Tabu-no-ki, Machilus thunbergii, makko, joss powder, incense binder

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Tháng 9 20, 2026 4 đọc tối thiểu

Hi all

I got some questions on online chat about incense binders natural adhesive to make incense, so I decided to compose the below.

Natural Adhesive	Category / Nature	Botanical Source	Scent Profile	Usage & Directions
Tabu-no-ki (椨の木) Or Raw Makko	Common Japanese tree name	Machilus thunbergii (Lauraceae family)	Natural raw wood	Harvested inner bark used as an incense binder. Native to Japan. How to use: Mix 10%–15% Tabu-no-ki with 90%–85% aromatic materials (finely ground agarwood, sandalwood, herbs, spices). Always use warm distilled or filtered water to quickly activate the water-soluble mucilage (approx. 35–40 ml water per 100 g dry powder).
Makko Shoyeido	Finished commercial blend	Proprietary Shoyeido blend (tabu base, spices, herbs, sandalwood)	Rich, sweet, traditional Japanese temple fragrance (cinnamon, clove, camphor)	Pre-scented finished blend designed to be laid down as a burner trail or used directly as loose incense. How to use: Use directly as a fragrant base or mix in your own aromatic powders with warm water.
Joss Powder	Raw ingredient / Commercial binder	Litsea glutinosa (sometimes L. monopetala)	Neutral to slightly herbal / earthy when burning	Industrial binder across SE Asia, China, and India. Offers stronger adhesion per gram than Machilus. How to use: Use 10% Joss powder to 90% aromatic materials (max 15%–20%; higher ratios will impair burning).
Incense Binder	Broad functional category	Various (Machilus, Litsea, tree gums, starches)	Varies (scent-free to pungent)	Umbrella term for any adhesive component (botanical bark, tree gum, or starch) holding incense dough together.

Natural Adhesive	Origin / Source	Physical Consistency	Function & Application
Gum Arabic	Hardened tree sap (Acacia senegal trees)	Dry powder dissolved in water	Let the mixture soak for roughly 3 hours until it forms a thick, viscous liquid. Knead this liquid directly into your finely crushed dry incense powders until you reach a moldable dough consistency suitable for cones or extruding into sticks Dissolved in water (1 part powder to 2 parts water) to produce a viscous liquid that binds dry powders for shaped incense cones. If you are making100g batch 80g Aromatic Ingredients (20 parts / 80%): Your main scent powders (e.g., finely ground agarwood, sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, or spices). 16g Base Wood Powder (4 parts / 16%): Neutral wood powder (like sandalwood, willow, or vetiver) to regulate combustion and keep the stick burning smoothly. You can combine aromatic ingredients and the basewood together. 4g Gum Arabic Powder (1 part / 4%): The natural binder. 8g of warm water: Stir and let it sit for about 3 hours until it dissolves into a clear, thick, viscous liquid glue.
Honey / Tree Honey	Bee byproduct	Thick liquid / viscous syrup	Adds moisture and tackiness for pellets and kneaded incense (Lugal Banda, Kyphi), binding ground resins, woods, and herbs into pliable balls.
Sultana Raisins & Red Wine	Dried grapes macerated in wine	Blended paste	Traditional foundation for Kyphi recipes. Raisins soak overnight in red wine and are blended into a sticky pulp that holds dry ingredients together. For recipe see the below (1)
Labdanum	Rockrose resin (Cistus creticus / C. ladanifer)	Dark brown, waxy resin	Acts as a dough base when warmed, absorbing dry powders to form solid pellets for kneaded mixtures (Ariadne's Meadow) without adding water.
Storax Gum	Bark balsam (Liquidambar orientalis)	Thick, sticky dark balsam	Kneaded in liquid or semi-liquid form directly into dry powders to turn ancient blends and pellets into shapeable dough.
Galbanum	Oleoresin from Ferula species	Glutinous, sticky resin	Worked with a mortar and pestle to integrate and bind loose botanical powders into cohesive pellets.
Mastic Resin	"Tears" from Pistacia lentiscus	Hard, brittle resin tears	Traditional natural resin adhesive and incense base valued historically as an effective natural glue.

(1) To make Kyphi pellets from Sultana Raisins & Red Wine

1. Ingredient (100g Batch)

46.4g Sultana Raisins
1.5g Forest Liquid Honey
23.2g Frankincense Resin
11.6g Mastic Resin
5.8g Storax Resin
5.8g Myrrh Resin
5.8g Ground Wood/Herbs (5.8% — e.g., Sandalwood, Benzoin, or Galangal)
Liquid: ~15 to 20 mL Full-Bodied Red Wine (roughly 1 to 2 tablespoons, just enough to submerge the raisins)

2. Step-by-Step Preparation Method

Soak the Raisins: Place the 46.4g of sultana raisins in a small jar and pour in 15 to 20 mL of red wine until submerged. Seal and let soak overnight (roughly 12–24 hours) until plump and soft.
Create the Paste: Blend or crush the soaked raisins (along with any excess wine absorbed) together with the 1.5g of honey in a mortar or food processor until it forms a smooth, thick paste.
Pulverise the Dry Resins & Woods: In a separate mortar and pestle, grind the dry resins (23.2g Frankincense, 11.6g Mastic, 5.8g Storax, 5.8g Myrrh) and 5.8g of wood/herb powder into a fine powder. (Tip: Chilling hard resins in the freezer for 15 minutes before grinding prevents them from becoming sticky).
Knead the Dough: Gradually add the pulverized dry resin-wood powder into your raisin-honey paste. Knead thoroughly with your hands or a pestle until a heavy, pliable dough forms. If it feels too wet, add a touch more sandalwood powder; if too dry, add a few drops of wine or honey.
Shape the Pellets: Roll the dough into small, pea-sized balls (roughly 0.5g to 1g each). This batch will yield approximately 100 to 150 individual incense pellets.
Cure & Dry: Lay the pellets out on parchment paper or a wood drying rack in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space. Allow them to dry and cure for 7 to 14 days before burning over an electric incense heater or glowing charcoal.