Resins

           One of the plain truths about herbal incense is that it doesn't always smell as sweet as store-bought stick incense. Adding resin in equal amount to your herbal blend will not only improve the incense burn rate, but will also provide a more agreeable base note to your burning incense.  Resins have been used for centuries in various cultures ad offerings to the gods. They carry various magical associations just as herbs do .

              Before adding one or more resins to an herbal blend, however, drop a single grain of the resin or a tiny pinch of powder onto a charcoal briquette to acquaint yourself with the scent of the resin on its own. Make notes in your journal as to the scent of the resin as it melts on the charcoal, the density of the smoke it produces,  the energy it gives off, and how it makes you feel. 

           While the release of certain energies is the primary goal of green witch magic, aesthetics are also important.  To that end, I advise using one or more of the following resins as a base for your herbal incense.  (Remember  that the amount of resin should be equal to the total amount of herbal matter.)

                        Copal

          This resin comes in various shades of white, gold, and black, and the scent is slightly different for each kind. Golden coal is most common, and if you pick up a packet marked simply "copal", that's what it's likely to be. Copal  is the petrified sap of the Bursera odorata and has an appealing sweet scent that makes an excellent base for floral or lighter herbal incense blends. Copal carries energy that is particularly good for love, house blessings , dedication,  meditation,  protection, celebration,  solar energy,  and creating sacred space.

                         Frankincense 

           One of the most popular rises, the golden-toned frankincense is the solidified sap of the Boswellia Carterii tree, sometimes called the olibanum. It has a slightly spicy-sweet scent and makes an excellent all-purpose base for just about any herbal incense.  Frankincense is traditionally associated with sanctity,  purification,  meditation,  protection, joy, celebration,  solar energy, and consecration.  

.               Myrrh

         Another common resin, myrrh is brownish and has a darker, slightly bittersweet scent. It comes from the Commiphora Myrrha, or gum myrrh tree, and carries magical associations of sanctity,  honoring the dead and spirit world,  purification,  and healing. Myrrh adds a bit of extra power to any herbal incense,  adding just a grain or two will do the job.

                    Benzoin 

        This grayish resin is usually found in powdered form. It comes from the Styrax Benzoin tree and has light, clean, slightly sweet scent. It is excellent for purifying,  healing, prosperity,  and attraction in general. 

                      Styrax 

          Sometimes spelled storax, this black resin is a softer, earthing resin than those previously listed. It comes from the Liquidamber Styraxiflua tree. It is excellent for healing and grounding. 

                       Dragon's Blood 

          This red resin is the petrified sap of the palm tree known as Daemonorops  Draco,  or the Dragon's palm. It is one of my favorites, also it is one of the key ingredients in violin stain. It is remarkably  sticky and will cling to your fingers and tools. Dragon's Blood is frequently used for protection, Exorcisms, purification,  and general addition to your spells as an all-purpose power booster. 

                  Sandlewood

         Often blened into herbal incense or used as a base, sandlewood isn't technically a resin, but a powdered or shredded wood. Available both in red and white, sandlewood is generally associated with spirituality, purification,  meditation,  peace, healing, and protection. 

            Resins are usually sold by weight it packets of rough grains or chips. Generally,  it is best to powder your resin before blending it with your herbal matter. This will entail a bit of grinding on your part with a stone mortar and pestle. The powdered resin will blend better with the dried herbs and yield a smoother burn.