Imagine this...
It’s early morning and you begin your day with intention by adding serenity, connection and inspiration to it. You open your window slightly to bring the outside in, and then light a sprig of cedar. A dance of smoky tendrils with soothing, earthy aromas fills your senses – evoking cherished memories, a connection to something larger than yourself, and a sense of grounding and tranquility.

This comes from the power of sacred smoke medicine. The medicine of smoke is cleansing to the mind, the body and the spirit. It is a beautiful invitation for a grounding olfactory experience, that can also connect us to the land.

Scents transport us through time and space, revive cherished memories, and help us feel more at home within ourselves and our environments.

In this DIY Incense Making Recipe, you can enjoy natural smoke medicine at home, and learn how to burn loose incense for your ritual practices. We chose Cedar because of its purification and protection energies. Plus we have a beloved Grandmother Red Cedar tree that sits on our land. The Cedar leaves fall naturally this time of the year and her medicine is a powerful ally that helps connect us deeper to ourselves and to the natural world.

The History of Burning Cedar

Built into houses, coffee tables, and outdoor structures, cedar is also historically known for its spiritual and medicinal properties. Native Americans revere the Eastern red cedar, often regarded as the “Tree of Life” or “Holy Tree” for tribes including the Comanche of the Southern Plains and the Kiowa of the Western and Southern Plains. To this day, cedar is extensively used in ritual ceremonies and burned in sweat lodges for its earthy, sweet scent and cleansing properties. For centuries, the Cherokee tribe was known to carry a small piece of cedar in their medicine pouch or around their neck for protection.

Among one of the four sacred medicines of many Indigenous tribes, cedar along with sage, tobacco, and sweet grass, invites a stable, comforting and healing energy to those who connect with it.

How to Make Incense at Home 

There are many ways to make incense at home. At its most basic level, you can gather cedar leaves and branches and light the tips after thoroughly drying them. However, we've created an easy recipe to make incense cones to sustain that burn while smelling the sweet scent for a longer period.

What you'll need: 

1. Dried cedar: Gather cedar leaves outside your house or order them online if cedar does not grow in your area. 
2. A mortar and pestle 
3. Makko powder
4. 1-2 cups of distilled water 
5. Wax or parchment paper
6. Conical mold (optional) 

I also added a little mugwort, rose petals, lavender and star of anise to some of my cedar incense cones. There are lots of herbs that you can burn, research and get creative!

How to make: 

1. Crush the dried cedar using a mortar and pestle until it's pulverized into a powdery consistency. Be patient with this process. (You can also use a coffee grinder reserved for herbs.)
2. Mix in makko powder (about 1:3 ratio of makko powder to cedar). This serves as a binding agent and is naturally derived from the Tunberi tree. 
3. Introduce distilled water to the powder mixture very slowly (a few drops at a time) until a dough forms. 
4. Place about a half teaspoon of dough into a small conical mold to create incense cones, or you can hand-form them yourself. 
5. Place the incense cones on parchment or wax paper and allow them to dry for 12 hours. Turn them over halfway through the drying process. 
6. And they're ready to use! Find a heat-resistant bowl and light the pointed tip of the incense. Blow it out after a few seconds, and the cone should continue to smoke for approximately one hour. 

How to Burn Loose Cedar Safely 

To create a magical ritual at home burning loose cedar, whether or not you’re using our recipe, you first want to keep safety in mind. 

1. If burning outside, be aware of dry grass, leaves, or any natural flammable materials. 
2. If burning inside, open a window or door. 
3. Choose a vessel: Use a heat-resistant bowl or dish designed explicitly for incense burning. We love to burn them in our Popoxcomitl- A traditional Mexican vessel to burn incense and copal in.
4. Break the cedar into small pieces (if not using our recipe) to facilitate burning.
5. Make sure there are no loose embers or sparks that could ignite other materials. 
6. Using a match or lighter, ignite the cedar as it is in the vessel, and do not leave it unattended. 
7. Carefully monitor the flame. If it becomes too large or uncontrollable, use a damp cloth to extinguish it. 
8. Place the vessel in a well-ventilated area (like an open window) and away from flammable materials. Avoid putting it near curtains or furniture.  
9. Once the cedar has finished burning, extinguish it with a damp cloth or an incense snuffer until it is completely put out. 
10. After the incense has cooled, dispose of ashes in a fire-safe container and clean the vessel and any surrounding areas to remove residue. 

Want more cedar in your life? Slather it on your body! Check out our Green Goodness body oil, which has the invigorating scent of red cedar paired with avocado, olive and hemp oil. 

If you make the cedar incense, tag us on Instagram @themakeandmary or use the hashtag #highlyinspired. We love seeing your at-home creations!