Make Yourself A Matchbox Incense Kit

Storage, strike and stand in one bite-sized box

This simple hack was conceived of two years ago while staying at an Airbnb. The rented room, though clean, had a slight smell of damp towel, or perhaps it was sweaty socks. While not horrible, it was also not great, and I found myself unable to relax. I went out to purchase some stick incense and a box of matches to help defuse the air. However, when back in the room, I realized I had no holder for the smoldering sticks. In a moment of sock smell desperation, it dawned on me; I would only need to pierce the matchbox cardboard wide enough to secure the incense as it burned.

This temporary fix proved to be sturdy, as the box held strong more than a dozen of lit sticks later. For storage purposes, I broke the remaining incense into the size of the matches, and kept them cradled inside the box. And viola, a mini room-freshener in the form of incense storage, strike and stand was born.

No, they won’t burn the box or catch fire, as the simmering embers dissipate at the bottom.

Not only did this pocket kit work incredibly well at administering small doses of scent, (half a stick of incense is usually enough) but it became an easy thing to pack for future travels. And when traveling, I sought out matchboxes, easily collected, stowed in a suitcase and crafted into keepsake souvenirs once back home. For the matchboxes that don’t strike you as visually pleasing or remind you of that delicious Italian restaurant, you can cover the branding with homemade sticker paper. A decorated sticker label can be customizable and seamlessly trimmed to cover the top and bottom of your matchbook. You can use those same sticker labels to divide the inside of the matchbox so incense and matches can be together, but in separate compartments.

Matchbox to Incense Kit

Supplies:

• matchbox

• stick incense in your chosen scent

• needle or safety pin

• decorated sticker labels (optional if you want to cover your box and add an inside divider)

• scissor

Instructions:

1. If you chose to cover the packaging of the matchbox, adhere a sticker label to the cover of the box and trim any overhang with a pair of scissors. Repeat for the back cover if desired. Do not cover the match strike.

2. With a needle or safety pin, pierce a hole somewhere in the center of your box cover. Carefully widen the hole with a pair of scissors, or the wooden part of a match, so it is wide enough to insert an incense stick.

3. If you want a box divider between the incense sticks and the matches, cut a piece of sticker label that is the same height and length as the base of the box. Carefully stick the center section together, creating a ridge no higher than your box height. Adhere the exposed sticker sides to the bottom of the empty matchbox.

4. Cut down your incense sticks to fit inside your box. Place the incense sticks on one side and the matches on the other.

   To light, place a stick in the pierced hole on the top of the box and light with a match, blow out the flame and let the embers burn down. Not to worry, it will not burn the box!

   

   An incense kit made from a meaningful matchbox can make a sweet, sentimental gift.

   ---

   I can’t bring up the topic of matchboxes without nodding in the direction of other magical treats that can be concealed inside. The following 6 boxes are covered with watercolor decorated sticker labels and each contain a little craftiness, many of which I have mentioned prior (remember my first post and the matchbox junk drawer?)

Clockwise from top left:

1. nature finds

2. friendship bracelet

3. printer label stickers

4. thread/string and needle

5. watercolor paint palette

6. beads and string

Give a matchbox a personal touch

There you have it; small, scented, scrappy and one more way to pad a pocket.