There are many types of Incense techniques known across our world from pellets, to pure resins, cones, smoke bundles and more. The most renowned form of Incense is the Incense Stick, the method of making incense sticks with a bamboo core is believed to have originated in India towards the end of the 19th century. In this article, we seek to make connections with the timeline of the Indian incense stick craft, its impact on spiritual practices felt across the world, and how the tradition lives today. For thousands of years, the act of burning incense in India has carried prayers, purified spaces, and sanctified rituals. For generations people have perfected this fragrant botanical technology as an offering in devotion to the divine, to connect with honored ancestors, and to tend to the subtle energies of the body and home.
The tradition of using Incense Sticks is also not culturally specific to India even though they are the largest producer of Incense sticks in the world. Peoples all over the world use different types of Incense Sticks for many reason, not just spiritual ones.
It is very common for them to be used simply for their ability to add an element of atmosphere to any aesthetic.
They also can be used to
- scent spaces quickly
- repel bugs like mosquitoes
- regulate mood
- signal action/transitions
- as time keepers for creative focus
At Traces of Akoya, our mission is to cultivate the use of aromatic botanicals to bring awareness back to the intrinsic healing that earth-based practices provides; In doing so we also seek to amplify the cultures that bring forth these powerful remedies and foster the bridges between our shared world. Our newest collection of ritual-grade sacred natural incense is a testament to that purpose. Introducing... ANCIENT MOTHERS.
ANCIENT MOTHERS is a living homage to the legacy of the Indian Incense Making Tradition. Each stick is hand-rolled by craftswomen in Karnataka,
particularly the city of Bangalore, is the heart of India's incense industry. This industry is primarily stewarded by women due to their specific touch and is an advanced technical skill passed through and improved upon generation by generation. ANCIENT MOTHERS are made with pure botanicals, time-honored techniques and reverence for the function of these spiritual tools. Our collections deepest intent is to reconnect you with the ancient craft of scent in ceremony with spirit, purify your sacred spaces of synthetic fragrances, and indulge your senses in the most luxurious and ethical treasures. Discover ANCIENT MOTHERS.
A Legacy of Aroma: A Timeline of Indian Incense Making
▶ 3300–1300 BCE | Connections Between Spirituality & Smoke
Early evidence of aromatic plant resins and fire rituals in what is now northwest India suggest proto-incense use. The ancient religions linked the natural world with their gods. It was claimed that fragrant plant materials forced malicious energies away and allowed the gods to come on the earth; they also had the realistic application of exiling unpleasant smell.
▶ 1500–500 BCE | Medicinal Use Becomes Prominent
The Rig Veda and Atharva Veda are Vedic text that mention the use of sacred herbs, woods, and resins during yagnas (fire offerings) to cleanse and sanctify. The first phase of formalizing incense in spiritual and medicinal practice is thanks to Ayurveda. Incense were issues like medical perscriptions used as a therapeutic tool for healing. During that time, religions like hinduism and buddhism made noteworthiness and full utilization of incense as a result the status of the Indian incense achieved an invaluable position.
▶ 300 BCE–500 CE | Prominent Use in Religious Context
Incense have been extensively found in various worship places since prehistoric times, such as churches, monasteries, mosques, and temples. Apparently, its association with spiritual rituals was introduced to China and other countries by wandering Buddhist monks as early as 200 CE, significantly influencing global incense traditions. Many religious temples adopted incense as a key element of worship. The most prominent aromas for ritual use include sandalwood, agarwood, and nag champa.
▶ 700–1500 CE | Incense Trade Routes Established
The trade of aromatic substances a.k.a The Incense Trade, particularly of exotic resins like frankincense and myrrh flourished during this period. This network extended from the Red Sea region across the Levant and Egypt, through Northeast Africa and Arabia, India, China and beyond. It encompassed both overland camel caravan routes and sea routes utilizing ports along the Arabian and East African coasts. Early forms of Incense were traded alongside commodities like spices, precious stones, pearls, cattle, and luxury textiles.
▶ 1800s–1900s | Colonial Era and Adulteration
Incense sticks, as commonly known today with a bamboo core, emerged in India toward the late 19th century. Incense making becomes a structured cottage industry under British colonial rule. Machine-made and synthetic based incense enters the market, but hand-rolled natural incense remains essential for spiritual use. Incense becomes vital in Tantric and Bhakti devotional movements.
▶ Present Day Preservation
India is indeed the world's largest producer of incense sticks, also known as agarbatti or masala sticks. It's a major exporter, shipping to over 150 countries, with the US, UK, Malaysia, and Nigeria being key markets. Karnataka is the largest agarbatti producing state in India, holding a 30% market share. Although a large percentage of agarbatti available on the market today contains harmful synthetic materials like saw dust, artificial fragrance, and salt-peter unbeknownst to the consumer due to lack of regulation around transparency. Handcrafted and natural incense making is still led by women in rural communities, preserving both cultural heritage and economic empowerment.
Why Ancient Mothers?
The incense contained in this collection are ritual-grade. Ritual-grade incense sticks refer to incense that is crafted with the intention, purity, and precision necessary for use in spiritual, ceremonial, or energetic practices. These are not your average fragrance sticks; they're held to a higher standard of material quality, energetic integrity, and cultural reverence. They are the result of advanced incense technology, refined over centuries and perfected through intentional craftsmanship.
Impact of the Indian Incense Tradition
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CULTURAL: Incense making is a revered art form in India. It is deeply interwoven with the identity of the country and represents their upheld connection to ancient traditions and modern practices. This work preserves oral, agricultural, and ritual traditions.
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SPIRITUAL: The rising smoke is believed to carry prayers and intentions to the heavens forming a bridge between the earthly and divine realms. While also infusing our dwellings with an atmospher of presence and blessings. The act of burning incense symbolizes self-sacrifice, as the stick transforms into ash its essence comes into contact with all it touches leaving behind something better than before. Many Indian incense blends are crafted using Ayurvedic principles, aligning with the five elements and promoting balance overall well-being.
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ECONOMIC: India has a well-established infrastructure and a significant number of manufacturers, particularly in the south. Low labor costs and the ready availability of raw materials contribute to India's competitive edge in incense production. However be mindful of the cheapest incense because these offerings often come at the prices of disenfranchised laborers. ANCIENT MOTHERS empowers women artisans and sustains rural livelihoods.
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ECOLOGICAL: While culturally significant, incense can contributes to environmental degradation through deforestation in regions like the Western Ghats, home to key aromatic species, due to over-harvesting. Burning synthetic incense can releases harmful pollutants and heavy metals leading to respiratory risks. It is important to burn natural incense intentionally & in well ventilated spaces. Avoid placing incense ash into our waterways. Disposing of incense ash is best done by composting it or using it in your garden as a fertilizer.
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GLOBAL: The export of incense facilitates cultural exchange. Indian incense has influenced spiritual practices worldwide. From temples to studios, wellness spaces, and altars - its likely that you wont have to go far to find an incense stick. Its use has shaped the global language of meditation, mindfulness, and sacred space. Making India a global ambassador of scent, spirituality, and craftsmanship.
Types of Incense Stick Aromas & Their Spiritual Properties
Resources & References
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INCENSE AND INCENSE STICKS: TYPES, COMPONENTS, ORIGIN AND THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND IMPORTANCE AMONG DIFFERENT RELIGIONS - School of Life sciences, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, Rajasthan
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Government of India Website - Ministry of AYUSH on Traditional Medicinal Aromatics
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Interviews with incense cooperatives in Tamil Nadu
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Oral histories collected from women incense makers in Karnataka
- What You Can Do With Incense Ashes - Worldly Aroma Blog