Incense has been around since time immemorial. They were first used by early civilizations as part of sacrificial rituals, to counteract disagreeable odors, and even drive away demons. In ancient times, resins such as frankincense and myrrh, other aromatic plant matter and essential oils are the main ingredients in making incense.
Modern-day incense are usually made from powdered herbs and resins. They come in a variety of forms such as sticks, cones and powder and are popular for a variety of functions including eliminating bad smells, repelling insects, setting the mood in a room or healing (aromatherapy).
Incense is quite easy to prepare and ingredients are readily available from craft stores and herbal shops. Just like any other homemade items, incense makes great gifts. Homemade incense products can also become a profitable business. You can customize the strength or potency of your products to meet the requirements of each buyer.
Because they are usually made from powdered materials held together by a binder or glue, incense can be quite fragile and can break down if not properly handled. If you are planning to ship incense, here are some packing tips to ensure that they will arrive intact and in good condition.
Whether shipping incense cones or sticks, make sure that every piece has dried out completely before packing them as incense that are still moist can easily crumble.
Wrap the incense in layers of wax paper or rice paper before placing inside a Ziploc bag. Do not put the incense directly inside a plastic bag as the essential oils in the incense can react with the plastic and affect the scent it will release when burned.
Place the bagged incense inside a box. Make sure that the incense rests snugly in the box and there are no spaces for it to move around. Fill any extra space with shredded or crumpled paper to prevent any movement. Close the box and seal with tape.
Place the box in a slightly larger shipping box filled with more shredded or crumpled paper on all sides, top and bottom. Make sure that the inner box is not moving inside the outer box. Seal the outer box with packaging tape. Address and label the package and take to your local post office or shipping company.