How Do You Make An Incense Burner?

Incense burners have been used for centuries in religious and cultural ceremonies to spread fragrant smoke. The earliest known incense burners date back over 2,000 years to ancient China, India, and Egypt. Incense burners are vessels made from various materials like clay, wood, stone, or metal. Small holes are made in the burner to allow smoke to escape while containing the burning incense material inside.

Today, incense burners come in many styles to suit different decor preferences. Simple materials like clay or wood can create a rustic or natural style. Decorated porcelain, ceramic, or metal burners are popular for a more elegant look. You can also find unique burners shaped like animals, spiritual symbols, or mystical creatures.

To make your own incense burner, you’ll need a container, tools to add holes or feet, and optional lids, stands or handles. Clay, wood, glass, seashells or food tins can all become creative burners with some simple DIY modifications. The type of burner depends on your personal taste and what materials you have available to upcycle.

Choosing a Container

When choosing a container for your incense burner, you’ll want to select a non-flammable material that can withstand heat. Popular choices include ceramic, glass, and metal.

Ceramic containers like bowls, mugs, and vases work well for incense burners. Make sure to choose high-fired ceramic that won’t crack under the heat. Unglazed terracotta or porcelain both make attractive options.

Glass containers are another good choice, but make sure to pick heat-resistant glass to avoid cracking. Small jars, bowls, votives, and vessels all work beautifully. Look for thick, sturdy glass.

Metal containers are very durable for incense burning. Tin, copper, brass, and stainless steel won’t be damaged by heat. You can use small bowls, trays, or boxes. Just avoid lead and zinc containers, which can release toxic fumes when heated.

Consider the size and shape of your container. Smaller vessels around 4-6 inches work well for personal use. For larger spaces or group sessions, use bigger containers around 8-12 inches wide. Make sure your container is deep enough to hold ash and catch falling embers. Round, oval, square and rectangular shapes all work.

Preparing the Container

Before turning your chosen container into an incense burner, you’ll want to thoroughly clean and dry it. Use warm soapy water and scrub away any dirt, dust or residues. Rinse and dry the container completely.

Once clean, consider adding decorative elements to personalize your incense burner. You can paint or glue decorative paper, seashells, beads, tiles or other items onto the outside of the container. Get creative and make it your own! Just be mindful that anything you add should be heat-resistant and non-flammable.

Creating Holes for Smoke

One of the most important design considerations for an incense burner is creating proper ventilation holes to allow the smoke to dissipate. You’ll need to add holes both at the top and bottom of your container.

Top holes allow the smoke to exit the burner so it doesn’t build up inside. Punching or drilling a pattern of holes in the lid is ideal for allowing the fragrant smoke to waft gently out.

Bottom holes allow oxygen to enter and feed the incense burning. You can add these by drilling or punching holes in the bottom of the container. Make sure they are large enough for ample airflow.

When creating ventilation holes, you can either drill them precisely with a power drill or punch/hammer holes using a nail. Drilling gives you more control over the size and placement, while punching can be done more easily without power tools. Make sure to add holes symmetrically for proper smoke diffusion.

Test your design with incense to ensure the smoke flows smoothly. Adjust the number, size, and placement of holes as needed to perfect the ventilation.

Adding Feet or Stands

Whether to add feet or stands to your incense burner depends on if you want a tabletop or hanging design. For a tabletop burner, short legs on the bottom can help airflow and prevent surfaces from getting marked up. Hanging burners will need a stand, hook, or handle at the top to attach string or chain.

If making feet for a tabletop burner, common materials to use include wood, stone, clay, metal wire, beads, sea shells, or dried plants. Wooden knobs, cork feet, and wooden doll stands work well. Small seashells or stones can be glued to the bottom. For metal containers, colored wire wrapped into loops or shapes makes decorative feet.

For hanging burners, consider crafting a wire stand. Bend the wire into a rounded or spiral shape with a hanging loop at the top. Wooden handles are also popular for hanging burners. Drill holes in wood cylinders, sticks, or branches and thread rope or chain through to hang. Sea shells, beads, and crystals can be wired or glued to create a dangling hanger too.

Get creative with materials from nature or around the house. Almost anything can become feet or a stand with a bit of imagination. Just be sure to test the balance and stability so your burner doesn’t tip over.

Making a Lid

An optional but highly recommended step for making your incense burner is creating a lid. Lids serve several purposes for incense burners:

Slowing Down Burning: A lid extends the life of an incense stick by limiting airflow and preventing the incense from burning too quickly. With a lid, you’ll get 30-60 minutes of fragrance instead of just 15-20 minutes.

Containing Smoke: A lid contains smoke and concentrates fragrance in a smaller area around the burner. This helps fill a room with incense aroma using less sticks.

Protecting Contents: A lid protects unused incense and burner contents like resins or botanicals from air exposure between uses.

Safety: A lid provides an extra layer of protection in case a burning stick tips over, preventing accidents.

When designing a lid, aim for a snug fit over your burner container. Lids can be made from ceramic, wood, metal, glass, or other non-flammable materials. Get creative with shapes and cutouts to allow smoke to escape. Just ensure the lid is not fully airtight, as the incense needs a small amount of airflow to keep burning.

Testing Airflow

Proper airflow is crucial for an incense burner to function effectively. Before using your homemade incense burner, test the airflow to ensure ventilation is adequate. Here are some tips for checking and adjusting the airflow:

Light a single stick of incense and place it in the holder. Observe how the smoke flows out of the burner. The smoke should waft gently out of the holes without getting backed up inside.

If the smoke seems to linger and accumulate inside, the holes are likely too small or few. Use a drill or nail to widen the existing holes slightly. You can also add a few more holes if needed.

Try testing with incense again until the smoke flows smoothly. Make incremental adjustments, as too many large holes can also disrupt the delicate smoke trail.

Optionally, you can also test by blowing air across the top of the burner. The smoke should gently waft out of the holes when airflow is applied.

Get a feel for the ideal amount of ventilation required. The goal is smooth, steady smoke diffusion without backlogging inside the burner or escaping too quickly.

A properly ventilated incense burner will optimize airflow, allow fragrances to circulize, and provide a visually soothing smoke trail when burning incense.

Using Your Burner

Lighting incense can release smoke, so it’s important to take safety precautions. Make sure to place your incense burner on a stable, flat surface away from flammable items. Avoid lighting incense near vents or fans that could spread smoke. When ready to light, hold the stick at an angle pointing away from you and light the tip until it begins glowing. Gently blow out the flame so it continues smoldering. Never leave burning incense unattended.

To keep your incense burner clean, let it fully cool after use and wipe away any ash or residue. Over time, smoke can stain or build up on the container. For heavy stains, use baking soda and water to gently scrub the inside. You can also occasionally run it through the dishwasher. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that could damage the material. With regular maintenance, your incense burner should provide a pleasant aromatherapy experience for years to come.

Troubleshooting

If you run into issues with your homemade incense burner, there are a few troubleshooting tips to try:

Fixing Smoke Issues

Too much smoke or not enough airflow can be annoying problems with a homemade incense burner. Try these fixes:

• Poke the existing holes larger or add more holes to allow more airflow and less smoke buildup.
• Use a drill, nail or other tool to gently widen the holes just a bit more.
• Add more holes evenly spaced around the container.
• Make sure the lid is loose fitting or removed entirely to maximize airflow.

Stability Problems

Homemade burners may be top heavy or prone to tipping. Improve stability with:

• Wider or heavier material for feet and stands.
• Glue rocks, beads or other heavy materials to the bottom.
• Choose a lower container or trim down an overly tall one.
• Place it near a wall or on a steady surface.

Inspiration

Incense burners come in an amazing array of creative designs that can enhance the ambiance of any space. Here are some inspiring ideas for decorating and designing your own custom incense burner:

Natural Materials – Creating a burner out of natural materials like wood, stone, or clay can give a peaceful, earthy feel. Handcarve designs into wood, wire wrap stones, or sculpt clay into spiritual shapes.

Repurposed Items – Turn unexpected household objects like glass jars, bowls, and vases into incense burners with a bit of creativity. Look for items with interesting shapes, textures, or colors.

Personal Touches – Customize your burner with personal symbols, favorite colors, or meaningful trinkets. Consider engraving designs, painting patterns, adding beads/charms, or attaching mementos.

Seasonal Themes – Update your burner for different seasons or holidays. Make a carved pumpkin burner for fall, a red and green patterned one for Christmas, or a flowery design for spring.

Feng Shui – Choose shapes, materials, and locations based on feng shui principles to promote harmony. Consider yin/yang symbols, natural shapes like moons and clouds, or placing near a window.

Collections – Group multiple small burners together for a collection. Use a common theme like all glass, geometric shapes, or complementary colors. Display together on a tray or shelf.