K2 incense is made by mixing herbs and botanicals together then applying a synthetic chemical to them. Not all K2 incense has the synthetic chemical added, but a lot of them do. K2 Solid Sex is one that does not have added chemicals; rather, the user gets a "boost" from the Epimedium or, as it is more commonly known, "Horny Goat Weed" that is used in abundance in that one blend of K2 incense.

The herbs used in K2 may be as common as some of those you see on grocery store shelves or listed on a restaurant menu as having been used in a specific dish. These can include oregano, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, thyme—basically any that have a distinctive aroma or flavor. Others may not be as well known, such as Honeyweed or Wild Rosemary (also called marsh Labrador tea.)

The botanicals come from different plant parts, or sometimes the entire plant. The parts used can be anything from the root up, including the root itself, the leaves, and the flowers or fruit produced by the plant.

The plant parts are crushed, chopped, squeezed, or otherwise processed so that their "essentials" can be used. For example, leaves may be coarsely chopped and the root may be grated or peeled so that the inner portion, which can include the core, can be used. The fruit may be crushed so that the juice can be extracted, or coarsely chopped. Flowers can also be chopped or crushed.

If particular incense is going to have the synthetic chemicals added this is done by spraying the chemical or soaking the herb/botanical mixture in the chemical then allowing it to dry. The incense ingredients then absorb the chemical, and it, along with the aroma and essence of the herbs and botanicals will be released when the incense is heated.

The two synthetic chemicals most commonly used are JWH-018 (its scientific name is 1-Pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl), or JWH-073 (the scientific name for that is 1-Butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl indole). Neither of these chemicals occurs naturally, like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). They must be produced ("cooked up" if you will) in a laboratory setting. For this reason, they are not considered controlled substances.

Once the K2 incense ingredients have been processed and the chemicals added to them (if they are going to be), the manufacturers then decide which form the resulting incense product will take. Depending on the type of K2 smoke you buy, it can be in the form of crushed or cut up product and may closely resemble ordinary tobacco blends such as would be used for pipe smoking. K2 incense IS NOT intended to be smoked, however.

Some K2 herb products also come in the form of a fine powder. These products are intended to be added to water then heated in an incense or potpourri burner. The powdered product IS NOT intended for human consumption, so it should not be added to food, mixed with a liquid and drunk, inhaled, or otherwise taken into the body.

One particular K2 product, Amazonian Shelter, comes in liquid form. This allows the user to immerse wooden reeds into it. The reeds will then soak up the aroma and release it into the room. Or, the liquid can be added to water and heated so that a steam or vapor forms which will dissipate throughout the area. Again, the liquid is not intended to be consumed in any way.

K2 Thai Dream comes in capsules, similar to those used to hold medications, vitamin supplements and similar articles. This is because it only takes a small amount of Thai Dream to work; therefore, it is sold in pre-measured amounts. It, too, is intended to be added to liquid, not taken like a medicinal capsule.