Incense Crafting: Honoring Closure and Celebrating Tranquility

Live from Los Angeles, United States

Join VAWAA artist and incense maker, Persephenie for a 2-part symbolic altar building and incense crafting series. With the first session held at the end of the year honoring closure, reflection, and gratitude, and the second session offered in the beginning of the year celebrating fortitude, clarity, and tranquility; this is a beautiful and calming way to transition into the new year. 

On Sunday December 19th at 2PM EST we'll begin by choosing symbolic and aromatic herbs from different parts of the world, including woods, herbs, and resins to craft botanical incense doughs. Under Persephenie's expert guidance we will make approximately 20 incense cones, while discussing what meaningful materials to collect for our altar. When we leave this first session we'll have all the inspiration needed to start creating our own personal altars; spaces for reflection, where we can burn our incense cones, and re-ignite our inner fire.  

On Sunday January 9th at 2PM EST we’ll reconvene for the second session to share our altars and the meanings and stories behind them. Persphenie will guide us to create sweet herbal pastilles. Through this process we'll learn how to warm our incense pastilles, and enjoy the contemplative experience of incense that is warmed and not burned. 

This series is perfect for anyone interested in the ancient art of incense making; its methodology, ratios and raw materials.

All levels are welcome and there is no prior experience required. There will be plenty of time to share, get feedback and meet other participants from around the world.

If you are not in EST time zone, be sure to convert the time.


What you'll need

  • Two Bowls - One to craft your incense, the other as an incense burner.
  • Coffee Grinder
  • Mortar and Pestle
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Water
  • Incense Ash
  • Charcoal
  • Small Candle or Tea Light
  • Matches
  • 2 x 2 Square of Tin Foil
  • Herbs

Herbs (At least one Oz. each)

  • Cinnamon Powder
  • Honey
  • Copal (Protium copal)
  • Makko Powder
  • Palo Santos Powder or Wood Shavings
  • Patchouli Whole Herb
  • Raisan’s
  • Red Wine
  • Sandalwood Powder
  • Sweetgrass Braid
  • White Sage Whole Herb

(Apart from honey, red wine and raisins which should be available at your local market, all other materials can be purchased on Etsy.)


How to join

We'll be hosting this VAWAA Online on Zoom. We'll send the link and details to join via email 1 day and again 1 hour before it begins.


About Persephenie

Persephenie is a perfumer and incense maker specializing in natural materials. Her love of scent began the first time she traveled to India and got fascinated by incense. After coming back to Los Angeles and studying the subject for years, she opened her first aromatic studio in 2004, and has been teaching scent-related classes since 2006. Inspired by the olfactory and antiquated techniques regarding perfumery and incense, she enjoys researching recipes from cultures around the world, interpreting them, sometimes modernizing them, and using stellar natural raw materials. When you go, ask her to tell you about incense clocks!

Visit her artist page to learn more about her in-person VAWAA.



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