Top 10 Agarbatti Manufacturers & Brands in India

India is the world’s centre of incense making, with thousands of agarbatti makers, from household-name FMCG brands to small family workshops. If you are choosing a brand to buy, or a manufacturer to source from, the choice can be confusing: every pack says “premium” and “natural”.

This guide profiles ten well-known agarbatti manufacturers and brands in India, with what each is known for and who it suits. Full disclosure: we are Melting Aromas, one of the ten. We have grouped the brands by type rather than ranking them, and our own entry follows the same format as the others. If you are a business looking for bulk agarbatti supply, skip ahead to the buyer’s checklist further down.

How we chose these brands

We looked at five things: years in business, scale and distribution, product range (sticks, dhoop, cones), how openly the company describes its ingredients and process, and export presence. “Top 10” here means ten leading names we selected on these criteria, not a numerical ranking. Details come from company websites, press releases and business press, and figures are as the companies state them.

At a glance

Brand	Company / base	Known for	Best for
Cycle Pure Agarbathies	NR Group, Mysuru	Mass-market scale, long heritage	Everyday puja use
Mangaldeep	ITC	Corporate-backed brand, strong in dhoop	Wide retail availability
Zed Black	MDPH, Indore	3-in-1 packs, large production	Value multi-fragrance packs
Hem	Hem Corporation, Mumbai	Export reach, masala sticks and cones	Fragrance variety
Satya	Shrinivas Sugandhalaya, Bangalore & Mumbai	Nag Champa	Meditation and yoga
Moksh	Moksh Agarbatti Co, Bengaluru	Affordable household range	Budget-friendly daily use
Hari Darshan	Hari Darshan Sevashram, Delhi NCR	Complete puja range	One-stop puja needs
Darshan International	Karnataka	Broad catalogue	Retailers wanting variety
Phool	Temple-flower recycling brand	Incense from discarded temple flowers	Eco-minded buyers
Melting Aromas	Bangalore	Hand-rolled natural incense, private label	Wholesalers and new brands

Large national brands

1. Cycle Pure Agarbathies (NR Group)

Based in: Mysuru, Karnataka | Since: 1948
Known for: The flagship brand of N. Ranga Rao & Sons, part of the NR Group. The group describes Cycle Pure as the largest-selling incense stick brand in the world and says it is sold in over 75 countries.
Good to know: N. Ranga Rao & Sons is the company behind Cycle Pure, so they are one entry here. The company has also begun collecting flowers offered at Mysuru temples to recycle into agarbathies.
Best for: Buyers who want a widely available, long-established puja brand.

2. Mangaldeep (ITC)

Based in: ITC Limited | In agarbatti since: 2003
Known for: ITC began marketing agarbattis in 2003, sourcing them from small-scale and cottage units made to ITC’s quality standards. ITC describes Mangaldeep as India’s number one dhoop brand and its second-largest agarbatti brand. It also runs temple-themed ranges.
Best for: Buyers who want a national, corporate-backed brand with broad retail presence.

3. Zed Black (MDPH)

Based in: Indore, Madhya Pradesh | Company founded: 1992 | Brand launched: 2000
Known for: Zed Black is the flagship brand of Mysore Deep Perfumery House (MDPH). It is best known for its 3-in-1 packs, and the company says it is among the top three agarbatti brands in India. MDPH operates large production units in Indore, including raw agarbatti manufacturing, and also sells dhoop and backflow cones.
Best for: Shoppers who want multi-fragrance packs at accessible prices.

4. Hem (Hem Corporation)

Based in: Mumbai, Maharashtra | Since: 1983 (per the brand)
Known for: A major exporter whose Hem Precious range is its flagship line. Hem sells masala sticks, dhoop cones and essential oils, and company profiles cite exports to around 70 countries.
Best for: Buyers who want a wide fragrance choice and strong international availability.

Heritage and regional brands

5. Satya (Shrinivas Sugandhalaya)

Based in: Bangalore and Mumbai
Known for: Satya Sai Baba Nag Champa, one of the best-known incense fragrances worldwide. It is made in the masala style, a paste of natural extracts hand-rolled on bamboo sticks.
Best for: Yoga studios, meditation spaces and anyone who wants the classic Nag Champa scent.

6. Moksh Agarbatti

Based in: Bengaluru, Karnataka | Founded: 1996 (per the company)
Known for: An affordable range aimed at everyday households, with more than 35 fragrances according to the company, supplied to large retail chains.
Best for: Budget-friendly daily puja use.

7. Hari Darshan

Company: Hari Darshan Sevashram Pvt Ltd (Delhi NCR)
Known for: A family business whose present brand dates to 1970 in Delhi’s Sadar Bazaar, with a heritage the family traces back over a century. The range goes well beyond agarbatti to dhoop, cones, sambrani cups, camphor and havan samagri.
Best for: Buyers who want a single supplier for complete puja needs.

8. Darshan International

Based in: Karnataka | Established: 1987
Known for: A large portfolio sold across multiple states through a big field sales team, according to its leadership.
Best for: Retailers who want a broad catalogue from one regional leader.

Natural and sustainability-focused brands

9. Phool

Known for: A brand built around recycling discarded temple flowers into incense and related products.
Best for: Eco-minded buyers who value upcycling.

10. Melting Aromas (us)

Based in: Bangalore | Brand launched: 2024, by a family of incense makers whose roots go back to 1910
Known for: Natural, hand-rolled agarbatti and incense made from herbs, essential oils, resins and wood powders, with no synthetic fragrance, toxic binders or charcoal additives. We also recycle wedding flowers into our blends, and hold ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.
Heritage: The family story begins in 1910 with Attar Syed Khasim and the Kashmir Gulab fragrance, and runs through brands such as Sukki Darbar, Maulana Agarbatti and Baba Flora. Melting Aromas combines five generations of that experience with eco-conscious practices. Read how we work.
Popular fragrances: Lavender, Lemongrass, Patchouli, plus Rose, Champa, Sandalwood, Musk, Oudh, Sambrani and Loban. Browse the full range.
Best for: Wholesalers, retailers and new brands that want natural, hand-rolled incense or private label manufacturing.

How to choose an agarbatti manufacturer

Whether you are buying for your home or sourcing for a business, these checks separate reliable makers from the rest.

For everyone

Ingredients: Ask for a plain-language ingredient list. Terms like “natural” are used loosely on packs, so look for named herbs, resins, essential oils and wood powders.
Burn and smoke: A good stick burns evenly and slowly. Low smoke matters if you burn incense daily in a small space.
Packaging: Sealed, moisture-resistant packs keep the fragrance fresh.
Reputation: Years in business, reviews and consistency from batch to batch.

For wholesalers, retailers and brand owners, also ask about

Minimum order quantity and whether it varies by fragrance
Free or paid samples, and how fast they dispatch
Production capacity and lead times
Certifications and registrations (ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 14001 for environmental management, ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety, plus GST and Udyam; for exports, an IEC)
Custom fragrance, packaging and private label options
Export documentation, if you sell outside India

Red flags: no physical address, no samples on offer, vague ingredient claims, certificates you cannot verify, and prices far below the market.

Melting Aromas covers each of the points above for business buyers: free samples for bulk buyers, low minimum order quantities, custom fragrances and packaging. To start, request a quote.

Natural, charcoal-based and synthetic incense: what is the difference?

Masala (flora or herbal) sticks are made from a paste of herbs, resins, flower material and wood powders, then hand-rolled onto bamboo. They tend to have a deeper, more complex scent.
Charcoal-based sticks use charcoal powder as the burning base and are scented with fragrance oils. They are common in mass-market packs.
Synthetic fragrance can be used in either type. Check the pack or ask the maker what the scent comes from.

None of these is automatically “better”; it depends on your use, budget and sensitivity to smoke. What matters is that the maker is open about what is inside.

Where Melting Aromas fits for bulk and private label buyers

Melting Aromas is a B2B manufacturer based in Bangalore. We make hand-rolled natural agarbatti, dhoop and backflow cones, organised into series such as the Melting Series, Sacred Ayur Series, Flora Series and World Series. If you want your own brand, our white labelling service covers custom fragrance, packaging and branding. You can also learn what we do or contact us directly.

We supply across India

South: Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, Kerala
West and Central: Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Indore, Jaipur
East and North-East: Assam

We also handle export orders. See our shipping policy for delivery details.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is the largest agarbatti manufacturer in India?

It depends on how you measure it, and there is no single audited public ranking. NR Group describes Cycle Pure as the largest-selling incense stick brand in the world, ITC describes Mangaldeep as India’s second-largest agarbatti brand and number one dhoop brand, and Zed Black says it is among the top three agarbatti brands in India. For business buyers, scale matters less than fit: look at MOQ, samples, quality consistency and service.

2. Which agarbatti is best for daily puja?

There is no single best. Many households choose sandalwood, rose, champa, sambrani or loban for daily puja. Choose by fragrance you like, how much smoke you can tolerate and whether you prefer a masala or charcoal-based stick. If you want natural, hand-rolled options, explore our product range.

3. How do I find a reliable bulk agarbatti supplier?

Start with samples. Check ingredients, burn quality and packaging, then confirm MOQ, lead time, certifications and payment terms, and ask for references from other business buyers. Our wholesale agarbatti page explains how we work with distributors, retailers and exporters, and you can request free samples.

4. Can I start my own agarbatti brand without a factory?

Yes. Many new brands use a contract (third-party) manufacturer for formulation, production and packaging. Through our white labelling service we offer custom fragrance development, branded packaging and flexible order quantities, so you can launch under your own name. Request a quote to discuss your plans.

5. What certifications should an agarbatti manufacturer have?

Common ones are ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), along with GST registration and Udyam/MSME registration. Exporters also need an Import Export Code (IEC). Melting Aromas holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications. Always ask to see certificates rather than relying on logos.

6. Is hand-rolled agarbatti better than machine-made?

Not automatically. Machines give high volume and consistency at lower cost; hand-rolling suits masala-style sticks and artisan production, and supports craft livelihoods. What matters is the maker’s quality control. At Melting Aromas, each stick is hand-rolled by trained artisans and every batch is burn-tested for fragrance consistency, smoke level and burn time before dispatch. See how we make it.

7. Can incense be made from recycled flowers?

Yes. Several Indian makers recycle flowers into incense. Cycle Pure collects flowers from temples in Mysuru, Phool works with discarded temple flowers, and Melting Aromas recycles flowers from weddings and ceremonies, drawing on the experience of our sister flower businesses. The result is incense with a floral character and less floral waste.

8. Do you offer free samples and low minimum orders?

Yes. We offer free samples to serious bulk buyers and keep minimum order quantities flexible for businesses of different sizes. Exact quantities depend on fragrance, packaging and whether you want custom or private label work, so contact our team with your requirements.

9. Do you supply across India and export abroad?

Yes. We supply wholesalers, retailers, hotels, spas, yoga studios and religious institutions across India, including Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune, and we prepare documentation and packaging for export orders.

Ready to source agarbatti?

If you are comparing manufacturers, ask for samples first and judge them side by side. Melting Aromas offers free samples to bulk buyers, hand-rolled natural incense and private label support. Request a quote, or see our wholesale agarbatti range.