Rajkala: A Trusted Name in Incense & Camphor Across Maharashtra
The incense sticks and camphor products of the Rajkala brand, ownedby Samarth Industries in Kolhapur, are quite popular acrossMaharashtra and neighbouring states. In a conversation withSugandhIndia, Mr. Rohit Kulkarni, head of Samarth Industries, said that thedemand and consumption of camphor are very high in Kolhapur. As aresult, production has also increased significantly here. He shared thathis father founded Samarth Industries in 1985 and began camphorproduction under the name Rajkala. In 1986, they started producingpremium quality incense sticks under the same brand name.
Besides its own products, SamarthIndustries also distributesincense sticks of several othercompanies in Kolhapur, such asBig Bell, Alaukik, Aradhya,Geeta, Manohar, Jain Products,Aalok, Jai Bhavani, andVakratund.
Responding to a question from Sugandh India,Mr. Kulkarni said they produce around 20 types ofcamphor under the Rajkala brand, includingcamphor cones, Bhimseni camphor, and tablets ofvarious sizes. When asked about scented camphor,he said although such fragrances are trending inthe market, they are currently not working onthem. Rajkala camphor products are sold ataround ₹650 per kilogram, though the pricefluctuates with the market.
Rajkala also produces premium masala incensesticks, which are supplied not only acrossMaharashtra but also to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,and a few other states. He mentioned that Rajkalaproducts are known for their quality. Throughoutthe year, about 70% of the market is for mediumqualityproducts, 20% for economy, and 10% forpremium. However, during festivals, the demandfor premium products rises to around 80%.
Mr. Kulkarni also said that besides distributingincense, camphor, anddhoop products, they have a retail outlet that sellsall brands related to dhoop and fragrances. Theirdistribution journey began with the brand Shreejaifrom Nagpur. Today, they work with nearly twodozen companies and have a large supply networkin Kolhapur that reaches around 1,000 countersincluding grocery stores, malls, pan shops, anddedicated incense outlets.
According to him, Kolhapur is a very goodmarket for incense products, especially forpremium quality items.Products priced at₹100 with10–15 sticks are in demand, but the ₹50 zipper pack isthe highest-selling. People here prefer strong perfume-basedfragrances.
On market trends, he mentioned that almost allbrands perform well, but relationships play a key role insales. At his counters, Aradhya, Alaukik, and Big Bellare the top-selling brands. He noted a growing demandfor 400-gram jumbo packs, while the ₹10 productsegment is declining. In Kolhapur, demand forbamboo-less products like dry dhoop and dhoop sticksis rising, currently making up about 30% of the market,while 70% still prefer incense sticks. Wet dhoop sellsmore during winter and monsoon seasons, with Geetaand Big Bell being top sellers in that segment.
He added that products with better margins andpromotional schemes tend to sell more. In the dhoopcategory, 20-stick packs priced at ₹20 sell the most,while premium dhoop sells less. For dry dhoop, thebrands that sell well as incense also do well. A ₹70 MRPpack containing 100 grams is in high demand.
In cup dhoop, brands like Manohar, Big Bell, Aradhya,and Vakratund, priced between ₹50–₹60, are popular.Regarding sandalwood tilak, Manohar is the mostin-demand brand, along with products fromHaridarshan and Mauli. Both wet and powder forms ofsandalwood are sold, with orange and yellow being thepreferred colours. In attars and roll-ons, Manohar, SL,and A. A. Attarwala are leading brands. Incamphor, apart from theirown Rajkala brand, OKCamphor also has highdemand, followed byother brands. He statedthat customers in Kolhapurmostly prefer brandedcamphor. On average, acustomer buys productsworth ₹400–₹500 permonth. While many rely onthe shopkeeper’srecommendation, 5–6 outof 10 customers specificallyask for a brand by name.
