A room full of sweet smoke starts with a few simple choices. This Ubud workshop turns incense making into a hands-on lesson where you create your own sticks and cones from scratch. I especially like that you can customize the scent with organic essential oils and walk away with a take-home kit. One small consideration: the class runs about 1 hour, so it’s friendly for a quick, focused session, not a long, meandering craft day.

In plain terms, you’ll learn how incense works, what goes into it, and how it connects to Balinese Hindu culture—while your hands are busy shaping aromatic sticks and cones. The group stays small (up to 6), so you’re not stuck watching from the sidelines.

Key highlights to look for

• Customize your scent with organic essential oils before you start mixing your blend
• Make incense sticks and cones from scratch, not a pre-made kit only
• Learn the incense formula and how the process fits Balinese Hindu use
• Coat sticks with aromatic powder as part of the hands-on method
• Take home a DIY incense kit plus instructions so you can keep making more
• Optional ceramic incense burner painting for an added cost

Where You Start in Ubud (and Why That Matters)

You’ll meet at Bali Art Workshop Studio, Jl. Bisma No.85, Ubud. The workshop runs from 1:00 pm, and it ends back at the same meeting point.

Why I like this setup for visitors: Ubud is easy to navigate once you’re anchored at a specific address, and the round-trip format keeps the day simple. You don’t need to plan extra transport once you arrive. Also, because the group is capped at 6 travelers, you’re likely to get more direct attention when you’re mixing scents and shaping incense.

If you’re timing your afternoon, keep in mind that this is a short class. It’s designed to be efficient. That can be a plus if you’re trying to fit a few Ubud activities into one day.

Customizing Your Incense Scent With Organic Essential Oils

The heart of this workshop is personalization. You don’t just learn the process—you also shape the smell.

Here’s what you’ll do, based on how the class is described:

• Customize the scent using organic essential oils
• Customize your own natural incense blend

This is more important than it sounds. Incense isn’t just about fragrance—it’s about how different scents combine. When you mix your own blend here, you’re learning the idea of balancing aroma, not copying someone else’s recipe.

Practical tip: pay attention to your choices as you go. Since you’re building the blend yourself, you’ll want to remember what you chose so you can recreate the result later using the instructions card you take home.

Making Incense Sticks and Cones From Scratch (The Real Work)

This is a true from scratch format. You’ll create incense sticks and also cone incense as part of the session.

What happens during the class, in a nutshell:

• You’ll follow along with the incense process while learning the incense formula
• You’ll coat the sticks with aromatic powder
• You’ll craft incense cones (錐 Craft Incense Cones)

Since the workshop is about 1 hour (approx.), the pace is probably “do it hands-on, then move quickly.” You’ll likely spend most of your time at the workstations, mixing, forming, coating, and finishing.

One key consideration: incense making involves powders and scented oils. So do expect the sensory part—smell and powder residue. Plan to keep your schedule flexible right before or after, especially if you don’t want your clothes or hands to carry that incense scent for a while.

Learning the Incense Formula and Balinese Hindu Connections

This isn’t only a craft lesson. It’s also a meaning lesson.

During the workshop you’ll:

• Learn the history of incense
• Learn how incense shaped Balinese Hindu culture
• Pick up Balinese incense secrets (as the workshop describes it)

You’ll also learn the incense formula, which ties the “how” to the “why.” In other words: you’ll understand what’s happening when your incense is formed and why it’s used in religious and cultural settings.

One detail I appreciate in the description: it clarifies that Balinese didn’t invent incense. That matters, because it keeps the story grounded. You’re not being fed a myth-only version of the practice. You’re getting a context for incense as a broader tradition, then seeing its Balinese role.

Optional Ceramic Incense Burner Painting (If You Want the Whole Setup)

After you’ve made your incense, there’s an optional add-on: paint a ceramic incense burner.

• Optional cost: 45k (as listed)
• Included if you add it: a customized ceramic incense burner

This is a nice extra if you want your take-home set to feel complete. The workshop already includes take-home incense and an instructions card, but adding a burner means you’re not just taking ingredients—you’re taking a usable display-and-use piece that matches your own incense style.

If you’re debating whether to add it, use this rule of thumb: if you like small craft extras and you’re trying to bring home a “whole ritual kit,” go for it. If you’re only here for the incense-making lesson, you can skip it and still leave with plenty.

Your Take-Home Kit: What You Actually Leave With

This workshop is built around leaving with usable results, not just a souvenir.

Included take-home items:

• A take-home DIY incense kit (bonus: make more at home)
• Your hand-made incense sticks (listed as 1+ hour burn time each)
• A DIY incense instructions card
• A customized ceramic incense burner if you add it

That’s strong value because it extends the workshop beyond the class itself. In practical terms, you get:

1) the satisfaction of having created something

2) the ability to recreate it later

3) enough incense to use immediately

Also, because the instructions are included, you’re not stuck with a mysterious bundle of materials. The goal is repeat-making, which is what turns this from a one-time activity into a small ongoing hobby.

Price and Value: How $20.07 Adds Up

At $20.07 per person, this is priced like a straightforward activity. The value comes from the mix of things you get back.

What you’re paying for (based on what’s included):

• A hands-on incense making class
• Your materials and results: incense sticks plus the DIY kit
• An instructions card
• The learning component: incense basics, the incense formula, and Balinese Hindu context
• Ceramic burner only if you add it (45k)

The reason I think the value is fair: incense making uses ingredients that add up, and you’re not leaving with just a single completed item. You’re leaving with multiple take-home components: sticks with burn time, plus the tools and guidance to keep making.

If you’re doing a tight-budget day in Ubud, this is the type of workshop that can feel worth it because you’re buying a skill and a kit, not just watching someone work.

Group Size, Pace, and How to Get the Most From It

This class tops out at 6 travelers. That matters more than people think. Small group settings usually mean:

• more interaction while you mix scents and shape incense
• fewer waits between steps
• a better chance to ask questions during the formula and history parts

Timing note: the listing says 1 hour (approx.). One recent experience was described as well spent at around two hours, so if you’re scheduling right after, I’d give yourself a buffer. In workshops, the “approx.” time often includes check-in and wrapping up with the take-home kit.

To get the best experience, treat this like a do-your-best class. You don’t need to be crafty. You do need curiosity. If you like practical cultural activities—something you can bring home—this one fits.

Who Should Book This Workshop (and Who Might Not)

I’d point this workshop toward people who:

• want a hands-on cultural activity in Ubud
• like making things with your hands, especially fragrance-based crafts
• enjoy take-home value—something you’ll actually use at home
• are interested in how incense connects to Balinese Hindu culture, not just making smoke

You might skip it if:

• you’re expecting a slow, long lecture or a multi-hour craft session
• you prefer highly guided “no thinking” activities with no mixing choices
• you have a tight schedule with zero buffer, since the time can run longer than the “approx.” slot

Quick Practical Tips for a Smooth Class

A few common-sense things that fit what you’ll be doing:

• Plan for scent and powder: you’re mixing oils and coating sticks with aromatic powder.
• Pay attention during the scent mixing: your own blend is the point, and the instructions card will help later.
• Arrive ready at 1:00 pm so you’re not rushing when it’s time to start.
• Consider the ceramic burner add-on if you want a matched, ready-to-use set at home.

Also, you’ll use a mobile ticket, so keep your phone handy at the meeting point.

Should You Book This Ubud Incense Workshop?

I’d book it if you want a small-group, hands-on activity that goes beyond a “watch and leave” souvenir stop. The scent customization with organic essential oils, the creation of both sticks and cones, and the fact that you leave with a DIY kit plus instructions make this one of those workshops that keeps paying you back after you’ve gone back home.

If you want something longer and more ceremonial, look for a different format. But for a focused Ubud afternoon where you’ll learn the process, understand the cultural meaning, and bring home a usable kit, this is a very solid choice.

FAQ

How long is the Ubud incense making workshop?

It runs for about 1 hour (approx.), starting at 1:00 pm.

Where do I meet for the workshop?

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

What will I make during the class?

You’ll create incense sticks from scratch and also make incense cones.

What do I take home after the workshop?

You take home a DIY incense kit, your hand-made incense sticks (listed as 1+ hour burn time each), and a DIY incense instructions card.

Is there an optional add-on?

Yes. You can optionally add a ceramic incense burner painting for 45k, which includes a customized burner.

What’s included in the price?

The listing includes the take-home DIY kit, your handmade incense sticks, the instructions card, and the incense learning component. The ceramic burner is included only if you add it.

What’s the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Free cancellation is available up to that point.