How agarbatti and camphor are becoming everyday rituals again

In an era of hectic lifestyle schedules and virtual distractions, ancient practices rooted in scent and ceremony are quietly making a comeback. From yoga classes in the morning to celebrations, Indian homes are gradually going back to old rituals using agarbatti (incense sticks) and camphor—only this time, not for the sake of tradition, but for well-rounded wellness.

Though agarbatti and camphor have long been at the core of religious rituals throughout the subcontinent, today they are being redefined by mindfulness and wellness. Festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Navratri, and Raksha Bandhan have always featured aromatic rituals, but now their scope is widening to include mental acuity, air cleansing, and overall emotional stability.

The trend is not limited to practitioners of yoga or Ayurveda. Everyone is rediscovering them in everyday life, combining the sacred with the profane. Camphor, which was used for rituals like aarti in the past, is being utilized as a natural air freshener and stress buster. The same is happening with agarbattis with herbs such as tulsi (holy basil), guggal (resin), and chandan (sandalwood) now being incorporated into morning routines, not only in temples.

Comeback in our daily lives

Khushi, 23, a student from Ghaziabad, describes how these rituals have become an integral part of her daily self-care. "I began practising yoga during the lockdown at home. I would burn a sandalwood agarbatti before starting my practice. I'm not religious, but that fragrance used to help me focus. It made me feel like I was having a routine, something that's earthly. It was soothing, like being at home," she says. Her experience is not an isolated one.

Throughout urban India, Gen Z and millennials are discovering comfort in tiny, sensory rituals — burning an agarbatti before jumping online for work-from-home sessions, employing camphor as part of a bedtime routine, or using these scents as part of meditation and journaling practice.

What is so fascinating about this return to tradition is that it's not about mindlessly following rituals, but about embracing them for their sensory and psychological dividends. Research has proven that some natural scents have been found to lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and induce relaxation. The simple act of lighting incense or camphor becomes a mindful moment — a brief respite amid chaos.

Rooted in the past

This change also speaks to a wider shift in the perception of wellness. Gone are the days when wellness was about diet charts and gym sessions, but now wellness is emotional clarity, spiritual anchoring, and re-establishing roots. Here, agarbatti and camphor are not just spiritual symbols—they become tools for personal harmony.
Well known Ayurveda brand Patanjali for example has come up with products that have deep cultural connect and also are recommennded by Ayurveda to promote overall mental well being. For example agarbattis that use pure guggle and sandalwood also have theurapeutic significance besides driving away negativity.

With big companies like these involves, there’s a larger, grassroots movement happening. Local artisans are producing handmade incense with natural oils, urban boutiques are curating home puja kits with eco-friendly dhoop, and wellness influencers are talking about how “smoke rituals” aid in mindfulness.

The revival feels less like a market trend and more like a quiet cultural correction.
As we move through a world that too often seems disjointed and overwhelming, it's not surprising that more and more are returning to things that feel rooted in something more profound. The dance of flame, the sweep of smoke, and an aroma that lingers on — these are not mere memories. They are part of a new mindful now.