The Incense Atelier grew out of a lifelong fascination with the East — its philosophy, literature, and living traditions.

My first encounters with incense, as a teenager, hinted at distant cultures and unfamiliar places. It also felt faintly exotic and bohemian — something quietly transgressive, a little ‘grown-up’, carrying promises of independence and the unnamed pleasures of adulthood.

In my twenties, drawn ever more deeply to Eastern philosophy and religion, I travelled to India to stay in the ashrams and temple towns of the South. There I encountered Indian life — and Indian incense — in all its remarkable variety.

I remember visiting an artisan agarbatti company in Bangalore in the early 1990s, watching incense being made for the first time. In the same city, I sought out and sent home a half-kilo box of the original Nag Champa, enchanted by its opulence and rarity.

Spiritual seeking and books often go together. I went on to found a small publishing house dedicated to Eastern philosophy and contemporary teachers. Yet an abiding interest in incense never left me. On trips to London, I would return home with equal measures of books and fine incense — both, in their own way, carriers of inspiration.

In the summer of 2025, inspired by reading about the work of Alok Panday of Malaan Gaudhoop, the idea for The Incense Atelier took form. I wanted to bring to the UK the kind of incense I had encountered over the decades — creations from sometimes obscure traditional makers as well as more widely known heritage houses.

The focus is on natural ingredients and small-scale artisanship. Many of our makers are family-run workshops and temple-town suppliers who still prepare their work by hand, using sandalwood, resins, herbs, and natural gums — masala incense, as it is generally known. Some of the larger houses trace their roots to the early 20th century; others are newer, but all share a commitment to natural materials and skillful craft.

This is a living tradition. Alongside the heritage makers, we seek out new artisans who reinterpret the art of incense with fresh creativity and devotion to their work. Together, they form a lineage that continues to evolve.

For me, incense remains a thing of wonder — how these small works of art can carry such fragrance and atmosphere into a room. I use them daily to create a space that feels alive and welcoming.

Our customers, I imagine, are much as I once was: curious travellers, drawn to the subtle treasures of different cultures.

The Incense Atelier exists to offer authentic Indian incense. We hope you find as much pleasure in these fragrances as we do in discovering and sharing them.

Julian Noyce

Note: The Incense Atelier also aims to give something back. Despite its great progress, India remains a country of sharp contrasts and inequalities. Incense making often provides vital income for women in rural areas. As a small gesture, 5% of all annual profits are donated to a charity supporting rural women in India. Each year we select a specific organisation and publish a short note about their work and our contribution, so customers can see where this support is directed.