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Incense guide

Masala vs Dipped Agarbatti

A plain-language answer from the makers of Aadhya incense and dhoop.

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Quick answer

Masala vs Dipped Agarbatti

A masala agarbatti is hand-rolled with a paste of wood powder, resins and fragrant materials, so the fragrance is built into the stick. A dipped or scented agarbatti is a plain, often charcoal-based blank stick soaked in perfume. Masala sticks give a softer, more natural and longer-lasting fragrance.

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How each is made

Masala sticks are made by kneading a paste of wood powder, natural resins such as halmaddi, and fragrance, then rolling it by hand onto bamboo. Dipped sticks start as unscented blanks, usually machine-made and often with charcoal, which are soaked in a perfume solution and dried.

How to tell them apart

  • Masala sticks are usually brown or tan with a slightly textured surface.
  • Dipped sticks are often black and smooth.
  • Masala sticks smell of the fragrance even when unlit; dipped sticks often smell mainly of perfume.
  • Masala sticks burn with a softer, more rounded fragrance.

What halmaddi is

Halmaddi is a natural resin from the Ailanthus tree, used in South Indian hand-rolled incense as a binder that also adds a soft, sweet note. It is one of the ingredients of our hand-rolled sticks.

Frequently asked questions

Is masala agarbatti better?

For most people, yes: masala sticks give a more natural, rounded fragrance, while dipped sticks can smell sharp and synthetic.

Are Aadhya sticks masala or dipped?

Ours are hand-rolled from a fragrant paste with natural halmaddi resin, and contain no charcoal or synthetic fixatives.

What is halmaddi?

A natural resin from the Ailanthus tree, used as a binder in traditional South Indian hand-rolled incense.

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