The Making of Our Irish Smoking Cottages: Tradition Meets Modern Craft

At Aureal Turf Incense, we’re passionate about preserving the scent and spirit of Ireland in an eco-conscious, thoughtful way. One of our most unique and beloved offerings is our handmade Irish smoking cottages—crafted not just as beautiful display pieces, but as authentic vessels to release the iconic scent of burning turf.

But what makes these cottages so special? Let’s take you behind the scenes of their meticulous creation process and why we choose jesmonite—a modern, sustainable material—for every piece.

Step 1: From Concept to 3D Printed Master

It all begins with a carefully designed 3D printed master model, using a 3D scan of a real cottage in Limerick.
We designed the cottage to authentically reflect the most traditional Irish homes of generations past—complete with stone-like textures, thatched roof details, and chimney proportions that work perfectly for burning turf incense.

Using 3D printing technology allows us to capture precision, consistency, and charming detail in our master pieces, ensuring each cottage retains that unmistakable “Irish” feel.

Step 2: Hand-Poured Silicone Moulds

From the 3D printed master, we create high-quality silicone moulds by hand.

Silicone moulds allow us to:

Preserve every unique feature from the original model.

Hand-pour each cottage one by one.

Maintain flexibility to remove delicate shapes without damage.

Each mould is carefully inspected to guarantee the cottages come out flawless, ready for hand-finishing.

Step 3: The Power of Jesmonite

We chose jesmonite as our material of choice for a reason—it’s modern, durable, and eco-conscious.

Why Jesmonite?

Eco-Friendly: Unlike traditional resins or plastics, jesmonite is water-based and solvent-free, making it far less harmful to the environment.

Durable & Lightweight: Jesmonite is known for its strength and lightness, making each cottage robust yet easy to handle.

Natural Look & Feel: It beautifully mimics stone or ceramic but is less brittle, offering a rustic, authentic finish perfect for the Irish cottage aesthetic.

Custom Finish: Jesmonite can be painted and textured, which allows us to give each cottage a subtle, hand-finished look with slight variations—making every piece unique.

 

Step 4: Hand Finishing & Quality Check

After the cottages cure and set, each one is:

Hand-trimmed, sanded and cleaned to remove mould lines.

Individually inspected for quality, ensuring the chimney hole and incense cavity are perfectly formed.

Each cottage is then meticulously painted by hand, using a high density acrylic paint. After painting, each cottage is spray glossed to better protect the surface and retain the paint integrity and giving a satin look and feel.

No two cottages are ever exactly the same—that’s the beauty of handcrafted work!

Step 5: Ready for Turf Burning

Once complete, each cottage is paired with our authentic Irish turf incense and reclaime Slate burner, cut to fit exactly—allowing you to experience the scent of Ireland wherever you are.

Simply light a piece of turf, place it inside the base on the slate or other heat-proof surface, and watch as smoke gently curls from the chimney, just like a real Irish home on a crisp countryside evening.

Why It Matters

Our handmade Irish smoking cottages aren’t just decorative items. They are:

A sustainable alternative to mass-produced burners.

A carefully crafted nod to Irish heritage.

A sensory gateway to nostalgia, memory, and place.

Each one carries a story—from the bogs of Ireland to your living room—made with love, care, and a deep respect for the environment.

🌿 Experience it for yourself: Shop Our Handmade Cottages