Which country makes the best incense sticks?
Indian Incense: The best Indian incense sticks are hand-rolled and made using the traditional masala method, blending natural resins, essential oils, and herbs. Temple-grade incense from India is known for its rich, long-lasting aroma. (edited)
Haha copy & paste job from Google.
But even the organic incense sticks supposedly emit toxic vapors on burning.
Other studies have found that burning incense indoors increases the levels of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which have been linked to cancer. Burning any sort of organic material, whether tobacco leaves, coal or an incense stick – produces PAHs.
Burning incense is safe in normal amounts. Anyone wishing to avoid potential risks could consider burning incense only in situations with good ventilation.
Also from Google.
Surprised to find that no incense stick pack lists composition. The right words are there though: ORGANIC, NATURAL, FLORAL, ETC., ETC. But what is exactly the incense stick made up of. Is it 100% natural.
Also surprised that so far the Govt of India DID NOT INSIST on incense stick manufacturers to list the composition in the label. I don’t think this is allowable in any foreign country.
Nowadays I am trying to limit Agarbatti usage in my puja. However, something seems missing in that case! A label printing chemical/organic composition of the agarbattis will go a long way in clearing the doubts of the public in health matters. Brands can claim to be organic. How much organic are the certified organic really. The composition label can make the manufacturers liable to be answerable to customers.
Of late I am noticing a lot more so-called organic products NOT listing ingredients. The generic terms such as ‘organic’ , ‘natural’, ‘free of chemicals’ are liberally used. Why can’t gingely oil & groundnut oil and coconut oil manufacturers list clearly what chemicals the oils are free from. Do cold pressed/wood pressed oils come 100% organic without paraffin addition. Is it really possible to manufacture tonnes of organic coconut oil, peanut oil, sesame oil without liquid paraffin in at least a small percentage. Some, to be fair list the ingredients. Same for the so-called organic shampoos. Only a few mention they are paraben free. Many claim to be chemical free. What exactly is that chemical is our question.
Will Modi govt look into the matter. Sab chaltha hai India mein. Anyone can take the public for a ride without holding themselves responsible in any manner. No legal obligations. Look at the brand names of agarbattis. The manufacturers are all millionaires and billionaires. But such a simple thing as chemical/organic composition and additives if any – they cannot list in the box.
Again from Google:
Who is the largest producer of incense in the world?
India
India is the world’s main incense producing country, and is also a major exporter to other countries. In India, incense sticks are called agarbatti (Agar-wood: from Dravidian Tamil agil, agir, Sanskrit varti, meaning “stick”.)
Having said that, nothing to beat the aroma of sandalwood agarbattis. I wasn’t aware we are the agarbatti capital of the world! Sandalwood incense – so divine and blissful that i don’t mind having lit even if it can mean health hazards claiming to be organic by nature.
vijiravindran's 