A binding material for incense sticks or incense cones developed by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has been awarded a patent. The new binding matrix or adhesive is eco-friendly, less polluting and costs less compared to the existing ones, according to KFRI researchers.
Usually the incense sticks are manufactured from aromatic biotic materials consisting of powdered wood, charcoal, barks, leaves, and flowers, essential oils or aromatic chemicals. The paste of these components is applied on to a bamboo stick. One of the essential materials used in the incense stick is the binding material, which is derived from the bark of a tree species called Litsea glutinosa, commonly known as Jigat. Jigat is the powdered bark of Litsea glutinosa, which is used to make the ignitable coat on the incense stick.
The new binding matrix developed by the KFRI is a combination of Litsea deccanensis bark powder, bamboo sawdust and bamboo charcoal in a definite composition. The ingredients are mixed with suitable quantity of distilled water to make it a semi-solid paste. This prepared matrix is pasted on bamboo sticks using machine and dried at 50-60oC for three hours. Suitable fragrances or essential oils can be added to the paste or incorporated in the incense cones after proper drying.
