Background:

India is one of the largest agarbatti (incense stick) producing countries and has captured its own market and also foreign markets. With the popularity of incense the concerns regarding its raw material, manufacturing,quality, and safety have also grown over the years. These concerns have manifested as a shift in preference towards herbal, Ayurvedic and eco-friendly incense, the concerns regarding its raw materials, manufacturing, quality, and safety have also grown over the years. These concerns have manifested as a shift in preference towards herbal,Ayurvedic and eco-friendly incense which provides some of assurance about the incense that we are inhaling. According to one estimate international incense stick market is valued at US dollar sign 1 billion per annum. Therefore the demand of the raw material is likely to increase manifold in near future and lot of pressure will be on depleating forest resources. Agarbathi industry uses forest based raw materials like bamboo, wood , roots , barks, jigat, leaves, flowers, seed , gums, resins and secondary derived materials like bamboo , wood , roots, barks, jigat, leaves, flowers, seeds, gums , resins and secondary derived materials like charcoal, aromatic chemicals etc. Among this Jigat plays a crucial role. Jigat, which in Kannasa means a sticky substance- a natural gum-a critical ingredient for the making of agar bathi. It is prepared from natural red or dark brown bark of the Litsea Glutinosa Tree. Due to its strong viscosity and adhesive properties it is used as binding material in Fragrance Sticks and Mosquito Repellent Coils manufacturing industry. As the source of the jigat is depleting very fast and the industry requirement is growing excessively, its essential identify a suitable alternative to jigat.