Key facts
- 2 production clusters mapped, in Karnataka; Gujarat; Maharashtra; TN, Assam; Tripura; Mizoram; Nagaland; Kerala; Karnataka.
- Market guides for 22 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: ISO 9001, Geographical Indication (GI).
- Typical minimum order: 500-1,000 cartons mixed fragrances, or 5,000+ boxes per fragrance for private label (typical).
Product overview
India is the traditional home of agarbatti. Karnataka (Bengaluru and Mysuru, with the Mysore Agarbathi GI) is the largest cluster, followed by Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The cluster export figure was not available in our research.
Export products include hand-rolled masala sticks (paste of resins, herbs and wood powder on bamboo), dipped charcoal sticks scented with perfume oils, dhoop sticks without a core, and cones including backflow cones.
Buyers are spiritual and wellness retailers, ethnic grocers and home-fragrance brands. Fragrance oils in dipped sticks must meet destination rules on labelling and allergens.
Specifications
| Stick length | 8, 9, 11 or 12 inch; bamboo core (typical) |
|---|---|
| Burn time | 30-45 minutes per stick for 9-inch masala sticks (typical) |
| Pack weight | 15-20 g hexagonal boxes; 12 boxes per inner pack (typical) |
| Cones | Standard and backflow cones, 10-40 per box (typical) |
| Moisture | Dry-cured sticks to avoid mould in transit (typical) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
Masala (hand-rolled)
Premium paste-coated sticks; Nag Champa-style blends.
Charcoal / dipped
Raw sticks dipped in perfume oils; lower cost, wide fragrance range.
Dhoop sticks and cones
Coreless sticks and cones, including backflow cones.
Natural / low-smoke
Lines without synthetic fragrance, on request.
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 15-20 g hex boxes, 12/pack; 100 g/250 g packets | — |
| Bulk | 1 kg packets of raw or scented sticks | — |
| Display | Counter display boxes, private label | — |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP ~5-8 MT of boxed sticks; volume-limited · 40' HC ~10-14 MT. Keep dry; use desiccants for humid routes
Customisation: Custom fragrances, box artwork, display packs, stick length
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
Karnataka
Bengaluru Urban, Mysuru
Mysore Agarbathi GI (per research, not re-verified)
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
Maharashtra
Ahmednagar
Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Market requirements by region
European Union
Incense is a consumer product under the GPSR (an EU responsible person is needed); fragrance mixtures may need CLP hazard labelling on the pack.
United States & Canada
Large market through spiritual, gift and ethnic stores and e-commerce. US duty on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026 (per our compliance research, secondary legal analysis): MFN rate plus a 10% Section 301 tariff in force since 24 Jul 2026; Section 232 goods (steel, aluminium, copper, autos/parts) pay the 232 rate instead. Re-verify before quoting landed cost.
Gulf (GCC)
Demand from the South Asian diaspora; bakhoor-style products compete. Arabic labelling may be needed for retail.
Other markets
Latin America (e.g. Brazil, Mexico) is a sizeable market for Indian incense via distributors.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • Burn test and fragrance retention check per lot
- • Carton drop test
- • Pre-shipment inspection on request
Certifications available
- • ISO 9001
- • Geographical Indication (GI)
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • Commercial invoice
- • Packing list
- • Bill of lading / airway bill
- • Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- • Safety data sheet for fragrance oils
- • Fumigation certificate if bamboo/wood packaging requires
- • CLP label text for EU
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
Masala or charcoal sticks - what's the difference?
Masala sticks are rolled in a paste of natural resins, herbs and wood powder. Charcoal sticks are dipped in fragrance oil, which allows more scents at lower cost.
Can you make my own fragrance?
Yes. Custom fragrance oils can be developed for dipped sticks and some masala lines.
Do the sticks contain bamboo?
Standard agarbatti use a bamboo core. Dhoop sticks and cones are coreless.
What labelling does the EU require?
General product safety information, an EU responsible person, and CLP hazard pictograms if the fragrance mixture is classified.
How do you prevent mould?
Sticks are fully dried before packing, and desiccants are added for humid routes.
Request a quote for Incense Sticks (Agarbatti), Dhoop & Cones
Tell us grade, quantity and destination. We reply with options, packaging and pricing on your Incoterm.
