What you'll need

Pottery Starter Kit from noah
Protective clothing
Latex gloves (if sensitive to clay)
Plastic sheet or cling film

Shop the kit

How to make it

7 steps

Step 1 Knead the clay

Knead the clay for around 1 minute to align the particles and make it easier to work with.

Step 2 Create a pinchpot

Form a pinched bowl which will capture the ash from the burnt incense. It's worth making this a few centimetres wide.

Step 3 Create the central column

Roll a small ball of clay around 2cm in diameter. Attach it to the centre of the pinchpot by scoring both pieces, adding slip and pushing them together.

Step 4 Make a hole

Push the incense stick into the clay to form the hole. Bear in mind the clay will shrink around 12% so gently wiggle the stick to form an opening slightly larger than the incense itself.

Step 5 Finish & dry

Use a damp sponge to smooth the clay ready for painting. If you distort the central column at all, use the incense stick to make sure the hole is still perfect. Leave the burner to dry for 2-3 days.

Step 6 Paint and varnish

After leaving the piece to dry for a couple of days, it's time to paint and varnish the piece. Paint in several thin layers, letting each coat dry for around 15 minutes.

Step 7 Relax!

Let the paint dry for a day or so before you use your new burner. Pick out your favourite incense and meditate on the joys of making something beautiful and functional with your own hands!

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