How Do You Make An Incense Holder At Home?

Introduction

An incense holder is a device used to burn incense, which are aromatic biotic materials that release fragrant smoke when burned. Incense holders help contain the burning incense and make it easy to move and use. Incense has been used for thousands of years in religious and spiritual contexts, but is also popular in homes simply for enjoyment of the pleasant fragrances.

Burning incense has many benefits according to studies, including reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and elevating mood (Source 1, Source 2). The pleasant aromas can create a calming ambiance. With increasing interest in aromatherapy, incense is becoming more popular.

There are many types of incense holders, including small bowls, boxes, stands, and burners made from various materials like clay, wood, glass, and metal. Some include lids or doors to retain smoke when not in use. Decorative holders are available, but simple containers also work well. The best holders are sized properly for the incense and allow airflow.

Materials Needed

The main material you’ll need for a homemade incense holder is clay or ceramic. Air-dry clays like polymer clay, air-dry clay, or self-hardening clay work well and don’t require kiln firing. According to The Spruce Crafts, polymer clay is an easy material to work with by hand that will harden when baked at a low temperature (source).

Basic sculpting tools help shape the clay into the desired form. Using your hands or inexpensive tools like a roller, sculpting pick, or loop tool allow you to mold and indent the clay (source).

For decoration, items like beads, seashells, or glass gems can be pressed into the clay. Metallic powders and oxide pigments add color when mixed into the clay (source).

Finally, a sealant like polyurethane or varnish helps preserve the incense holder and adds gloss. Multiple thin coats are recommended for the best protection (source).

Preparing the Clay

Properly preparing your clay is an important first step before sculpting your incense holder. Start by conditioning and kneading the clay to make it soft and pliable. Do this by pressing the clay firmly between your palms and fingers. Knead it for several minutes until it becomes uniform in texture and free of lumps or air bubbles. You can also bang it against the tabletop to help release trapped air bubbles. Conditioning the clay makes it easier to shape.

Next, roll or form the clay into a ball or log shape. This gives you a starting base to sculpt your incense holder design. Roll it between your palms or against a flat surface to create a smooth, rounded shape. Make sure the clay is not too thin or it may risk cracking while drying. Aim for at least a 1/2 inch thickness. Having the clay in a basic form like a ball or log will help as you begin sculpting and adding details.

Once your clay is properly conditioned and formed, you’re ready to start sculpting your incense holder design. Refer to the shaping instructions next.

Shaping the Holder

Once you have prepared the clay, it’s time to shape it into the desired form for your incense holder. This step allows you to be creative and make the holder unique. There are a few techniques you can use to shape the clay:

Using your hands is the simplest way to mold the clay. Knead it into an oval, square, or freeform shape. Smooth the clay by pressing gently and removing any cracks or crevices. Shape it into a wide, sturdy base that can support incense sticks.

Clay shaping tools like ribs, loop tools, and rollers can help form smooth curves and patterns. Consider sculpting the clay into a detailed shape like a flower, animal, or religious symbol. Refer to clay shaping guides for ideas and techniques (Clay Basic Shapes – Clay-It-Now).

Cutters allow you to quickly punch out uniform shapes. Press cookie cutter-style tools into slabs of clay to create clean edges and smooth surfaces. Cutters with shapes like circles, squares, hearts, and stars are readily available.

No matter the technique, shape the clay into a wide, sturdy base that can support incense sticks without tipping over. Create hooks, platforms, bowls, or holes to hold the incense. Make the holder 1-3 inches tall so it is stable and proportional.

Adding Decorations

Decorating your homemade incense holder is one of the most creative parts of the process. You can add interest and personality by pressing beads, stones, gems, and other small objects into the clay before it fully dries and hardens. Make sure any items you embed are heat resistant. Smooth stones like quartz, agate, and jasper work beautifully for natural texture. You can also impress shapes using cookie cutters or clay tools. Just press them gently into the soft clay to leave an imprint.

Another option is to attach separately sculpted decorative elements after the base form has dried. You can hand craft leaves, flowers, spirals, and more from clay, then use watered down clay as an adhesive glue to fix them to the holder. Let it dry fully before continuing. Get creative with the designs and shapes – the possibilities are endless! Refer to this Pinterest board for inspiration on stylish ways to decorate your homemade incense holder.

Creating Holes for Incense

It is important to create properly sized holes in the clay for inserting incense sticks. Standard incense sticks are typically between 1-3mm in diameter, though joss sticks can be larger around 5mm (source). Using a skewer or other dull pointed tool, gently press into the clay to create holes for incense. The holes should be evenly spaced apart and sized appropriately for the type of incense you plan to use.

Carefully poke holes in the clay using a round skewer or dull tool, twisting to enlarge the holes to about 1-2mm for standard incense. Make sure not to make the holes too large. Space the incense holes evenly apart, keeping aesthetic balance in mind. Grouping holes together can create an interesting effect. Just be sure not to space holes too close together, as that increases risk of cracking. Gently wiggle and twist the tool to smooth the inside of the holes.

Drying the Holder

Once you have finished shaping and decorating your incense holder, it’s time to dry it to set the clay. The most common method is to let it air dry for 1-3 days. Be sure to place it somewhere free of dust and debris. Allow ample ventilation so moisture can evaporate from the clay.

You can speed up the drying process by using a low temperature oven (200°F or less), food dehydrator, or direct sunlight. With an oven or dehydrator, check on the holder periodically and remove it once firm and dry. If using sunlight, bring the holder indoors at night. Avoid high temperatures that may cause cracking or bubbling.

Test if the holder is fully dry by touching it gently. It should be hard with no moist areas. Holders made with air dry clay are ready for use once completely dry.

Applying a Sealant

One of the most important steps when making a clay incense holder is applying a sealant. This is crucial to protect the clay from heat damage when burning incense. Some of the best sealants to use include:

• Polyurethane – This clear coat seals and protects the clay while leaving a nice smooth finish. Allow 2-3 thin coats to fully dry before use, as noted on this Quora thread.
• Varnish – A varnish like polycrylic can be used to seal and protect the clay. Allow multiple coats to dry fully over 24-48 hours before exposing to heat, as recommended in this Reddit discussion.
• Epoxy resin – Coating the holder in a layer of resin creates a glossy, durable seal. Allow proper drying time of 24 hours before use per manufacturer directions.

No matter what sealant you choose, it’s critical to let it dry fully before exposing the incense holder to heat. This prevents bubbles, cracks, or other heat damage. Give your creation ample time to cure based on the product directions before enjoying your homemade incense holder.

Using Your Creation

Once your homemade incense holder has fully dried and cured, you can start using it to burn incense sticks or cones. Follow these tips for enjoying incense safely:

Place incense sticks or cones in the holes you created in your holder. Make sure they fit snugly and don’t wobble around. Light the tips of the incense sticks or cones to release the aroma into the air. Be careful when lighting to avoid burning yourself.

Follow basic fire safety when burning incense. Never leave incense unattended, as the sticks could fall over and potentially cause a fire. Make sure your holder is on a safe, stable surface. Keep the holder away from flammable objects like curtains. Avoid burning incense near open windows, as drafts could blow embers around.

Extinguish the incense sticks fully when you are done enjoying the aroma. Do not try to re-light partially burned sticks. The ash can be dumped out of the holder and sticks can be stored in a sealed container. Enjoy your homemade incense holder and the soothing scents it provides!

Customizing and Troubleshooting

There are a few ways to customize your homemade incense holder and troubleshoot any issues that arise:

If cracks or holes appear during the drying or firing process, you can fill them in with extra clay or a clay and water mixture called slip. Make sure to smooth over the area so it blends in. Allow time to dry fully before continuing.

Consider using different colors of clay to create patterns or designs. You can roll out different colors of clay and layer them before shaping your holder. Other decorating ideas include pressing designs into the clay, attaching clay cutouts, or painting once dry.

Get creative with the shape and style of your holder. Rather than a basic cup or bowl design, try sculpting an animal, vase, or abstract form. Use thicker clay for stability if making a more elaborate shape.

To avoid cracking, dry your holder slowly and evenly. Let it air dry for a few days then finish drying in the oven on low heat. Apply multiple thin coats of sealant rather than one thick coat.

If the incense doesn’t stay lit, try making the holes slightly larger or adding more holes. Test different areas to determine where airflow may be blocked.

Consider alternate materials like wood, glass and metals if clay is not giving you the desired results. Just ensure your materials are non-flammable.

The great thing about making your own holder is you can customize it to your personal taste and troubleshoot any issues until you achieve the results you want.