/cgl/ - Cosplay & EGL

So it's probably cliched as fuck by now but I've been wanting to put together a plague doctor for a few years now but have never really gotten around to putting everything together. Most of the kit seems relatively straightforward, but the biggest issue is obviously the mask. Anything half-decent for sale costs a heck of a lot so I'd like to try my hand at making one myself, but I can't really find any half-decent tutorials. The mask will obviously make the whole costume so I want to make sure it doesn't look too obviously like a homemade mess. Initially I was thinking maybe building something out of cardboard but that seems like it'd look really phoney. Paper-mache with cheesecloth or burlap maybe, or something with plaster? I'm definitely looking for a bit of a frayed/beat-up kind of look.

Also trying to think of ways to incorporate incense or herbs. Historically they'd have stuffed the beak with herbs of course but I don't want to be breathing in that stuff all night and most of the alternatives I'm thinking off seem like they might be too catholic priest-y. Maybe that's a good thing though.