Magic Makko [Amazing Incense Base and Binder]
Whether you are brand new to incense making or you’re an old pro, you’ll love my Magic Makko. This is simply the easiest to use, friendly incense base you’re likely to ever see. It’s actually a very mild incense on its own, but its real purpose is to act as both a base material and a binder for whatever aromatics you’d like to put in your incense. Add your favorite ingredients to a few tablespoons of Magic Makko, add some water, and you will be able to make amazing incense cones, sticks, or whatever form you desire.
Although it has been rumored that this makko is gray because The Incense Dragon includes the ashes of unscrupulous incense vendors whom he has burnt to dust in this magical blend. He, of course, completely denies the rumor and insists that everything he sells is free from any animal products.
I started making incense in 1995. Over the years, I’ve taught people to make incense with gum binders (like guar gum, tragacanth, or xanthan) and with wood binders (like tabu no ki or joss powder). I’ve offered lots of advice on how to make blends that burn well, are easy to use, and create the desired scent. After using “makko” powders* from Japan for many years, I decided I want to create my own makko. I set out to create a special blend that would allow incense crafters to use any imaginable aromatic, no matter how difficult that ingredient might be to burn. I also wanted something that wasn’t as temperamental as a gum binder but smoother than a wood binder. I set a high bar for this project and wasn’t sure I could meet all of those goals.
Magic Makko is the result of this project. In my decades of creating incense making tools, Magic Makko may be the pinnacle of my career. The ultimate formula I created met all of my goals and then some. This makko blend includes two wood binders (tabu no ki and joss powder) as well as a gum binder. Not only do the wood binders act as a base material, it also includes several natural burn-enhancers. To get the most from every aromatic, it also includes two different “fixatives” to help preserve the most volatile parts of your incense.
I admit, it isn’t a very pretty color, but the results are well worth it. When you make a blend using Magic Makko as the base and binder, your aromatic blends will shine like never before. You can produce incredibly long joss or masala sticks or roll smooth, beautiful cones. Magic Makko also works as a fantastic base if you plan to use molds or cookie cutters to shape your incense. It is a completely natural blend that includes no potassium nitrate or other chemical accelerates.
* “Makko” is just a generic term that means “incense powder”, although it is used in many different ways on the Internet.
