Agarbatti are incense sticks that burn on their own and give a light, steady scent. Bakhoor is perfumed wood chips that need a burner or coal and give a rich, Arabian-style smoke. Oud wood is natural agarwood, also burned on coal, with the deepest and most precious aroma of the three.
Agarbatti
The easiest to use: light, blow out and stand in a holder. Classic Indian scents include sandal, rose, mogra and kewda. Ideal for daily puja, prayer and meditation.
Bakhoor
Wood chips soaked in perfume oils and resins. Richer and sweeter than most incense, and traditional for welcoming guests, weddings and Fridays. Needs a burner. Bakhoor sticks offer the same style of scent in stick form.
Oud wood (oud khashab)
Natural agarwood, the raw material of oud oil. Burned in tiny pieces for special occasions. The most expensive of the three because good agarwood is rare.
Questions people ask
Which is best for a small room?
Agarbatti or a single bakhoor stick: they give a gentler scent that will not overpower a small space.
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Written by the Ayyub Ali Fragrances family, perfumers in Hyderabad since 1986.