Two binders Indian agarbatti makers often compare are joss powder (jigat powder, from Litsea glutinosa bark) and guar gum powder. Both hold the masala on the stick, but they behave differently. Here is a simple comparison.
What Is Joss Powder?
Joss powder is the dried, ground bark of the Litsea glutinosa tree, also known as maida lakdi. It is a natural plant binder, and the Kerala Forest Research Institute calls jigat the most commonly used binding material for incense sticks. Much of the joss powder used in India today is imported, with China and Vietnam named as main sources (Sugandh India, 2023).
What Is Guar Gum Powder?
Guar gum is made from guar beans. It is a thickener used in many industries, and some suppliers sell it for incense making.
Joss Powder vs Guar Gum: Key Differences
- Source – joss powder comes from tree bark; guar gum comes from guar beans
- Burning – Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, says jigat’s viscosity and adhesive properties aid continuous burning; guar gum mainly acts as a binder and thickener
- Use – joss powder is the traditional binder in agarbatti, dhoop and mosquito coil; guar gum is sometimes tested as a partial or full replacement
Which One Should You Use?
Jigat remains the most commonly used binder, so many makers keep it as the main binder and test guar gum or other binders as part of the mix. The right choice depends on your formula, so test both in small batches.
Read more: joss powder grades and maida lakdi powder.
Joss Powder vs Guar Gum vs Starch vs Liquid Binders
Guar gum is not the only alternative agarbatti makers try. Starch and ready-made liquid binders also come up. This table adds them to the comparison above. It covers only what published sources say, not price or lab numbers.
| Binder | How it binds | What sources say about burning | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joss powder (jigat) | A paste of the powdered bark holds the masala on the stick. Kerala Forest Research Institute calls jigat the most commonly used binding material for incense sticks. | Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, says its viscosity and adhesive properties aid continuous burning. | Grade and lot-to-lot consistency. |
| Guar gum | Ground endosperm of guar seeds. In water it forms a viscous solution, and it is used as a thickener. | In an ITC patent trial, jigat-free blends of guar and maize burned as long as the jigat control. | Perfume pick-up. The same blends took up less perfume than the control. |
| Starch | Starch from wheat, maize or tapioca forms a paste in warm water. One published description of the agarbatti mix lists fine flour. | We found no public burn data. An ITC patent application lists starch as a binder option alongside jigat, guar gum and CMC. | Run small trial batches before you scale up. |
| Liquid binders | Ready-made products. One supplier listing says its binder is mixed in at the final stage to improve bonding. | We found no independent data. | Ask the supplier for test results and run your own burn test. |
Do Not Confuse Maida Flour With Jigat Bark
The names sound alike, but they are different materials. Maida is refined wheat flour, a food item. Maida lakdi (maida lakri) is the trade name of Litsea glutinosa, the tree whose bark is ground into jigat. When you order, say clearly which one you want. Read more about the bark on our maida lakdi powder page.
Can You Blend Jigat With Guar Gum?
Yes, blending has been tested. An ITC Limited patent on agarbatti binder compositions, filed in 2007 and granted in 2018, describes two routes:
- Partial swap: jigat mixed with at least one plant gum, such as guar, maize or tamarind gum.
- Full swap: two or more gums, such as guar and maize, with no jigat at all.
The patent points to rising demand and price for jigat, and a slow-growing source tree, as reasons to look for substitutes. Its partial-swap trials used maize and tamarind gum. Its guar trials used no jigat at all.
In every trial, the blend burned for as long as its jigat control. The difference was in perfume pick-up. The jigat and maize blend took up more perfume than the control. The jigat and tamarind blend, and both jigat-free guar blends, took up less.
If you plan to blend, keep one batch with your usual jigat as the control. Change one ingredient at a time. Compare rolling, drying, burn time and perfume pick-up before you change your full production.
How to Choose Your Binder: A Quick Checklist
- Product type. Test the binder in the product you actually make: sticks, cones, dhoop or coils.
- Rolling. Check how the dough handles on your own line, by hand or by machine.
- Burn test. Light sample sticks. Check that they stay lit to the end and burn at an even pace.
- Perfume pick-up. If you dip raw sticks in perfume, weigh them before and after dipping. The ITC trials show that binder choice can change how much perfume a stick takes up.
- Smell. Burn an unperfumed stick to check that the binder does not change your fragrance.
- Lot consistency. Test each new lot of binder against your control batch before full production.
- Grade and supply. For jigat, ask which grade suits your formula and confirm steady monthly supply.
For bulk jigat, see our agarbatti binder powder page. Joss Powder India has its own factory and farm in Vietnam and supplies buyers across India. For the full list of stick inputs, read our agarbatti raw material guide. Coil makers can see joss powder for mosquito coils. To compare jigat with makko, another bark-based binder, read joss powder vs makko.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can guar gum fully replace joss powder in agarbatti?
Not on its own, going by published trials. A granted ITC patent tested jigat-free blends of guar with maize, and of guar, maize and acacia. They burned as long as a jigat control but took up less perfume, so test with your own perfume dip before you switch.
Is maida lakdi the same as maida flour?
No. Maida is refined wheat flour, a food item. Maida lakdi (maida lakri) is the trade name of the Litsea glutinosa tree, whose bark is ground into jigat or joss powder.
Does the binder affect how an agarbatti burns?
It can. In combustible incense, the binder holds the mix together while the cellulose in the powder burns as a stable ember. In ITC’s patent trials, gum blends burned as long as the jigat control but took up different amounts of perfume, so test burn time and perfume pick-up together.
Can starch be used as an agarbatti binder?
An ITC patent application lists starch as a binder option for agarbatti, dhoop and mosquito repellent sticks, alongside jigat, guar gum and CMC. We found no public burn data comparing it with jigat, so run small trial batches first.
What are liquid binders for agarbatti?
They are ready-made products sold to agarbatti and mosquito coil makers as a bonding aid, mixed in at the final stage. We found no independent data on how they burn, so ask the supplier for test results and run your own burn test.
Get a Quote for Bulk Joss Powder
Tell us your required grade, monthly quantity and delivery city. Call +91 9199267480, email info@josspowderindia.com or use our contact form.
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