I'm planning on making my first batch of homemade curiosity lure out of glands, with just a touch of asafoetida tincture. My question is I know I should add glycerin but should I also add sodium benzoate to the blend, or is that mostly for baits. I am thinking it can't hurt to add it to it but didn't know if it was unnecessary or not. I am planning on ordering Kellen Kaatz's Encyclopedia of Lure and Bait making but figured I'd ask here first. Thanks in advance.

id say yes on the preservative especially if you have to hold it over a few seasons. unless you want a real watery lure. me myself I like a creamy gland lure. My first really successful gland lure I rotted them down hair and all the hair made it stick to what ever you smeared it on. This was for my personal use. Id be upset if I bought one that way

I wouldn't add sodium benzoate.A lure formula should be allowed to blend and age before it is "stopped".I personally don't add it to my gland lures and they stay thick for years and get better with age.If you want to add SB to yours,I would give it plenty of time to blend and age,before doing so.

Most folks do not realize that hair from the animal is some of the best odor producers on the animal. Training young dogs to trail we will wet a dried and fleshed hide down and drag it for the dog to follow. the hair and the skin molecules (Duff) are major parts of the tracking line for the dogs or animals to follow. I believe hair in the formulation adds odor and as stated gives stick to the product.

And the fat but some want all the fat trimmed from glands,I trim nothing,hair,fat,it all gets used and works well. Fat is not necessarily a bad thing and can be used in many different ways. A little mold don't scare me either.

x2
adding a fixative is what most do actually.

and besides the Kaatz book, you'd be wise to get all 3 Nick Wyshinski's books too.