Soaking incense for wedding favors into cones and sticks can be an elegant, while inexpensive choice for wedding or bridal shower party favors.
Only a few supplies are needed to scent your wedding favors, and these are available through most retailers carrying soap and candle making supplies. Your choice of fragrance oil, a fragrance oil diluting agent, glass container for soaking, a glass measuring cup, newspaper or paper towels and unscented incense sticks or cones are all that is needed to make your own custom scented incense favors. For making incense as party favors, cones or miniature (4 inch) incense sticks may be preferable, as they will be easier to package and display.
To begin, mix the fragrance oil and diluting agent, or DPG (dipropylene glycol) in a glass dish or tall jar. Any fragrance oil sold for candle or soap crafting is appropriate, but full strength fragrance oil will smoke excessively when burned if the oil is not first cut with a diluting agent, such as DPG (referred to as incense ‘blending oil’ by some companies). Mix the diluting agent and the fragrance oil at a ratio of two parts DPG to one part fragrance oil. Although some recipes may call for mixing fragrance oils with alcohol to dilute the oil, alcohol will smoke when burned, and so DPG is the most highly recommended mixing agent. Prices for DPG start around $2.50 for four ounces, and fragrances cost about $5.50 for two ounces; fragrances can be bought premixed with DPG for around $12.00 for an eight ounce bottle (keep in mind, oil can be re-used for several batches).
After mixing the oils, place the incense sticks or cones into the oil to soak. Cover the dish and soak for at least 24 hours (incense can be soaked for as long as three days). Cones are sold in bags of 100 or more (2000 can be bought in bulk size bags around $13.00, depending on the supplier). Incense sticks, also called bamboo diffusers, are sold in bundles of 100 (starting around $1.00, less if bought in bulk quantities), tied with twine. The incense can remain tied while soaking, although loosening the bundles may increase fragrance absorption and decrease drying time.
Remove the incense from the fragrance mixture after it has soaked thoroughly. Cover, label and store any leftover oil for future use, or use it again to soak your next batch of incense. Place incense sticks or cones on a drying rack or section of window screen laid over newspaper or paper towels. Let the soaked incense dry for 48 hours. A fan placed near the incense or direct sunlight will aid drying, but do not try to speed drying by warming your incense in the oven.
Once your incense has dried, packaging the incense into favors is all that is left to do. Incense is easily packaged and lends itself to so many options for customizing your wedding or shower favors into a personal expression of your thanks on your wedding day.
Sheer organza bags with drawstrings or sheer ‘envelopes’ are pretty, classy and elegant. Wedding favors are simply crafted using these premade bags. Organza bags for party favors are widely available in many colors, making matching the colors of your wedding with your favors an easy task. What’s more, four by six inch bags are the perfect size for four inch diffusers or cones. Scented incense in sheer bags and breathable cloths make wonderful room and drawer sachets.
Another option is to stand several sticks upright in small bud vases. You may choose to add one or two silk flowers to the vase. Decorate the neck of the vase with ribbon in your wedding colors, perhaps adding a small silk flower or crystal bead with a dot of hot glue.
Packaging your party favors for a wedding or shower can be as simple as putting several sticks in a cellophane bag and tying with colored ribbons. Cellophane bags are sold by retailers in clear plastic or decorated in a variety of themes.
Precut colored or white tulle circles, widely available through wedding novelty and favor suppliers, work well as a way to package incense cones for wedding and shower favors. Finish then with white ribbon or ribbon coordinating with your wedding colors.
Small, inexpensive incense holders, ash catchers or bowls filled with a few sticks or cones could be a very attractive and different wedding favor display. Wrap in cellophane plastic gathered at the top with a bow, or shop candle and soap making suppliers for shrinking plastic wrap to cover the package. Simply tape the wrap at the bottom of the favor, and heat the shrink wrap gently with a hair dryer on a low setting. Embellish to your taste.
White or colored boxes, clear plastic boxes with ribbons, and small wooden trinket boxes filled with your custom scented incense are just a few more of many options for creating attractive and unique party favors for your wedding or bridal shower. Whatever your choice, top your favors with a nicely printed tag detailing your day with your names, wedding date and perhaps a favorite phrase. As an alternative to tags, add printed matchbooks for a complete incense set. Your guests will enjoy the relaxing scents of your custom made incense in their homes for days and weeks to come.
