Seamus Hammond
Incense, or 'agarbatti' in Hindi, is widely used in India and has become popular in the Western world in recent years. In India, incense is used as part of sacred prayer and ritual during auspicious times. There are about 5,000 incense companies in India, with the bulk of production done by hand-rolling at home by approximately 200,000 women working part-time. Some of the most popular fragrances include sandalwood, jasmine, patchouli, saffron, and Nag Champa. Indians can buy incense from various manufacturers, such as N. Ranga Rao & Sons, Mode Retails, and PremaNature, or online from websites such as Amazon and Incense Sampler.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonies. Also used as a deodorant or insect repellent. |
| Composition | Aromatic plant materials, often combined with essential oils. |
| Types | Direct-burning and indirect-burning. |
| Health Risks | Incense smoke may contain carcinogens and irritants, which could lead to respiratory diseases such as asthma. |
| Cultural Significance | An integral part of Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies and rituals. |
| Production | Hand-rolled at home or made using semi-automatic/fully automated machines. |
| Availability | Widely available in stores and online. |
| Fragrances | Sandalwood, aloeswood, musk, camphor, saffron, and more. |
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What You'll Learn
History of incense in India
The use of incense in India has a long and rich history, dating back to ancient times. Incense, an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt, has been used in India for various purposes, including aesthetic, religious, medicinal, and ceremonial reasons.
The oldest textual source on incense mentioned in Indian texts is the Vedas, specifically the Atharvaveda and the Rigveda. Incense-burning was used to create pleasing aromas, as well as for its medicinal properties. The practice of using incense as a healing tool was later assimilated into religious practices, particularly in Hinduism and Buddhism. Incense became an integral part of Buddhist rituals when the religion was founded in India around 700 BCE. Buddhist monks also introduced incense stick-making to China around 200 CE.
In ancient India, the art of making incense was reserved mainly for priests and Ayurvedic doctors, who used it for worship and medicinal purposes. The basic ingredients of incense sticks, which are the main form of incense in India, include bamboo sticks, charcoal dust or sawdust, adhesives made from tree bark, and perfume ingredients such as masala (a spice mix) or essential oils. The bamboo method of incense-making originated in India and is distinct from the methods used in Nepal, Tibet, and Japan, which do not use bamboo cores.
Incense holds spiritual significance in India, where it is commonly used in Hindu prayer rituals as one of five offerings to deities. The ritual of burning incense sticks is believed to symbolise the human virtue of sacrificing oneself for society. Incense is also used as an air freshener and is an integral part of Hindu ceremonies. Additionally, the aroma of incense is considered to have healing powers, providing a soothing effect on the mind and aiding in concentration during rituals.
Today, incense-making is spread all over India, with approximately 5,000 incense companies in the country. While some temples continue to burn traditional incense paste, the general public primarily uses stick incense. The state of Karnataka is known as the "Capital of Agarbathi" (incense sticks), with Mysore and Bangalore as the main manufacturing centres. The art of incense-making provides employment for many rural artisans and part-time women workers, who hand-roll the sticks at home.
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Incense manufacturing process
The use of incense has been prevalent in India for centuries, with mentions of it in ancient texts like the Kama Sutra and Arthashastra. Incense has spiritual and religious significance in Hinduism and Buddhism, and it is also used for aromatherapy, meditation, and as a deodorant or insect repellent.
The manufacturing process of incense, especially the hand-rolled variety, is an art that has been honed over hundreds of years. The basic ingredients for making incense sticks include a bamboo stick, a binding adhesive, and aromatic ingredients. The bamboo stick is coated with an adhesive paste, generally made from charcoal dust and joss/jiggit/gum/tabu powder, derived from the bark of the litsea glutinosa tree. The aromatic ingredients are then added, either in the form of a masala (spice mix) powder or a perfume liquid, which can include synthetic ingredients. The coated sticks can also be perfume-dipped or sprayed with fragrance.
The process of making natural incense sticks from scratch involves mixing incense powder with water to create a dough-like consistency. This dough is then kneaded, with essential oils added to create a fragrant mixture. The dough is then shaped into sticks, which are left to dry. The drying time varies depending on the temperature and humidity, typically taking one to three days.
In India, the bulk of incense production is done by hand-rolling at home, providing employment to approximately 200,000 women working part-time. There are about 5,000 incense companies in India that take these raw, unperfumed sticks, apply their brand of perfume, and package the final product for sale. Some companies use semi-automatic machines for applying paste and perfume-dipping, while others use fully automated machines for the entire production process.
Incense recipes vary, with aromatic ingredients like sandalwood, aloeswood, cedar, pine, frankincense, patchouli, rosemary, lemongrass, combined with binders like gum binders (guar gum, xanthan gum) or wood binders (joss powder, tabu no ki). The choice of base and binder depends on the desired scent and the strength of the binding.
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Incense ingredients
Indian incense sticks are known for their rich, devotional, and potent scents. The basic ingredients of an incense stick are bamboo sticks, paste (made from charcoal dust or sawdust and jiggit, a type of adhesive made from tree bark), and perfume ingredients. The perfume ingredients are traditionally a masala (a powder of ground ingredients) but can also be a solvent of perfumes and/or essential oils.
Many Indian incense makers follow Ayurvedic principles, which categorise incense ingredients into five classes: ether (fruits), water (stems and branches), earth (roots), fire (flowers), and air (leaves). Ingredients in these categories include citrus medica, turmeric, vetiver, ginger, costus root, valerian, Indian spikenard, clove, and patchouli.
Various resins are also used in masala incense, such as amber, myrrh, frankincense, and the resin of the halmaddi tree, which add their distinctive fragrance to the finished incense. Other common ingredients in Indian incense include sandalwood, aloeswood, camphor, musk, saffron, cedarwood, vanilla, and gums, which act as binding agents.
The Mahabharata classifies incense dhupa into three types: resins from Commiphora wightii, Shorea robusta, and Boswellia serrata; heartwoods from aloeswood, sandalwood, roots, flowers, and herbs; and artificially produced or manufactured ingredients like jaggery or molasses from sugarcane.
The artful blending of carefully selected natural ingredients is a unique and exclusive feature of some incense, such as Shoyeido’s incense. The blending process requires a high level of skill, as the quality, balance, and ratio of each element are critical. Even slight variations in the amount or quality of any component can dramatically influence the resulting fragrance. The amount of moisture, drying time, and production methods can also strongly affect the scent.
Other ingredients used in incense include magnolia, peony, cypress, plants, spices, and agarwood, which is produced by a tree of the genus Aquilaria. Agarwood accumulates resin within its xylem, and when influenced by natural phenomena, the resin matures while the tree withers. The highest grade of agarwood is called Kyara, which means "precious" in ancient Japanese. It has distinct and extraordinary aromatic characteristics and is much rarer than common types of agarwood.
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Incense usage
Incense has been used in India for centuries, with evidence of its use dating back to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods (3300–1300 BCE). The oldest textual source on incense is the Vedas, specifically the Atharva-veda and the Rigveda, which encouraged a uniform method of making incense.
Today, incense is an integral part of Indian culture and is used in various forms such as sticks, cones, dhoop, masala sticks, and coils. The most common form is the incense stick, known as "Agarbatti" in India. These sticks are made with a bamboo core coated with a mixture of natural ingredients such as herbs, flowers, and resins. The burning of Agarbattis is one of the sixteen steps of worship in Hinduism.
Incense is used in India for a variety of purposes, including religious ceremonies, daily rituals, meditation practices, and aromatherapy. In Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, incense is considered one of the five essential accessories for worship, alongside flowers, lamps, and offerings. The natural aromas of the incense are believed to have healing powers, improve mood, and enhance focus. Incense is also used to mask unpleasant odours and create a pleasant fragrance in homes and temples.
To use incense, there are two main methods: indirect-burning and direct-burning. Indirect-burning incense does not burn on its own and requires a separate heat source, such as a hot coal or electric heater. Direct-burning incense is lit directly by a flame and then fanned or blown out, leaving a glowing ember that smoulders and releases fragrance. When using direct-burning incense, it is important to ensure proper ventilation to avoid the accumulation of potential carcinogens.
The diverse ingredients used in Indian incense reflect the country's rich botanical wealth and Ayurvedic knowledge. Ingredients are categorized into five classes: Ether (fruits), Water (stems and branches), Earth (roots), Fire (flowers), and Air (leaves). Each class of ingredients brings unique healing properties and fragrances to the incense, such as the refreshing and invigorating scent of citrus medica (Ether) and the grounding and calming aroma of sandalwood (Water).
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Health risks of incense
Incense, used in various forms such as coils, cones, powders and sticks, is an integral part of religious and cultural practices in many parts of the world. It is burned for meditations, celebrations, deodorization, and spiritual and ancestral worship. However, despite its significance and pleasant aroma, burning incense can pose several health risks, especially with regular exposure.
The smoke released during the burning of incense contains harmful constituents such as carbon, sulfur, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, and other polycyclic aromatic volatile compounds. These compounds are known to be carcinogenic, and the particulate matter generated per gram of incense burned is significantly higher than that of cigarettes. Similar to tobacco smoke, the smoke from incense can linger in furniture, clothing, and other household items for months, leading to third-hand exposure. This can be particularly harmful to vulnerable individuals, including children and those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions.
The health risks associated with incense burning include headaches, respiratory problems, dermatological sensitivity, and allergic reactions. There is also growing evidence of a correlation between incense smoke exposure and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancers, especially of the respiratory system. In addition, occupational exposure to incense burning, such as in temples, has been linked to a higher chance of developing acute throat and nose irritation.
While the cultural and spiritual significance of incense burning is important, it is crucial to be aware of the potential health implications. To mitigate these risks, individuals can consider using electric incense devices or aromatic vapours, improving ventilation, and limiting burn time.
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Frequently asked questions
Indians can buy incense from many places, including Walmart, Amazon, and specialist companies like The Incense Sampler.
Indians can buy incense sticks, cones, and powders. Incense in India is typically scented with natural ingredients such as sandalwood, aloeswood, camphor, musk, saffron, resins, and fragrant flowers.
Popular brands of Indian incense include HEM, JPSR, Vedic Vaani, Soul Sticks, N. Ranga Rao & Sons, Mode Retails, and PremaNature.
Incense is burned in India for a variety of reasons, including spiritual and religious purposes, as a deodorant, and for its pleasant aroma.
