Incense Guides & Answers From the makers

Agarbatti is an incense stick hand-rolled on a thin bamboo core; dhoop is a solid stick made entirely of fragrant paste, with no bamboo. Because the whole dhoop stick is fragrance, it gives a denser, longer-held scent, while agarbatti is lighter and suits everyday use.

Bambooless dhoop is a solid incense stick made entirely of fragrant paste (wood powder, natural resin and fragrance oils) with no bamboo core. With nothing but fragrance burning, it gives a richer scent, leaves no charred bamboo stub, and holds its fragrance in the room for longer.

Charcoal-free incense is made without charcoal powder in the paste. Many mass-market agarbattis use charcoal because it is cheap and helps the stick burn, but it adds smoke and a harsh, burnt note. Charcoal-free sticks rely on wood powder and natural resins instead, so they burn with noticeably less smoke and a cleaner fragrance.

Natural incense sticks are made from plant materials — wood powder, natural resins such as halmaddi, flower and herb extracts, and fragrance oils — instead of a charcoal base dipped in synthetic perfume. They burn more slowly, with less smoke and a softer, rounder fragrance, and they leave pale grey ash rather than black.

When you buy premium incense online in India, check five things: what the sticks are made of (charcoal-free, with a clear ingredient description), the price per stick rather than per box, the stated burn time, the delivery time and shipping fee to your PIN code, and the return policy if a box arrives damaged. Aadhya sells charcoal-free incense and bambooless dhoop directly at aadhyaincense.com and delivers across India.

Hold the tip of the dhoop stick in a flame until it catches, let it burn for five seconds, then gently blow out the flame so the tip glows. Stand the stick upright in a holder or a dish of sand, on a heat-safe surface away from curtains, and let it smoulder for about an hour.