Consumption of herbal agarbathis on the rise, says AIAMA president

India’s agarbathi industry, pegged astatine adjacent to ₹10,000 crore, has been witnessing an uptick successful the depletion of herbal (natural) incense sticks, said Ambica Ramanjaneyulu, president of the All India Agarbathi Manufacturers’ Association (AIAMA).

Mr. Ramanjaneyulu, who is besides the managing manager of Ambica Group of Companies, told The Hindu, “Currently herbal agarbathis accounted for 10% to 15% of the full sticks produced successful the state and this conception is seeing maturation with much fig of people, successful India and globally, are moving towards herbal agarbathis.”

He said that implicit 70 herbs, spices and plants grown successful forests are utilized successful herbal agarbathi manufacturing. “Majority of these earthy materials are disposable successful Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Assam, etc. portion immoderate herbs and wood items, including each kinds of resins and cinnamon and prima anise, are imported from Indonesia and lavender and patchouli comes from assorted parts of Europe.’’

According to him, new, young and women consumers are mostly driving the inclination of herbal fragrance globally.

India produces 15,000 tonnes of agarbathis each period which means 15 cardinal sticks are burnt each period successful the home and exports market.

Mr. Ramanjaneyulu said the manufacture has seen a important translation successful the past fewer years and is presently successful the process of upgrading and innovating.

BIS certification

Earlier, Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, unveiled the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) Certification for the country’s incense manufacturing sector.

“With the instauration of BIS certification, we are ensuring that Indian incense products conscionable the highest planetary prime standards. We purpose to make consciousness astir the agarbathi industry, which has been falsely portrayed arsenic harmful,’’ she said portion inaugurating the industry’s yearly exposition, AIAMA EXPO 2025, successful the metropolis connected Thursday.

“The expo showcases however the agarbathi manufacture is evolving by combining accepted artistry with modern concern practices,’’ said Arjun Ranga, chairman, AIAMA EXPO Committee 2025, and managing director, Cycle Pure Agarbathi.