The hardest part about testing an incense composition is, counterintuitively, not trying too hard to smell it. You have to kind of let the fragrance come to you. Before I commit to turning it into incense sticks, I'm using a traditional Chinese method of incense burning to trial the build, or blend, of powdered aromatics. In this method, a "seal" of incense powder is made using a brass stencil atop white ash. It doesn't smell exactly the same as an incense stick when burned like this, but it can give you a good idea as to whether it's worth proceeding with the composition and extruding sticks: a time consuming process that requires at least a week of curing before you get any idea as to how they've turned out. Some sticks don't smell right until they've cured for an extended period of time: months or years.
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