DAMM - Monday 1st Period (3/5/2007) - Get Incensed!
As the students arrived today, they will notice there's something a little different about the classroom. There's a slight haze and a heavy (hopefully not unpleasant) sent in the air.
Scattered about the room are a variety of different incense burnders, some of which are actively giving off the aforementioned haze and smell.
Anybody or anything that spends any amount of time in the room today? Will probably smell like incense for a while unless extreme measures are taken.
"Smoke and sent have been used since time in memorial for spiritual purposes. Cleansing, carrying prayers up to heaven or into the spirit plane, or even to repel evil. Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other aggravating, distracting or pestilential insects. This use has been deployed in concert with religious uses by Zen Buddhists who claim that the incense that is part of their meditative practice is designed to keep bothersome insects from distracting the practitioner." Byron explained producing a large platter with an assortment of incenses on it. "Stick incense, coil incense, cone incense, loose powder, smudge sticks, frankincense and murr to name a few.
And don't even get me started on scented candles.
Incense composition requires one to be rather precise in the case of direct burning incense since it must be carefully proportioned and blended such that it has ability to slowly and evenly burn itself in its entirety.
While indirect burning incense consists mainly of fragrant materials and need not adhere to any specific proportion, recipes and mixes for all direct burning incense must include and balance two things: fragrant materials and a combustible base."
Instructions and materials for making incense are passed out. A table off to the side provides a dizzying (if you're not already dizzy from the smell) number of ingredients. (Including agarwood.)
"You may follow that recipe to the letter or use it simply as a guide. In order obtain the desired combustion qualities, attention has to be paid to certain proportions in direct burning incense mixtures:
Firstly, oil content: Resinous materials such as Myrrh and Frankincense must not exceed the amount of dry materials in the mixture to such a degree that the incense will not smolder and burn. The higher the oil content relative to the dry mass, the less likely the mixture is to burn effectively.
Secondly, oxidizer quantity: The amount of chemical oxidizer in gum bound incense must be carefully proportioned. Too little, and the incense will not ignite, too much, and the incense will burn too quickly and not produce fragrant smoke.
Thirdly, mixture density: Incense mixture made with natural binders must not be combined with too much water in mixing, or over-compressed while being formed. This either results in uneven air distribution or undesirable density in the mixture, which causes the incense to burn unevenly, too slowly, or too quickly.
The manner with which you burn or heat your incense is entirely up to you. Something more ceremonial, special made and consecrated for a purpose can heighten a spiritual or arcane effect... Covered verses uncovered is also entirely up to you. Though I believe that covered is rather better for safety reasons. But honestly, all that matters is that the smoke can escape and air be given access so that the incense may continue to burn and not be smothered by its own smoke.
The spirits don't care if you burn you incense in a vessel that's shaped like an alien smoking a hookah if such a thing suits your nature...
Anyway.
Your task for today, if you have not already surmised is to make your own incense. Have at it."
[[ooc: Please wait for OCD. Open! Today's class was supposed to be about something else, but we're pushing that to next week.]]
Scattered about the room are a variety of different incense burnders, some of which are actively giving off the aforementioned haze and smell.
Anybody or anything that spends any amount of time in the room today? Will probably smell like incense for a while unless extreme measures are taken.
"Smoke and sent have been used since time in memorial for spiritual purposes. Cleansing, carrying prayers up to heaven or into the spirit plane, or even to repel evil. Incense made from materials such as citronella can repel mosquitoes and other aggravating, distracting or pestilential insects. This use has been deployed in concert with religious uses by Zen Buddhists who claim that the incense that is part of their meditative practice is designed to keep bothersome insects from distracting the practitioner." Byron explained producing a large platter with an assortment of incenses on it. "Stick incense, coil incense, cone incense, loose powder, smudge sticks, frankincense and murr to name a few.
And don't even get me started on scented candles.
Incense composition requires one to be rather precise in the case of direct burning incense since it must be carefully proportioned and blended such that it has ability to slowly and evenly burn itself in its entirety.
While indirect burning incense consists mainly of fragrant materials and need not adhere to any specific proportion, recipes and mixes for all direct burning incense must include and balance two things: fragrant materials and a combustible base."
Instructions and materials for making incense are passed out. A table off to the side provides a dizzying (if you're not already dizzy from the smell) number of ingredients. (Including agarwood.)
"You may follow that recipe to the letter or use it simply as a guide. In order obtain the desired combustion qualities, attention has to be paid to certain proportions in direct burning incense mixtures:
Firstly, oil content: Resinous materials such as Myrrh and Frankincense must not exceed the amount of dry materials in the mixture to such a degree that the incense will not smolder and burn. The higher the oil content relative to the dry mass, the less likely the mixture is to burn effectively.
Secondly, oxidizer quantity: The amount of chemical oxidizer in gum bound incense must be carefully proportioned. Too little, and the incense will not ignite, too much, and the incense will burn too quickly and not produce fragrant smoke.
Thirdly, mixture density: Incense mixture made with natural binders must not be combined with too much water in mixing, or over-compressed while being formed. This either results in uneven air distribution or undesirable density in the mixture, which causes the incense to burn unevenly, too slowly, or too quickly.
The manner with which you burn or heat your incense is entirely up to you. Something more ceremonial, special made and consecrated for a purpose can heighten a spiritual or arcane effect... Covered verses uncovered is also entirely up to you. Though I believe that covered is rather better for safety reasons. But honestly, all that matters is that the smoke can escape and air be given access so that the incense may continue to burn and not be smothered by its own smoke.
The spirits don't care if you burn you incense in a vessel that's shaped like an alien smoking a hookah if such a thing suits your nature...
Anyway.
Your task for today, if you have not already surmised is to make your own incense. Have at it."
[[ooc: Please wait for OCD. Open! Today's class was supposed to be about something else, but we're pushing that to next week.]]