Incense Sticks 

1.0 Product and its Applications

The burning of Incense stick (Agarbatti) in religious and social functions has been practised in India and many other countries in the world. Incense ( Latin : incendere, "to burn") is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burnt. The term incense refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor it produces. Many religious ceremonies and spiritual purificatory rites employ incense, a practice that persists to this day. The use of incense dates back to biblical times. The Babylonians used incense extensively while offering prayers to divining oracles . In India , some 2000 BC, various writings mention ' perfumers ' and 'incense sellers'. Evidence suggests that such oils were used mainly for their aroma.

Agarbatti industry in India is a labour intensive cottage industry. Karnataka State is the leading producer with Mysore and Bangalore cities being the focal centres. Nearly 1000 units reportedly exist in the State of Karnataka . Moreover, it is an export-oriented industry.

The incense stick industry in India has promoted social entrepreneurship in the rural and semi urban areas as more people are coming forward to start their enterprises. Some reputed Indian corporate have also taken the lead in promoting this trend by training rural women in bamboo cutting, incense rolling, raw incense sorting, perfuming and packaging of incense sticks. The entry of corporate has helped in mechanization at each step of the manufacturing process.

Agarbattis are available in different colours and aromas. The burning time of an agarbatti varies from 15 minutes to 3 hours depending upon the quality and size. Some of the popular fragrances that have captured the imagination of consumers both in India and abroad include Mogra, Dhoop, Saffron, Sandal, Kasturi, Rose, Nag Champa , Jasmine, Lavender , Champa , Lily, Cherry, Lemon, Orange, Spices. It is also available in 3-in-1 and 5-in-1 packs giving the consumer a choice of multiple fragrances in a single pack. These agarbattis are available in innovative 'Fragrance-Locked' packaging.

Market Potential

India has a leadership position in agarbatti production and fulfils more than half of the world's incense sticks requirements. India exports Agarbatti to nearly 90 countries.   Export earnings have crossed Rs. 400 crore mark while the domestic market is expected to be nearly 2000 crore. Every year more than 1000 billion sticks are produced and the market is growing at a rate of 7% per year. Further value addition occurs when incense paste is hand-rolled on to the sticks to make “raw” incense sticks, which are later perfumed to obtain finished incense sticks.

The incense stick market faces a sudden upsurge in demand during the festive season. Demand from both domestic and international sectors peaks up during festivals like Dussehra and Diwali. The market for incense sticks is very vast and the demand for these incense sticks is high even in the far-flung rural areas. The incense industry is driven by factors other than commerce like tradition, superstition and religion.

3.0 Basis and Presumption

a) The unit will work for 300 days per annum on single shift basis.

b) The unit can achieve its full capacity utilization during the 2nd year of operation.

c) The wages for workers are taken as per prevailing rates in this type of industry.

d) Interest rate for total capital investment is calculated @ 12% per annum.

e) The entrepreneur is expected to raise 20-25% of the capital as margin money.

f) The unit would construct its own building.

g) Costs of machinery are based on average prices of machinery manufacturers.

Implementation schedule

Project implementation will take a period of 8 months. Break-up of the activities and relative time for each activity is shown below:

5.0 Technical Aspects  
5.1 Location

The plant can be located at any suitable place keeping in view the marketing convenience, availability of power, water and skilled manpower.

5.2 Salient Features of Process / Technology

Bamboo is washed, dissected and the internal knots cleaned. These are sized up with the desired thickness in the machine. For making bamboo sticks, the machines/ equipments required are bamboo cross cutting machine with motor, bamboo forming machine, other helping equipment like saw, smoother, etc. In this project, it is proposed to procure ready cut bamboo sticks.

Mechanization was brought into this industry by the early 1990's. However experience has shown that machine made incense sticks do not match the fragrance quality produced by hand made incense sticks. This is because hand made incense sticks is made from aromatic herbs and essential oils of specific plants.  

High quality agarbatti is made mostly by hand. In the manufacturing process, the natural gums and resins from precious woods, such as powdered sandalwood are loaded into vats where they are mixed with other organic raw materials. Some of the incense is dried and powdered, mixed with a type of natural adhesive and rolled onto thin bamboo sticks to form sticks, cones and coils.

All the ingredients in powder form are mixed well with water in a specific formulation to a semi solid paste. This paste is applied to bamboo sticks and rolled on wooden planks uniformly with hands. The raw sticks are dried and packed in suitable bundles. For manufacture of perfumed agarbattis the concentrated perfume is diluted first with white oil or diethyl phthalate and raw agarbattis are dipped in the dipping trays. The perfumed sticks are packed in butter paper bags or polypropylene bags and finally in printed cartons.

 6 .0 Pollution Control

There is no major pollution problem associated with this industry except for disposal of waste which should be managed appropriately .  

7.0 Energy Conservation

It involves mostly manual operation.

8.0 Production Capacity

9.0 Financial Aspects
9.1 Fixed Capital

9.1.1 Land & Building Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.1.2 Machinery and Equipment Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.1.3 Pre-operative Expenses Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.1.4 Total Fixed Capital Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.2 Recurring expenses per annum  

9.2.1 Personnel Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.2.2 Raw Material including packaging materials Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.2.3 Utilities Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.2.4 Other Contingent Expenses Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.2.5 Total Recurring Expenditure Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.3 Working Capital Amount (Rs. lakh)

9.4 Total Capital Investment Amount (Rs. lakh)

10.0 Financial Analysis  

10.1 Cost of Production (per annum) Amount (Rs. lakh)

10.2 Sale Proceeds (Turnover) per year Amount (Rs. lakh)

10.5 Rate of Return on Investment

10.6 Annual Fixed Cost Amount (Rs. lakh)

10.7 Break even Point

11.0 Addresses of Machinery and Equipment Suppliers

1. M/s Ravi Flour Mills & Industries, 339 Bapujinagar, Mysore Road , Bangalore – 560026

2. M/s H.P. Nanjudiah Setty & Sons, 62, Gundopath Street , Bangalore – 560053

3. M/s Ramachandra Pulverisers & Industries, IV Main Road , New Tharagpupet, Bagalore-560002

4. M/s Mahalakshmi Flour Mills, T-64 Gundopanth St. , Bangalore – 560053

5. Shakti Flour Mills, Swantantra Building , R.K. Puram, Bangalore

6. Lakshmi Grinding Mills, Mysore Road , Bangalore – 560026

7. Mastan Khan & Sons, 14 Pension on Mohalla, I Cross Mysore Road , Bangalore – 560018

8. G. Anand Rama Setty & Sons, 242 Sulthanpet, Bangalore .

Perfumes

1.Pushpa Perfumery Products, 138 Akkipet Main Road, Bangalore – 2
2.Lala Banarasi Dass, Khattri, Kannauj (UP)
3.Saibaba Sugandh Bhandar, 53, Sultapet, Bangalore – 53
4.Goodwill Agencies, Keshav Nivas, 24 I Main Road, P.B. No. 9715Gandhinagar, Bangalore – 560 009
5. Naresh Trading Co. , 36 K.V. Temple Street, Bangalore – 53
6.The Easter Essence Emporium, 204, Nagarthpet, Bangalore – 2
7.Aromatic Agencies, 36 K.V. Temple Street, Bangalore.
8.G.M. Ahuja & Co., 15-Old Kasai Road, Behind Raja Market, Bangalore – 560002
9.M/s Bharani Agencies, P.B. 9506, Gandh Nagar, Bangalore – 9
10. Mascheijer Aromatics ( India ) Pvt. Ltd., I Floor, Haji Market, OK Road, Bangalore – 560002
11.Aromatic (India) Pvt. Ltd., 38 Link road, Bangalore – 560003

Bamboo Sticks:

1. R. Ramaiah Arumugamgalli Kalasipalayam, New Extn., Bangalore – 2

Packing (Paper, Polythene Covers, Polythene Printing And Litho Printing)

Contact for more information:

Information Manager
TIMEIS Project
E-mail: timeis@ficci.com