Incense is known to be a purifier – not of the air, but definitely of the negative forces or energies around us, or our house and definitely, the inner us.  The sweet fragrance is known to be used to worship, meditate and help in yoga. Incense helps by helping to focus, calm our minds, and revitalize the mind each time it is inhaled.  Incense gives us a solemn and spiritual alleviation and its aesthetic qualities help in therapies, meditation and ceremonies as well as infusing pleasant fragrances in our house creating peace and calmness in us.  They can also be used as a deodorant and can help convert your home to your own private mental spa. With incense, our thoughts settle down in our minds, we become calmer, and the effect of the incense helps us to feel and think in a better way.

More on Incense History

Incense comes from the Italian word incendere which translates “to burn”.  Incense comes from products in the nature, which gives out fragrant smoke when burned.

All over the world, incense has been used for mostly religious ceremonies, or gaining peace within ourselves through meditation and self-realization.  An instant transformation takes place within seconds of an incense burning giving out aromatic fragrances around. This is a result of not only the fragrance in the air, but also the removal of negative energies in the house.  Incense also ushers in positive energies around us that makes us feel instantly uplifted and refreshed with its sweet soft smells that fills up the room or house. To release stress and bring in happiness, try burning incense sticks to bring us happiness and create peace and calm inside us.   Thus, we see a lot of incense at all religious places. This helps us to focus and feel connected with oneself. The sweet fragrance makes us feel calm and at peace immediately.

Since time immemorial and in many cultures, incense is burnt in several countries and through various centuries.  Historians have proof that incense was used during Egyptian Civilization as well as the Indus Valley Civilization, the first human civilizations ever.  In both the cases, incense was used during prayers, to welcome the blessings of gods, to appease them and at the same time, deter demons and monsters and all negative forces.  Herbs and plant products were used to create aroma.

In India, every home is regularly purified each day at least twice, once in the morning prayers, and again in the evenings when the sun sets.  No religious prayers or ceremonies are complete without the use of incense in all religions. We believe that when the sweet aromatic fragrances reach us, our brains release hormones that are responsible for us to feel free, and light in our minds.  This free feel helps us to connect with the divine and also with the people near us. When the mind is at peace, we feel so much better, invigorated and refreshed. This positive feel helps us release our sadness, worries and helps us to be calm and relaxed.   

Interesting :

Incense was a major trade product in the ancient times and an Incense Trade Route or Incense Road was created that connected major ports in ancient times via land and sea.  The route started from the Mediterranean and connected with the Eastern and Southern sources of incense, spices and other luxury goods across the Levant and Egypt, North Eastern Africa and Arabia to India and beyond.  India has been very prominent in various trades with the Arab, the Europe and Mediterranean countries dealing in spices, precious stones, pearls, ebony, silk and fine textiles.

Incense stick, also known as agarbatti in Hindi, and is usually an incense stick that has a dried paste of natural ingredients and perfume rolled around a bamboo stick.  The bamboo method originated in India, and is distinct from the Nepal/Tibet and Japanese methods of stick making which don’t use a bamboo core. Though the method is also used in the west, particularly in America, it is strongly associated with India.

Irakoi wishes to help the people who make incense and are solely dependent on its sale for their livelihood.  Our incense is 100% pure, and has no chemicals or additives of any sort. Being purely derived from nature, and using natural products, incense is hand made by the village women to add on to their income.  Buying one of Irakoi Incense is giving back a smile on the families that work so hard to make their ends meet.

Incense is a perfect mindful gift, and can be used by everyone.  Incense can also be used to as a natural room freshener. Please make sure that the room is well ventilated, and is kept away from children and pets.  Also, keep all incense on a platter to collect the ashes, and be watchful of the burning incense.

Instructions: Never leave burning incense stick unattended. Always burn incense stick in an incense stick holder with a palate to collect the ashes.  Also remember to keep ventilation open for fresh air to come in and carry the sweet fragrance around, and avoid the room to become smoky.  Incense needs to be burnt in an open airy spot with sufficient ventilation.