Have you ever lit an agarbatti and just watched the smoke curl and dance into the air? There’s a quiet moment of peace that comes with the gentle scent of incense. It lingers in the air, and sometimes, it brings with it a memory, of someone who once wore a similar fragrance, or a place that now lives only in your nostalgia. A scent so subtle, yet powerful enough to stir something deep within. But now the same incense creates cough, throat irritation, teary eyes and what not? Can Agarbatti be named as “Allergybatti” because of these?
Let me come to the point, have you ever paused, really paused, and wondered why it’s called “Agarbatti”?
What if I told you there’s a story behind the name? A meaning that’s been quietly hidden in plain sight, misunderstood for generations?
The word Agarbatti is not just a random name. It’s made of two parts – Agar and Batti.
Now what is Agar?
The agar here refers to the Agarwood – Agaru in Sanskrit.
Yes! In ancient times, it was real agarwood that was burned for its deeply calming and pleasant nature. It wasn’t just about fragrance, it was about healing, grounding, and creating sacred space. That fragrance was considered divine, which is why it became a part of the rituals and meditations.
So, when people began making incense sticks using this sacred wood, they naturally called it Agar-batti – the stick (batti) made of agarwood (agar).
No chemical fragrances which can cause any disturbances in the system like the incenses available these days.
Now what is Agarwood?
The aromatic agarwood is extracted from a tree belonging to the Aquilaria family, this sacred tree has a few variants like Aquilaria agallocha, Aquilaria crassna, and Aquilaria malaccensis. But here’s the magical part, it doesn’t produce agarwood until it’s naturally wounded or infected. Only then does it respond by creating a dark, rich, fragrant resin, that’s what we call agarwood.
Among all the variants, Ayurveda praises Aquilaria crassna the most, calling it Krushna Agaru, the finest source of agarwood which is only available in Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It’s more expensive than Gold. I’m not lying, it’s true!
Now, let me tell you why agarwood is so important.
In Ayurveda, agarwood is known for its bitter and astringent taste, and its hot potency. It’s brilliant at balancing Vata and Kapha doshas, which means it can help with a wide range of conditions caused by these imbalances.
So, can it really help with all Vata and Kapha-related problems?
Let’s take a look:
- Got a cough? Take a bit of agarwood powder with honey – it can soothe it.
- Achy joints? Mix the agarwood paste with Rāsna and apply – it helps reduce pain.
- Digestive issues, gut worms, cold, asthma, wounds, eye problems, ear troubles, skin diseases, high uric acid – you name it, agarwood has a role to play.
- And guess what? It’s also known to boost memory!
But my favourite part! Agarwood helps you sleep better.
Yes, really. It doesn’t just knock you out, it actually calms your mind. It quietens chinta (those over-crowded thoughts), clears tama and rajas (the mental fog and restlessness), and nurtures sattva, that peaceful, clear space we all need for deep rest.
Traditionally, agarwood is used in dhupana (medicinal fumigation) and taila (herbal oils). Its deep, sweet, woody aroma enters the body through the nose and travels to the manovaha srotas, the channels of the mind. There, it gently eases the mind, lowers cortisol, slows the heartbeat, and sets the stage for sleep. Placing a small piece or sachet of agarwood under the pillow allows the slow release of its aroma through the night helping us to sleep better. (Agar Nidra)
Honestly, I’m in awe of this tree.