Trial & Error: Altar of Incense, the Golden Altar

[trystinn]

One of my favorite things about making incense is the research and testing involved. I've been working to translate the Torah's recipe for the Altar of Incense recipe. Breaking it down into manageable quantities, I then have to figure out what the modern names for a few ingredients are and if necessary, provide replacements when necessary.

Tonight's experiment, Altar of Incense (aka 11 Spices) in tablespoons:

Cloves 2
Cinnamon .25
Cassia .5
Frankincense 2
Spikenard .5
Saffon .5
Ginger .4
Cedar .1
Galbanum 2
Balsam 2

Sadly, I'm completely out of Galbanum & Spikenard, the latter much to my befuddlement. How the hell did I run out of Spikenard? I rarely use it. Even without these two ingredients, its quite wonderful. They've been ordered, so in a few weeks I'll be able to finish the experiment and see what we've got.

Along that note, I've made an Exodus (30) Anointing Oil, we'll see how it sets up. For those curious, equal parts: Frankincense, Myrrh, Galbanum, Cinnamon, Cassia, Calamus & Styrax. So far, so good!

I'm also experimenting with the idea of offering bulk herbs, woods & resins, some powdered, on Triple Pillars. Not quite sure how I'd work that, but its something to consider.

Comments

[mamaursula.livejournal.com]

So, I have wandered over to buy incense and the checkout says you do not have what I want in stock. Should I order and you will make me some or something else? Also, could I convince you to not form it in cones but rather leave it loose? I like to use my charcoal burner. You can email me if you like - mmarlowe at gmail dot com.

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

What am I out of? *baffled*

I'll email you from work. I never make cones, so loose is the name of the day. :)

[mamaursula.livejournal.com]

I was looking for Bridgid, Diana, Peace & Protection and Peaceful Home. I really want to try your Altar of Spices, but I'm not sure how much incense one woman can burn in a life time ;-)

Also, I had never heard to not burn clove in an enclosed space, what is the reason?

[tryst-inn.livejournal.com]

I'll fix that, sorry. I wonder if when we migrated, it reset all the quantities.

The Altar of Spices needs a while yet to finish curing, how about I send you a sample to test for me? :)

Eugenol, the active ingredient in cloves, is 2500X more toxic when burnt than when ingested. It is both an antibacterial and analgesic via skin contact and used widely in perfumes. As in the dangers of clove cigarette smoking, burning cloves is a calculated event.

I'm working on a Danger page for the website, and once the research is complete I'll put it up for discussion.