Smoky souvenirs start with scratch-made sticks. In Ubud, you’ll create incense sticks and cones from the beginning, customize the scent, and take a DIY kit home. I like that it’s practical and hands-on, and I also like the clear take-home value: your handmade sticks are listed as burning for 1+ hours each, plus an instruction card.

One thing to keep in mind: the workshop is about 1 hour, so it moves along at a teaching pace. If you want a super slow, sit-and-chat craft day, you might find it a bit short.

I also like how the learning isn’t just chemical mixing. You get the incense formula and a guided look at how incense shaped Balinese Hindu culture, with the important note that Balinese people did not invent incense, but helped give it sacred meaning and use. And the group size is small, max 6, which makes it easier to ask questions without waiting.

Key things I’d plan around

• Blend your own scent using organic essential oils before you start shaping
• Follow a formula so what you make feels repeatable, not random
• Shape sticks and cones by hand, then coat them with aromatic powder
• Learn Balinese incense secrets and how incense connects to Hindu practice in Bali
• Take home a DIY kit plus an instructions card so you can make more later
• Optional ceramic burner paint is available for an add-on cost of 45k

Scratch-made incense: what you’re actually making

This is not a watch-and-smell activity. You’re making incense from scratch in Ubud, and the end result is real: handmade incense sticks, plus incense cones (錐 is the cone form mentioned in the class details). You’ll also leave with a take-home DIY incense kit, and that matters, because it turns a one-hour class into something you can repeat at home.

The workshop’s focus is very straightforward: scent first, then process. You customize your fragrance, learn the blend approach, and then translate that into powder-coated sticks and cones that you’ll bring home.

Price is $20.07 per person, which is relatively low for a class that includes materials and a take-home kit. The fact that there are 5+ bookings in the last month is also a good sign that this isn’t sitting empty, which often means the workshop is running smoothly and consistently.

Scent customization with organic essential oils

Your first creative task is scent. You get to customize with organic essential oils, and you also customize your natural incense blend. That’s a key difference from many souvenir versions of incense that all smell the same.

In practice, this means you’re thinking like a maker: you’re not just choosing a scent at random, you’re assembling one. You’ll learn the incense formula as part of the process, which helps you understand what you’re doing and why. If you like the idea of recreating scents later, this is where you build your memory—what you mixed, how it’s applied, and what the final incense should smell like.

Also, because oils are involved, expect your hands to smell like your choices for the rest of the day. It’s part of the fun, but if you plan to eat right after, you’ll want to be ready to wash up.

Coating and shaping sticks and cones

Once your scent blend is set, you’ll move into the physical part: coat the sticks with aromatic powder and craft the cones (錐 Craft Incense Cones). This is the section where the workshop feels most “maker” and least “classroom.”

The supplies aren’t just for show. You’re doing the shaping, so you get a real sense of how incense sticks and cones take form. That hands-on time is also one reason the small group size matters (maximum 6). With fewer people, you’re more likely to get quick feedback if something isn’t quite right.

You should also think about the look of your final work. Some incense is uniform. Yours won’t be machine-perfect—and that’s the point. What you make is meant to be yours, with your scent choices baked into the process.

The formula and the Balinese Hindu connection

This class doesn’t pretend incense is a purely modern craft. The overview makes a clear point: Balinese did not invent incense, but you’ll learn its sacred meaning and history and how it fits into Balinese Hindu culture. You also learn incense formula details and Balinese incense secrets.

For you, the value here is context. When you understand how incense functions spiritually and socially, it’s not just a pleasant smell. It becomes part of a ritual world—something people use for meaning, not just fragrance.

If you’re the type who likes knowing what you’re doing, not only doing it, you’ll enjoy this part. It gives your take-home incense a story. And it also helps explain why certain blends and forms matter.

Take-home kit, burn time, and the optional ceramic burner

Here’s the part that makes this feel like good value. You take home:

• a DIY incense kit (bonus) so you can make more at home
• your handmade incense sticks (listed as 1+ hour burn time each)
• a DIY instructions card so you’re not guessing later
• a customized ceramic incense burner if you add it

That last option is worth discussing. You can paint a ceramic incense burner for an additional 45k. The data doesn’t spell out whether it’s a simple quick paint job or a longer activity, but it is clearly an optional add-on. If you love crafts and want a personal centerpiece for your incense, it’s a nice extra. If you want to keep the workshop focused, you can skip it and still leave with enough to keep making incense at home.

Also note what’s not included: soda/pop. So if you’re the kind of person who needs a drink during classes, plan to grab something nearby before you head to the studio.

Where it starts in Ubud and how to show up

The meeting point is Bali Art Workshop Studio, Jl. Bisma No. 85, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia. It starts at 1:00 pm, and it ends back at the meeting point.

The workshop is mobile-ticket based, and you’ll receive confirmation at booking. There’s also a max group size of 6, and service animals are allowed.

One small practical note: since the class involves powders, essential oils, and scent blending, wear something you don’t mind getting a little fragrant. You don’t need to dress like you’re building a boat, but you also shouldn’t wear your fanciest white top and hope for miracles.

Price and who this workshop suits best

At $20.07 per person, this is positioned as a low-cost craft experience with real take-home value. You’re not only buying the class. You’re buying:

• materials to create incense sticks and cones
• a take-home kit
• an instructions card
• and learning that connects your making to Balinese Hindu culture

That makes it a good option if you want something hands-on but not time-intensive. The listed duration is about 1 hour, so it fits nicely between other Ubud plans.

Who it suits:

• You want a creative activity with a practical result (not just a photo stop)
• You like scent mixing and want the process, not just the fragrance
• You’d rather take home something you made, with instructions to repeat it
• You prefer smaller groups where you can ask questions

Who might think twice:

• You want a long, slow workshop with lots of downtime. This is a one-hour class, so it’s more focused than leisurely.

If you’re doing Ubud on a tight schedule, this kind of activity is perfect: short enough to fit, meaningful enough to remember, and useful enough to re-create at home.

Should you book the Ubud incense-making workshop?

Yes, you should book it if you want a genuinely hands-on craft that leaves you with real incense and a DIY kit. The mix of scent customization, learning the incense formula, and connecting it to Balinese Hindu culture makes it more than a scented souvenir. At this price, you’re getting both the activity and the take-home materials.

Book it especially if you enjoy:

• making things with your hands
• understanding how a traditional practice works (not just copying it)
• taking home something you can use immediately

Skip it if you’re mainly after a casual, no-effort experience. This one asks you to work—blending, coating, shaping, and learning as you go. If that sounds fun, you’ll likely leave happy and smell like your own creation for a while.

FAQ

How long is the incense making workshop?

It runs for about 1 hour (approx.).

What time does it start in Ubud?

The start time is 1:00 pm.

Where do I meet for the workshop?

You meet at Bali Art Workshop Studio, Jl. Bisma No. 85, Ubud, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia.

What is the price per person?

The price is $20.07 per person.

Is there an optional add-on for a ceramic incense burner?

Yes. You can paint a ceramic incense burner for an additional 45k.

What do I take home?

You take home a take-home DIY incense kit, your handmade incense sticks (listed as 1+ hour burn time each), and a DIY instructions card. The customized ceramic incense burner is included only if you add it.

Can I customize the scent?

Yes. You can customize your scent with organic essential oils and customize your natural incense blend.

Does the workshop include both sticks and cones?

Yes. You’ll make incense sticks and also craft incense cones.

What’s the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation is available. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.