Re: Amber Seeds and Olibanum

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi,

>

> I bought some Amber seeds and Olibanum resin and I dont know how to

> tincture them. The seeds are hard and so are the resins.

>

> Can someone give me some ideas because I dont want to make any

> mistake that I will regret!

>

> Thanks,

> Angi

Hi Angi,

I have a couple of electric coffee grinders that I use only for my

aromatics. I'm able to get my ambrette seeds down to a lovely fine

powder this way so that I can tincture them.

I've not tried this with my olibanum because I fear that the grinder

will produce heat, which will cause the olibanum to get sticky. I

freeze my olibanum in a couple of really thick plastic bags, one

inside the other, then I remove it from the freezer and place it in a

thick towel. I place the whole thing on a cement block and whack away

at it with a hammer. I'm able to get it pretty fine this way. Just

make sure to do it all quickly so that the olibanum remains as cold

and as fragile as possible. Actually, the bigger the hammer, the

better too. I'm thinking of using the wood splitting maul next time.

Or I could try a little frozen resin in the grinder. If I'm willing

to take the chance on stickiness...

I hope this helps!

Cheers!

Andrine

[Guest guest]

What about a mortar and pestle? I can use alcohol and sometimes the microwave.

then i get that in jojoba really fast.

[Guest guest]

Hi Adrine and all,

Thanks for your reply. The only thing that I dont understand is why

does freezing make olibanum resin fragile and easy to grind or

hammered.

Do I remove the outer skin of the amber seeds or do I grind everything?

It is so much fun, I carry some in my pocket and start sniffing to

feel the smell to analyse...crazy things we do when we enjoy doing

what we do hahahha!

Thanks again,

Angi

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I plan to infuse in both alcohol and jojoba oil.

Hope I do it right,

Thanks

Angi

[Guest guest]

>

> The only thing that I dont understand is why

> does freezing make olibanum resin fragile and easy to grind or

> hammered.

>

> Do I remove the outer skin of the amber seeds or do I grind

> everything?

Hi Angi,

Freezing resins and gums makes them brittle. (Like putting caramel or

taffy in the freezer, then whacking it and watching it shatter.) As

long as you keep your olibanum icy cold, it's easier to break it down

into a powder.

I don't do anything to my ambrette seeds but pop them into the coffee

grinder.

Cheers!

ANdrine

[Guest guest]

Hi Andrine,

I am going to grind the seeds and the olibanum resin is already in the

freezer!

Thanks for explaining about the freezing part! It does make a lot of

sense.

Angi :0)

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Andrine,

>

> I am going to grind the seeds and the olibanum resin is already in

> the freezer!

>

> Thanks for explaining about the freezing part! It does make a lot of

> sense.

>

> Angi :0)

>

Yippee! Have fun... : D

Andrine

[Guest guest]

Thanks Andrine,

I am grinding the seeds now....interesting and fun! Inside the black

seed is a brown soft seed.

Angi

[Guest guest]

> Hi Angi,

>

" ... I place the whole thing on a cement block and whack away

> at it with a hammer.... the bigger the hammer, the

> better too. I'm thinking of using the wood splitting maul next

time....

>

> I hope this helps!

>

> Cheers!

> Andrine

>

Andrine, thanks for a great image!

NP-ers whacking and thumping and smashing to produce - ultimately -

ethereal moments of beauty and mystery.

Wonderful!

Margi

[Guest guest]

>

> Thanks Andrine,

>

> I am grinding the seeds now....interesting and fun! Inside the black

> seed is a brown soft seed.

>

> Angi

>

Yep. They're kind of like little nuts. And OH the lovely aroma when

grinding them!

[Guest guest]

A. are those exspensive and B. where do I find those?

 

evie

[Guest guest]

Hi evie,

I bought mine from a new house selling incense and aroma! I believe

they used the seeds and olibanum in incense making.

Hope it helps!

Angi