Indian incense sticks: types, scents and how to choose them

Indian incense sticks are thin bamboo sticks coated with a paste of wood, resins, herbs and fragrant oils. In India they are called agarbatti; in Polish they are kadzidełka (one stick is a kadzidełko). In India they are lit during prayer (puja) at a home shrine, in temples and at festivals; many people in Poland burn them simply for the scent at home.

Types of Indian incense

On the shelf you will see several forms. They are made differently, so they also burn differently.

• Masala (hand-rolled). The bamboo stick is rolled in a thick paste of wood, resins and spices, then dusted with powder. The surface is dry and matt, and the scent is warm and complex. The well-known nag champa belongs here, with resin and floral notes.
• Dipped sticks. A plain stick is dipped in fragrance oil. They smell strongly of one scent, for example rose or jasmine. The scent is strongest just after lighting.
• Cones (dhoop cones). Incense without a stick, shaped into a small cone. Cones burn faster and give thicker smoke. Stand them on a flat holder.
• Dhoop sticks. Thick, soft sticks without a bamboo core that burn slowly and give a lot of smoke.
• Rope incense. Incense paste rolled into a twisted paper rope, popular in Nepal and Tibet.

Popular scents

The scents of Indian incense fall into a few families. Woody scents are mainly sandalwood (chandan) and agarwood. Floral scents are rose (gulab), jasmine, champa and lotus. Resin scents are nag champa, amber and copal. There are also herbal and spice blends, for example with cinnamon.

Many brands give their incense descriptive names such as "Good Luck", "Karma" or "Namaste". That is the name of the scent on the box, not a description of what it does. Check the scent by the ingredients or by the note printed on the box.

If you are buying for the first time, start with the classics: nag champa, sandalwood and rose. These three give a good idea of how Indian incense smells.

How to choose Indian incense sticks

1. Choose the form for the room. In a small room, hand-rolled masala incense works better because its scent is softer. In a large living room or on a balcony, dipped sticks are fine.
2. Look at the brand. Well-known Indian brands include Satya, Hem, Padmini, Heera and Cycle. Satya is known above all for its nag champa.
3. Check the box. It shows the number of sticks or the weight in grams.
4. Buy a small pack first. Incense smells different in the box than when it burns. Try a small pack before you buy a large one.

How to burn incense safely

A lit incense stick is a glowing ember, so handle it as you would a candle.

• Put the stick in a non-flammable holder that catches the ash. Stand a cone on a flat metal or ceramic dish.
• Light the tip, wait a few seconds and blow out the flame. The stick should glow and smoke, not burn with a flame.
• Do not leave burning incense unattended. Keep it away from curtains, paper, children and pets.
• Air the room. Smoke should not fill a small, closed room.
• Keep incense in a closed box in a dry place. It will keep its scent longer.

Where to buy Indian incense in Poland

You will find Indian incense of many brands and scents in the incense category of the Little India shop, for example Lakshmi Champa incense sticks and sandalwood incense, and incense holders to go with them. Little India has shops in Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Gdańsk and ships orders across Poland.