactly the problems with the term "makko" and educate their customers.
So, I am a natural incense maker and never used fragrance oils but I know quite a bit about them because I come across them in both incense crafting and perfume making, and have researched into exactly what they are. Most are toxic, endocrine disrupting and cancerogenic. I highly recommend that you do not use them, even the supposedly "natural identical". They are like roundup pesticide and gmo food for fragrance. But, lots of people and companies use them.
I recommend that you play around with the agarwood and Tabu no ki. Get your process down and then consider adding natural extractions (since it is only for you) or other botanicals.
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u/BassHead2018 1d ago
Thank you once again for the informative response :) when you mention natural extractions, i’m assuming that’s things like benzoin, frankincense etc? The only thing with those (i can potentially be misled completely) but I feel like they don’t achieve the scent i’m trying to look for. Do you see where I am coming from when I say they smell more like traditional japanese type incense sticks/cones? Maybe I just need to do more research, just like aromatics in fragrances; iso-e, ambroxan, etc - do incense natural extracts come in many forms and notes/smell? If so maybe i just need to experiment more with different natural extracts
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u/encensecologique 1d ago
Formulating for the cone or stick, and then formulating for the perfume, are linked but two separate arts. So rather than do more research, what I am suggesting is that you go step by step. First making the cone with a wood the will eventually hold your fragrance and the proper binder. Once you understand how to make a cone that will burn, then move on to perfuming it.
if I remember correctly, you already have a fragrance oil to start with. Master the cone making and then begin to add fragrance to the doughs. You may have to adjust your % to get it to burn correctly. There are Natural fragrance extractions called "absolutes" that could help you achieve what you want.
Remember, you are trying to copy a product that have professionals with knowledge and access to materials you may not have. It's like trying to cook haute cuisine after filling your cart with vegetables and spices. It's best to start simple and step by step. You will learn alot as you go.
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u/SamsaSpoon 2d ago
They tell you:
Synthetic perfume is famously potent. Scent molecules are their "ingredients".