Agarbatti, also known as incense sticks, are widely used in religious ceremonies and for aromatherapy purposes. They are made by coating a bamboo stick with a fragrant paste made of powders like charcoal, jigat, and acacia. Different fragrances can be applied to add value. Common varieties include masala agarbatti with spices, darbar agarbatti with liquid perfumes, and frankincense sticks containing benzoin resin. Agarbatti production provides income to many and uses floral waste in a beneficial way.

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Agarbatti
INTRODUCTION
Incense sticks are widely known for their aromatic and pleasant smoke when burned. Incense
sticks are mostly used in aromatherapy, meditation since ancient times. In todays market
incense sticks also works as mosquito or insect repellent. Incense sticks are also known as the
Agarbatti in India. Agarbatti is the one of the most common convenient medium of worship in
India and it is also major product of hawan samagrii.
Agarbatti (incense stick), long, cylindrical, structure having a bamboo core coated with
fragrant material is a part of Hindu tradition to offering prayers in temples and other places in
order to purify the bad air and fills with positive energy in the atmosphere and eliminates
negative energy from our surroundings. Not only in Hindu tradition but also it holds a
significant place in almost all the religions around the world and they uses the stick during
various ceremonies and ritual in temple, churches, mosques etc. these holy practices are being
used from the ancient times whose record are available in India, Egypt, China, Greece.
The lighting up of the incense stick at all the deity purpose mentioned in Vedas. In
India incense stick is also called “Agarbatti” which is taken out from the Sanskrit language
where it is pronounced as “Agarvarthi”. In Sanskrit “Agar” means “aroma” and “varthi” means
“grief”.
Agarbatti is always used in holy purposes through the ancient times but in modern world it is
not only used for holy purposes but also used as freshener, mosquito and insect repellent and
with its modernization with the time it also became a great value exchange good. There are
10,000 currently running units in related to Agarbatii besides another 200 well-established ones
having over 50 branded agarbattis.
ROLE OF AGARBATTI IN INDIA
The burning of incense in religious and social functions has been practiced in India since early
times. Dhup an aromatic powder or paste is burnt in Indian homes as a fragrant smoke and is
reputed to possess insecticide and antiseptic properties. Agarbatti also is known, as Udubattis
similar to joss sticks are a development of Dhup. Agarbatties are obtainable in different colours
and with different perfumes. In India incense sticks are large part of economy and many
religions.
About 75% of the agarbaties manufactured are of cheap quality containing only charcoal
powder or low quality sandal wood powder with a mixture of 50% of wood gum powder. Cheap
perfumes are used to give them a top note. In superior varieties, essential oils, purified resins,
natural fixatives like amber, musk and civet is used along with synthetic aromatics.

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Agarbatti
HISTORY OF AGARBATTI
In these days incense sticks plays a major role in economy of many countries and their religious
grounds. Incense sticks is not a new invention or something but it is used from the ancient times
by our ancestors.
Indian Agarbatii has brief and ancient history and it is not only aroma but its each raw material
has its own reason to be in that cylindrical structure. Indian tradition and culture always a center
of focus around the world.
Agarbatti is one of the oldest traditions of India and hindu or sanata dharma its refence is
also find in vedas which are the oldest text of knowledge on the earth.
To know more about the Agarbatti, first why we do the practice of burning agarbatti
Agarbatti was always burn for mostly three reasons –
• Firstly we burn the agarbatti for its pleasant aroma. Agarbatti has a pleasant aroma
in its smoke when burnt.
• The feel-good factor, there is scientific reason behind this reason when we sense the
aroma of agarbatti our body releases the TRBP protein which makes us stress free.
• Religious & Spiritual purposes
To understand the origin of agarbatti we should start with Vedas which are the oldest text of
knowledge on the earth. In early vedic literature the only thing we can get an understanding of
incense application from the concept of “ Yaga & Homa”.
Yaga & Homa are the fire rituals of Hindu religion and fire (Agni) is one the most important
element in vedas. In yaga & homa some oblations are offered to Agni in the form of “Aahuti
Dravya” (Aahuti dravya contains ingredients of specific nature and properties depending upon
the ritual). Which generates the “Dhoopam(smoke)” which reaches in the heaven to
Devtas(Deities of Gods).
When we burn the Aahuti dravya in the Agni then the dhoopam goes back into the environment.
Actually, a well-balanced dravya will give a nourishing effect to the environment and
according to Ayurveda Dhoopam is an ayurvedic term used for medicinal and environmental
fumigation.
Aahuti dravya contains cow by products like milk, curd, and ghee. Fuel – wood free from
diseases. Sweet substance like honey and odoriferous substances like camphor, spices, musk ,
saffron , agarwood and sandalwood.
As we know the medicinal and healing property of those substances and vedas also says this
smoke purifies the atmosphere, provide health and longevity.
Around 200BC Buddhism started getting stronger and burning incense was one of its main
religious practices. It is difficult to comprehended whether the aim of incense burning in

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Agarbatti
Buddhism was purely a meditative and spiritual act or whether it had any environmental
aspects of yaga from which it seems derived.
Now till the late 18th
century the puja incense burning or fumigation either consisted of
individual or combination of herbs which were cheap or the more expensive incense pastes
which contain rare and expensive natural essential oil. In those days fumigation was mostly
extracted through charcoal burning.
In the early 1900s, Maharaja Krishna raja Wadiyar, king of Mysore suggested an idea to roll
the incense paste on bamboo sticks. These sticks were accepted by the public joyfully.
Because these sticks were easy to use rather than the temple pastes. These sticks produce a
gentle stream of smoke and suitable for home and small places. It brought religious
fumigation in the reach of common man. These sticks were called Agarbatti or Oudh batti
because they were precured by the Agarwood which has the most expensive incense oil in
the word.

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Agarbatti
RAW MATERIAL FOR AGARBATTI
CHARCOAL
Charcoal is a black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood in minimal oxygen to
remove all water and volatile constituents.
Charcoal is used for its good burning property in agarbatti. It does not have any harmful gases
where as coal gives harmful gases like CO, CO2 , NO2 , SO2.
The cotton wood tree gives the best quality charcoal.
A good quality charcoal is should feel like talcum powder on hands.
JIGAT POWDER
Jigat powder is prepared from 100% natural red bark of the Litsea Glutinosa tree. It is used
as raw materials for binding material for the development of mosquito repellent coils, fragrance
sticks, etc. This is available with unmatched fragrance and purity that enhances its usability.

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Jigat powder is basically a binder for the agarbatti, which is prepared from red the bark the tree
native of the M.P.
The Jiggat (Litsea chinensis or Litsea glutonesa) is considered to be a Non-forest produce
(NTFP). It has ample potential for commercial value in the industry, traditional medicine
among tribal households and Ayurveda system of medicine.
ACACIA POWDER
In agarbatti, Acacia works as a filling material. It helps agarbatti to burn properly and and
gives a glow to thr burning. We can also call it a burning controller for its continuous burning
property.
It is basically the bark of babool. Babool has several other medicinal properties due its high
fiber content. But in agarbatti it is only used for its filling and burning properties.
It can also be replaced by other plants powder like Nagarmotha, Sugndhmantra, citronella and
lemongrass.

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Agarbatti
These are the three major raw materials that use in the production of normal
agarbatti that is also called the raw agarbatti.
Agarbatti can be Manufactured by two ways –
1. Hand rolled
2. Machine made
These types of agarbatti has different formulation and uses different raw material according to
their need.
FORMULATION OF NORMAL AGARBATTI

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Agarbatti
The formulation of normal agarbatti need only five raw materials –
1. Charcoal
2. Jigat Powder
3. Acacia powder
4. Water
5. Bamboo Sticks
First we make the premix powder by mixing charcoal, jiggat, acacia and water in a specific
ratio.
We mix charcoal , jigat and acacia in a ratio of 5:2:3 and mix 600 ml of water for every 1 kg
of charcoal, jigat and acacia mixture.
The raw materials charcoal, Jigat & Acacia powder are mixed together with water at the given
properties.
It should be mixed to form a dough which needs to be rolled over on bamboo sticks with a
technique as given in the picture.
Now wrapped the agarbatti in dry material so that do not stick and keep it to dry. The incense
stick made by the above method do not have fragrance, it is also called raw incense stick.
Fragrance can also be applied on these raw sticks. There are three ways to apply the fragrance
on the sticks –
1. By Spraying
2. By Brushing
3. By Dipping
FRAGRANCE FOR AGARBATTI
CHARCOAL JIGGAT ACACIA WATER

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Agarbatti
The fragrance is the soul of any agarbatti. From the ancient times agarbattis are mostly used
for the divine purposes in most of every religion to make their gods happy and in modern world
its is also use for meditation and also as a mosquito repellent, so the incense or fragrance plays
a major role in Agarbatti.
The fragrance is applied on agarbatti are usually the floral fragrances such as Gulab , Bela ,
Mogra and some times we can also apply the woody note fragrances like sandalwood. Which
are easily available in market at cheap and costly both depends on choice.
The fragrances starts from ₹ 300 to ₹ 15000 per kg. For ordinary agarbatti the
fragrance is available at Rs. 300 to Rs. 2000/- per Kg.
For good type of agarbatti the fragrance is available at Rs. 2500/- upward per Kg.
Most of such fragrances are synthetic in nature.
Natural fragrance would range from Rs.10,000 and above .
APPLICATION OF FRAGRANCE
The fragrances applied on the sticks in diluted form. The fragrances diluted in the
DEP(Diethyl Phthalate). The fragrance and the DEP should be mixed in the fixed ratio.
The DEP can also replaced by the white oil (the petroleum product) but is much costlier than
the DEP.
The diluted fragrances now should be leave for 24 hours to let the fragrance mixed with DEP.
Fragrances in agarbatti should have following characteristics • Diffusive (should spread)
• Substantive (last for long time)
• Pleasant & performing
ONE PART
OF
FAGRANCE
3 parts
Diethyl
Phthalate

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Agarbatti
• Good burning characteristics
• Free from harmful chemicals
• Should have properties of purifying air
After being dipped into the fragrance, agarbatti should be spread & dried in a long polythene
cover / sheet so that fragrance is not evaporated.
P a g e |
VALUE ADDITION IN AGARBATTI

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Agarbatti
In Agarbatti value addition can be done by only two ways either changing n raw material or by
applying different fragrance on them. Agarbatti evaluated so much till the present day now in
the market we sees so many types of agarbattis some of them changed their raw material some
apply such expensive fragrance on them. On the basis of changed raw material and different
fragrances here are some value added agarbattis mentioned below-
• Masala Agarbatii
• Darbar Agarbatti
• Frank Incense
MASALA AGARBATTI
This batti has the mellowness and harmonious character of the tradition type of batti as it
contains natural raw materials with a judicious blend of synthetic raw materials. But this masala
stick basically belongs to South India, where many kinds of wood, herbs, flowers, resins, gums,
oils, and other ingredients are blended to form a paste. This paste is then spread onto the surface
of a bamboo core and dried.
Raw materials of this stick makes it different from the others, some basic raw materials down
below-
§ Silarsa
§ Substitute oil
§ Dust
§ Charcoal
§ Jiggat
§ Saltpetre
§ Honey
§ Perfumes (Oriental)
§ Perfume (Halmaddi Resin)
In masala agarbatti we make three mixture to complete a dough to roll over the bamboo stick-
o The first mixture will contain the first three raw materials Silarsa, substitute oil and dust
is mixed well in the ratio of 300:100:125
o gm. This is the ideal ratio for this kind of agarbattis.
o Now after the first mixture the second mixture will be prepared with the second three
raw materials charcoal, jiggat and saltpetre in a fixed ratio of 125:175:25 gm.
Silarsa
Substituted
Oil
Dust

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o Now we mix the first and second mixture then mix the it with the mixture of fragrant
material which should be mixed in the ratio of 50:105:300 gm.
Now both the mixture will mixed in each other to form the dough for the Masala incense stick
then this dough will roll over the bamboo stick to form the perfect cylindrical shape.
Now this ready to stick on the cylindrical bamboo and give you a oriental and pleasant smoke.
Besides that masala sticks also classified in different form based on change in their raw
material. These sticks noted below-
Jiggat
Charcoal Saltpetre
Honey Oriental
Perfume
Halmaddi
Perfume
1st
2nd
3rd

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v Amber Chandan Batti
v Kasturi Chandan Batti
v Ambari heena
v Chandan batti
DARBAR AGARBATTI
Durbar sticks are quite similar to Masala sticks. However, the blend of materials that are used
to make them is fairly different and unknown in the west. Solid and liquid ingredients are used
to make the paste, as a result of which, these sticks rarely dry out.
The liquid ingredients are mainly perfumes. The aroma of Durbar sticks is sweet and spicy,
and they are soft to touch and also called the wet agarbattis.
To make Darbar batti we need to form three mixtures and then they blend with each other. The
main raw material that are required to make darbar agarbatti are note below-
§ Silarasa
§ Substitute oil
§ Charcoal
§ Saltpetre
§ Jiggat
§ Honey drew
§ Perfumes (Heady) (Aldehydic)
To make Darbar agarabtti first we make the first dough with first two materials silarasa and
substitute oil in the ratio of 300:100 gm.
In the second mixing we mix the charcoal and saltpetre to make a dough that will be mixed
with the first one. Charcoal and the saltpetre will be mixed in the ratio of 250:25 gm.
Silarasa
Substitut
e oil

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Now we mix the jiggat with the fragrant materials like honey drew and perfume in the ratio of
125:50:40 gm.
Now this material will we mixed in the both of the mixture to form a dough that will get a
cylindrical shape by rolling over the bamboo stick. And surely will give that pleasant and holy
environment.
FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense is one of the most popular incense fragrances. They help in setting up a sacred
space. The attributes of Frankincense include riches, power, and purification. It also helps in
balancing solar energy with healing Myrrh.
The material that used in to make frankincense stick are –
§ Perfume
§ Jiggat
§ Frankincense (Benzoin Resenoid)
§ Charcoal
§ Potassium nitratrate
Charcoal Silarasa
Jiggat Honey Perfume

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The manufacturing of this stick so easy just mix all the ingredients and roll over the bamboo
stick.
SOME NEW IDEAS TO ADD VALUE IN AGARBATTI

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v UTILISATION OF FLORAL WASTE OF AGARBATTI
A good quantity of flowers are being offered to deities in different temples, mosques and also
used in decoration purposes as well. Such flowers go waste after use and are reason for
pollution in water in different rivers & ponds. The safe and useful disposal of floral and other
bio-degradable waste of religious places and establishes waste as resource for the community.
The concept behind the project is to utilize floral waste as such or after processing to produce
aroma products such as agarabatti, cone, dhoopbatti, etc.
v BY TRYING NEW MATERIALS
Indian Agarbatti industry’s biggest challenge is scarcity of raw material. According to the
FY2016, India exported agarbattis worth Rs.655.60 crore to various markets across the globe.
Some of the largest export destinations for India are USA, EU, UK, Latin America, and Japan.
Though the market is growing for Indian agarbattis, it’s not a high-margin industry as our
production capacity for agarbattis is low and we import raw materials. This affects the profit
margin. Also, we face tough competition from countries like China and Vietnam because the
machinery they employ is more advanced than ours.
So what we need to do is finding more materials that can replace old raw materials like we can
replace acacia powder with white chips powder or we can use dry Neem leaves as raw material
that also can be a new product which can replace the tradition of burning neem leaves in home
which was usually used to as insect repellent and for the medicinal purposes.
As like neem petals we can also use lemon grass, coconut cell powder and cow dung and many
other products that can really replace the natural raw material.
v APPLYING NATURAL ESSENTIAL OILS
Since ancient times, essential oils are recognized for their medicinal value, and they are
interesting and powerful natural plant products. They continue to be of paramount importance
until the present day. Essential oils have been used as perfumes, flavours for foods and
beverages, or to heal both body and mind for thousands of years.
Essential oils enter the body is inhalation. Due to their volatility, they can be inhaled easily
through the respiratory tract and lungs, which can distribute them into the bloodstream. In
general, the respiratory tract offers the most rapid way of entry followed by the dermal
pathway.
By applying these natural oils on the sticks will definitely add value to the product and these
sticks can be used for making meditational environment or for medicinal purposes.
There are some essential oil noted down that can be used in medicinal purposes by applying
on the incense sticks-
S Chamomille essential oil (Matricaria chamomilla):

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Properties: anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-pruritic, healing, decongestive
(decongest the skin) and antispasmodic.
S Cedar essential oil (Cedrus libani):
Properties: Larvicidal, Lymphotonic, draining powerful diuretic, Regenerative
blood, Healing, astringent, Scalp Tonic, Antifungal, Anti-mosquito and anti-
moth Decongestant and antiseptic respiratory Relaxing and comforting.
S Clove essential oil (Syzygium aromaticus):
Properties: Antiviral, antimicrobial, antifungal, general stimulating,
hypertensive aphrodisiac, light stomachic, carminative, anesthetic.
S Eucalyptus essential oil (Eucalyptus globulus):
Properties: Anticatarrhale, expectorant and mucolytic, antimicrobial, Antiviral
S Peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita):
Properties: Tonic and stimulant, decongestant, anesthetic and analgesic
antipruritic, refreshing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant,
mucolytic.
S Lavender essential oil (Lavandula officinalis):
Properties: antispasmodic, sedative, relaxing, analgesic, anti-inflammatory,
antimicrobial.
S Lemon essential oil (Citrus limonum):
Properties: Strengthen natural immunity, metabolism regulator, tonic nervous
system, antimicrobial, antiviral, digestive tonic carminative and purgative.
we can say that the essential oils and their components have many uses, both in pharmacology
and in food. In addition, they are endowed with interesting biological activities and have a
therapeutic potential.
CURRENT MARKET IN INDIA

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Agarbatti
Whether it is for religious purposes, medicinal value or simply for its pleasant fragrance,
agarbatti is a product found across almost every Indian home. Today, the Indian market is
flooded with agarbattis [also known as joss stick in China or incense stick in other countries]
of various colours, fragrances and qualities. But, the market for agarbatti is not by any means
limited to India. People across the globe, whether they be in US or UK, Malaysia or Ethiopia
enjoy agarbatti as much as Indians do – opening up a global market for exporters.
Agarbatti, mostly a handmade product [in India], is exported to almost the entire known world
from India. While many countries are known for selling unscented or raw incense sticks, India
is known for its perfumed versions.
In India, a wide variety of agarbattis are available in different shapes, colours and fragrances
at very competitive prices, from sandalwood to lavender, and rose to mogra. Buyers are
practically spoilt for choice. Adding to the brag-bucket is the fact that India-made agarbattis
are considered to be one of the best in the world – no wonder, we enjoy such a vast customer-
base across the globe.
The contribution of agarbatti to India’s exports business may not have attracted much attention
as it accounts for a mere 0.04% of India’s total exports. But a deeper look at the numbers tells
a story of a niche export product with tremendous potential. This product has seen a steady
demand in overseas markets, irrespective of economic or political climate.
As per Ministry of Commerce, GoI data, between FY2012 and FY2016, India exported
agarbattis worth $498.02 million – which considering that it is a part of the labour-intensive
cottage industry is a commendable figure. In addition, annual exports witnessed an 11.57%
growth during the same period, from $89.64 million in FY2012 to $100.02 million in FY2016.
Today, India exports agarbatti to more than 160 countries including US, Nigeria, Malaysia and
UK. In FY2016, US was the largest importer of incense sticks from India with an import value
of $11.3 million, followed by UAE at $6.23 million and Nigeria at $5.85 million.
Last fiscal, however, exports saw a drop of 9%, from $109.99 million in FY2015 to $100.02
million, but not all exporters are bothered with the fall in numbers. Kailash Jha of Ahmedabad-
based Aastha Trading, says, “The market at the moment is doing great and we are receiving
healthy orders from overseas buyers.” According to him, India has always faced competition
from countries like China and Vietnam, countries that are amongst the largest exporters of
incense sticks in the world. Further, India also faces competition from countries like France,
UAE, Singapore and Malaysia when it comes to exports in this product category.
In 2009, the industry got a boost after agarbatti was classified as a handicraft product. With
this change, the industry became eligible for duty drawbacks apart from being entitled to a 5%
incentive under Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS). Moreover, schemes such as
Market Access Initiative (MAI) and Market Development Assistance (MDA) have come in
handy to exporters in marketing their products across the globe.
While these measures have helped exporters, manufacturers feel that the government must
increase the duty on products imported from countries like China.

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While the demand for hand-made Indian agarbattis remain high, exporting them has its own
share of hurdles. “The biggest problem we face is communication and packaging,” says Janak
Patel. Irrespective of the size of orders, Indian exporters many times end up providing
customised value-added products to their customers, in terms of redesigning the packaging for
colour, size, material, text, etc. Janak Patel continues, “Different customers have different
requirements.For instance, an importer may want a certain kind of print on the package, and
that adds to our costs.”
One reason for losing marketshare to importers could be that the industry hasn’t changed much
to date. Agarbatti is traditionally made by hand – by rolling bamboo sticks in an incense paste
or a dough made of various ingredients, and is a labour intensive industry. Of late, some
companies have started to employ machines to beat the tough competition from Chinese
exporters, who mostly market machine-made agarbattis. But that it seems is mostly for
domestic consumption. According to T. S. Sagar of Asoka Trading Company, a Bengaluru-
based exporter, most importers prefer the handmade variety. “If there is any production of
machine-made agarbattis, it would be for the domestic market. The demand for the handmade
variety in the international market is high as the quality of handmade products are better than
that of machine-made ones,” says Sagar. There are many who hold an opinion similar to that
of Sagar. Being old school seems to be an advantage when it comes to exports. The worry
though is that we have lost the top slot in exports to China.

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India, it seems, has created a brand when it comes to incense sticks. But exporters feel that a
lot more can be done when it comes to exports. Ghanshyam Patel of Rajkot-based Shyam
Incense Stick, says, “This industry requires innovation. If one can introduce new products and
offer competitive prices, business will thrive.” And yes, there have been many innovations in
terms of shape, size and fragrance that have entered the market in the recent past. The industry
also has been able to attract entrepreneurs because of the low initial investment requirements.
As far as profit margins are concerned, while a lot depends on the destination and quality,
export margins vary between 5% and 20%. And that’s not a bad number considering it has
always been a volume game – which only gets better with a little value addition.

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CONCLUSION
Burning of incense and incense sticks is a common practice across the whole globe. In different
religions and parts of the world incense and incense sticks are used in different forms i.e.
varying from powder, cone, ropes, paper or sticks. Their size and shape might have varied in
religion to religion and parts of the world but the aim was to worship the deity, elimination of
bad energy and fill the environment with positive energy. While their recent modifications,
they have been used as an insect repellant. From, the religious literature it has been found that
incense and incense sticks were used from ancient times only. The present review highlights
the importance of incense sticks in religious processes across the world.
The Indian incense sticks market significantly contributes to the economic development of
rural India. Major Indian states that contributing to the market value on incense industry are
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Incense industry is
growing at rapid rate not just in India but also in Europe counties. Due to the cheap labor cost,
and availability of raw materials India is now one of the largest producer and consumer of
incense sticks. Every year incense sticks exports are generating a large revenue in the Indian
economy. In the last few years, world has shown interest in the major Indian incense sticks,
consequently has provided source of livelihood to millions of people especially women in rural
areas. The major share of Indian incense sticks market is in hand of only a few renowned brands
i.e. ITC, Cycle, Moksh and Mysore Scents.
There is lack of reforms in the sector of incense stick manufacturing which needs the attention
of researchers to develop novel, natural product based formulations of quality incense sticks.
Indian government needs to take steps and make policies to the dissolve the monopoly of
incense sticks industry. These steps may enhance the market potential of the incense products.