Incense Dipping Calculator
Work out how much DPG and fragrance oil to mix for dipping incense sticks or cones — 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3 supplier ratios, batch totals and cost per stick.
Use the ratio your supplier gives. 1:1 is Makesy's method; Nature's Garden gives a range from equal parts up to 1:3. More DPG means less fragrance oil in each stick.
About 1–2 mL per stick is a working estimate. Blanks soak up different amounts, so adjust this after your first batch.
Optional. Enter what you pay and the calculator works out what each stick costs to make. To enter liquid prices per fl oz, switch the units above.
Your dipping solution
Soak, dry and burn times
How much DPG and fragrance oil to use
Dipping solution for incense is two liquids mixed together: dipropylene glycol (DPG) and fragrance oil. A common supplier method is 1:1 by volume, equal parts of each, which is what Makesy's instructions use. If you have 15 mL of fragrance oil, add 15 mL of DPG.
Total solution = number of sticks × solution per stick
Fragrance oil = total solution ÷ (1 + parts of DPG)
DPG = total solution − fragrance oil
Example at 1:1: 20 sticks × 1.5 mL = 30 mL = 15 mL DPG + 15 mL fragrance oil
Example at 1:2: the same 30 mL = 20 mL DPG + 10 mL fragrance oil
Supplier instructions differ, though. Nature's Garden gives a range from equal parts up to three parts DPG per part of fragrance oil, and Aroma Vials uses four parts DPG to one part oil. The calculator offers 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3. Pick the one your supplier gives. If theirs is a ratio the calculator doesn't offer, follow their instructions.
Measure both liquids with the same tool, whether that is a measuring spoon, a pipette or a graduated cylinder, and stir them together until the fragrance is evenly mixed through the DPG.
The amount of solution each stick needs is less fixed. The calculator starts at 1.5 mL per stick, the middle of a 1–2 mL working estimate, and you can change it. Blank sticks vary in length and in how thick the coating is, so they soak up different amounts. Your first batch gives you a better number: note how much solution is left in the container after the soak and adjust the per-stick figure for next time.
Why DPG
DPG is the usual solvent for dipping incense, and every supplier method above uses it. It thins the fragrance oil and carries it into the coated part of the blank, it leaves no residue, and it has little smell of its own when the stick burns. It is the same liquid used as a reed diffuser base, and the reed diffuser calculator works out the fragrance-to-DPG split for bottles.
Don't replace it with water or a carrier oil. Fragrance oil won't dissolve in water, so the two separate in the container and the blank soaks up an uneven mix. Carrier oils such as fractionated coconut or sweet almond add their own smell to the smoke.
Worked example: a pack of 20 sticks
Say you are dipping a pack of 20 blank sticks at 1:1. At 1.5 mL per stick, the batch needs 30 mL of solution: 15 mL of DPG and 15 mL of fragrance oil. 15 mL is about one US tablespoon, so for this batch you can measure a tablespoon of each.
If your blanks soak up closer to 2 mL each, the same 20 sticks need 40 mL, which is 20 mL of each liquid. The table below uses 1.5 mL per stick at 1:1.
| Sticks | Total solution | DPG | Fragrance oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 15 mL | 7.5 mL | 7.5 mL |
| 20 | 30 mL | 15 mL | 15 mL |
| 50 | 75 mL (2.5 fl oz) | 37.5 mL | 37.5 mL |
| 100 | 150 mL (5.1 fl oz) | 75 mL (2.5 fl oz) | 75 mL (2.5 fl oz) |
Cones soak the same way, but the 1–2 mL estimate is for sticks. For cones, soak a few first, see how much solution they take, and enter that figure in the calculator.
Fragrance oil vs essential oil for dipping
Makesy mixes essential oil with DPG the same way as fragrance oil, at 1:1. Essential oils are more volatile than fragrance oils, which means they evaporate faster. Expect a weaker scent when the stick burns, and dipped sticks that lose their scent sooner in storage.
Some essential oils hold up better than others. Citrus oils fade fastest. Heavier oils such as sandalwood, cedarwood and patchouli last longer on the stick. If you are working with essential oils:
- Dip a few test sticks before a full pack, and burn one once it has dried.
- Check that your supplier lists the oil for incense use before you dip a full batch.
- Store the finished sticks in an airtight container to hold on to the scent.
Soaking and drying
Pour the solution into a container tall and narrow enough to cover the coated part of the sticks, stand them in it coated end down, and leave them for 24 hours. Cones soak for the same 24 hours, fully covered.
Then lay them on a clean, dry surface to air dry for at least 24 hours, and longer if they still feel damp. Lighting one before it has dried gives a weak scent and a smoky burn, and a stick that is still wet can have trouble staying lit.
| Step | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soak | 24 hours | Coated part fully covered |
| Dry | 24 hours minimum | Longer if they still feel damp |
| Burn (sticks) | 45–60 minutes | Per stick |
| Burn (cones) | 15–20 minutes | Per cone |
Once they are dry, store them in an airtight container until you burn them or package them.
Choosing a ratio
Supplier instructions for incense don't agree on one ratio. The ones in the sources below run from equal parts to four parts DPG per part of fragrance oil, and none use more fragrance oil than 1:1. The calculator offers the three ratios from 1:1 to 1:3. More DPG means less fragrance oil in each stick and a lighter scent. Here is how a 30 mL batch splits:
| Fragrance oil : DPG | DPG | Fragrance oil | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 : 1 | 15 mL | 15 mL | Makesy |
| 1 : 2 | 20 mL | 10 mL | Within Nature's Garden's range |
| 1 : 3 | 22.5 mL | 7.5 mL | Top of Nature's Garden's range |
None of the options go above equal parts fragrance oil. Incense is burned and its smoke is breathed in, so the calculator doesn't go past the fragrance share suppliers publish.
Before you dip, check that your supplier lists the fragrance or essential oil for incense use. If they give their own ratio for incense, use theirs.
Cost per stick
The price fields cover the dipping solution, plus the blanks if you enter a price for them. Incense you plan to sell also carries packaging, labels and your time. The candle pricing calculator covers turning a unit cost into a retail price with labor and overhead included, and the same method works for incense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DPG to fragrance oil ratio for incense?
A common supplier method is 1:1 by volume: equal parts DPG and fragrance oil, so 15 mL of DPG for 15 mL of fragrance oil. Supplier instructions differ, and some use two, three or four parts DPG per part of fragrance oil. This calculator offers 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3. If your supplier gives a different ratio for incense, follow theirs.
How much DPG do I need per incense stick?
At 1:1, about 0.5–1 mL. A working estimate is 1–2 mL of dipping solution per stick, and at 1:1 half of that is DPG. At 1:2 DPG is two thirds of the solution, and at 1:3 three quarters. A batch of 20 sticks at 1.5 mL each takes 30 mL of solution: 15 mL of DPG at 1:1, 20 mL at 1:2 or 22.5 mL at 1:3. Blanks absorb different amounts, so check how much solution is left after your first soak and adjust the per-stick figure.
Can I dip incense without DPG?
Supplier methods use DPG, and so does this calculator. Soaking blanks in straight fragrance oil doubles the fragrance in each stick compared with 1:1, which is outside those methods, so we don't recommend it. Don't replace DPG with water or a carrier oil either. Fragrance oil won't dissolve in water, and carrier oils such as fractionated coconut or sweet almond add their own smell to the smoke.
Why won't my incense stay lit?
Check first that the stick is fully dry. A stick lit before it has dried tends to smell weak and burn smoky, and it can struggle to keep smoldering. Give it another day or two before you try again. Then check how you light it: hold the flame to the tip until it catches, let it burn for a few seconds, and blow it out. The tip should glow and give off a steady line of smoke.
How long do you soak incense sticks?
24 hours, with the coated part of the stick fully covered by the solution. Cones soak for the same 24 hours. After soaking, let them dry for at least 24 hours before burning, and longer if they still feel damp.
Do essential oils work for dipping incense?
Yes. Makesy mixes essential oil with DPG the same way as fragrance oil, at 1:1. Essential oils are more volatile than fragrance oils, so expect a weaker scent when the stick burns and a scent that fades sooner in storage. Citrus oils fade fastest; heavier oils such as sandalwood, cedarwood and patchouli hold up better. Check that your supplier lists the oil for incense use, and store finished sticks in an airtight container.
Sources
- How to Make Incense with Unscented Sticks and Cones — Makesy 1:1 DPG to fragrance or essential oil; 24-hour soak; 24-hour dry; burn times of 45–60 minutes for sticks and 15–20 for cones; airtight storage.
- DPG Solvent Liquid (Dipropylene Glycol) — Nature's Garden Blending ratios from equal parts up to three parts DPG per one part fragrance oil. The basis for the 1:2 and 1:3 options.
- DPG Dipropylene Glycol For Incense Making — Aroma Vials Four parts DPG to one part oil.