DAMM - Monday 1st Period (3/5/2007) - Get Incensed!

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

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.]]

Comments

SIGN IN

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

...

Re: SIGN IN

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt Halliwell

LECTURE

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

Hope you like smelling like incense... For weeks.

Re: LECTURE

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt only paid half-attention to the lecture, distracted by the weekend's activities and his conversation with Anders last night. He looked around for his aunt so he could talk to her.

Re: LECTURE

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Setsuna was taking very detailed notes; this was all stuff she could see herself getting a lot of use from.

Re: LECTURE

[narglette.livejournal.com]

Soon, Luna began to suspect that this was not unlike a certain classroom back at Hogwarts ran by their quasi-current divination professor.

Re: LECTURE

[justmisplaced.livejournal.com]

Shawn was actually taking notes today, along with his alien doodles. He'd had a busy weekend, and it was kind of taking over his thoughts.

Re: LECTURE

[smartestone]

Hermione's mostly frowning through the lecture, though taking notes. She's alternately hoping she doesn't still have any sprouts anywhere she hasn't noticed, and wondering if her professor knows Trelawney.

Re: LECTURE

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Dawn took a lot of notes, and made another note to herself to check up on additional magical and protective properties once she got back to her computer and the internet--she might be able to make different blends to meditate on certain subjects before rituals.

Re: LECTURE

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

Bridge is taking lots of notes. And possibly bouncing in his seat a little. For reasons that have nothing to do with the actual subject of the class.

Re: LECTURE

[likethegun]

Sam was taking a lot of notes. Just because incense smelled funny didn't mean it couldn't be useful.

Re: LECTURE

[notawitch.livejournal.com]

Will took a decent amount of notes on the lecture. Although the incense smells tickled her nose a bit, she liked the way they all merged together. The class smelled nice.

MAKE INCENSE

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

Actually, there's one ingredient that's missing from the table.

There's no patchouli oil.

If you don't know why there's no patchouli oil... count yourself lucky.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[blessed_twice]

Wyatt made incense using frankincense and myrrh, enhanced with frangipani.

No, it was NOT too girly, dammit.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Setsuna diligently set to the task of concocting up as many different kinds of incense as she could manage with the time she had.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[willbedone.livejournal.com]

Willow began to make something that smelled of mint.

She then wondered if she could put a spell in it to not only clear the air but also clean your teeth.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[narglette.livejournal.com]

Luna went her own way with the project of course.

For starters, she wasn't bothered by the conflicting smells and smoke because her head was encased in a filmy, bright blue, breathable ball.

She also chose not to do anything suggest on the instructions list. Instead, she took a small bowl and began to grind up nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and some gold foil she'd found in her pocket.

Funny how what was left of the nutmeg looked like a little brown brain.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[justmisplaced.livejournal.com]

Shawn isn't really all that big on essential oils. He's mostly just sniffing at random, and dripping some into his mixture so long as it seems a half-decent scent.

The concoction he's making might not be all that sweet smelling.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[notajar]

Door's used to using incense to consecrate doorways; they weren't a terribly religious family, but they did swear by Temple and Arch, after all. She's not used to making it herself, though, so she's having fun playing with the materials. And yes, getting powder all over her clothes and hands, something she'll come to regret in an hour or so.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[smartestone]

Hermione sets to work, being very careful about her ingredients.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[lilpunkinbelly.livejournal.com]

Heavy wood scents and strong florals made Dawn sneeze, so she tried to assemble a citrusy blend to burn for alertness and clarity of thought. Next, she thought she'd try something soothing--maybe with some kind of spices.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[likethegun]

Unlike Dawn, Sam liked the heavy wood scents for his incense. This could make for an interesting roommate situation later.

Re: MAKE INCENSE

[notawitch.livejournal.com]

Will gathered up a few different ingredients, and started mixing together incense with a citrusy smell with a bit of floral scents in the background.

TALK TO BYRON OR THE TAs

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

...after they ping in.

ORPHEUS

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

He's here.

OOC

[bluewindbreaker.livejournal.com]

This class brought to you by the fact that I walked past a cart that sold incense last night on the way to dinner and I still sort of smell it in my hair today despite having taken a shower.

And don't get me started about my purse which has transferred the smell to my car now.

Damn.

Re: OOC

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

My allergies and I cringe in sympathy.