Vrindavan ("basil forest") is the holy city in North India where Krishna spent most of his childhood. It is a popular tourist city for Indians and some Westerners (though most will head for the nearby Taj Mahal, and then shoot off for another major location on the Indian Golden Triangle). It is famous in incense circles for the soft and beautiful incense sold there. Much of it is made by established and skilled incense makers in Pune and Bangalore who will be commissioned to make traditional incense but with a softer, sweeter focus as fitting for a divine childhood.
There are many shops selling incense to the tourists - the three best known in the West are Vrindavan Bazaar (Hare Krsna Exports LLC, House No. 351, Chaitanya Vihar, Vrindavan); Hare Krishna Das (Hare Krishna Emporium, Loi Bazaar, Vrindavan); and Rasbihari Lal & Sons (Rasbihari Lal & Sons, Loi Bazar, Vrindaban). These will ship internationally, and the incense is very attractive. They don't reveal who makes the incense, and will be vague with statements like "made by local artisans", which buyers can interpret as they like. Some Western traders, such as Sai Handicrafts, Gokula, and Sacred Boutique, sell incense with a Vrindavan connection - either bought from Vrindavan, made for Vrindavan, or with Vrindavan in the name. Paul Eagle of Happy Hari sold a number of Vrindavan related incenses.
There are also a few outlets which sell incense they make themselves. This incense tends to be perfumed dhoop or perfumed cow dung. It's generally not the same stuff that is sold in the known shops and makes its way to the West. Though there is one outlet in Vrindavan which I had marked down to visit when I go to Vrindavan this November (2026), which Julian of The Incense Atelier has imported into the UK, and is selling as "True Vrindavan", which makes similar incense to that as sold by Vrindavan Bazaar and Rasbihari Lal & Sons.
There are many shops selling incense to the tourists - the three best known in the West are Vrindavan Bazaar (Hare Krsna Exports LLC, House No. 351, Chaitanya Vihar, Vrindavan); Hare Krishna Das (Hare Krishna Emporium, Loi Bazaar, Vrindavan); and Rasbihari Lal & Sons (Rasbihari Lal & Sons, Loi Bazar, Vrindaban). These will ship internationally, and the incense is very attractive. They don't reveal who makes the incense, and will be vague with statements like "made by local artisans", which buyers can interpret as they like. Some Western traders, such as Sai Handicrafts, Gokula, and Sacred Boutique, sell incense with a Vrindavan connection - either bought from Vrindavan, made for Vrindavan, or with Vrindavan in the name. Paul Eagle of Happy Hari sold a number of Vrindavan related incenses.
There are also a few outlets which sell incense they make themselves. This incense tends to be perfumed dhoop or perfumed cow dung. It's generally not the same stuff that is sold in the known shops and makes its way to the West. Though there is one outlet in Vrindavan which I had marked down to visit when I go to Vrindavan this November (2026), which Julian of The Incense Atelier has imported into the UK, and is selling as "True Vrindavan", which makes similar incense to that as sold by Vrindavan Bazaar and Rasbihari Lal & Sons.
Sellers in Vrindavan
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| Vrindavan Bazaar |
Excellent low cost and well meaning shop. Orders can be a little random - you may not get exactly what you ordered, but you'll certainly get a little extra, and this is the best value incense anywhere in the world. They add nothing on to the price, so it's a genuine domestic Indian price. And shipping is also low cost. They do not reveal their sources, though is likely to be known white label incense houses in Pune, Bangalore, or elsewhere. It is variable, but nothing is rubbish, and some is awesome.
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Hindu spiritual shop selling books and a similar sort of unbranded incense as sold by Vrindavan Bazaar. International shipping prices can mount up quite quickly. Padma Store in Germany keeps a good stock, and sell a useful sample pack.
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Same name and similar logo to Vrindavan Bazaar, though the internet address is spelled Bazar instead of Bazaar. They don't have a physical shop, and don't give their address. And they only ship inside India.
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Incense houses in Vrindavan
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| "True Vrindavan" |
Second generation incense house imported by Julian of The Incense Atelier, and sold under the name "True Vrindavan".
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| Devgandha |
Set up in 2023 by the Pandey brothers. They bring in attars from Kannauj, India’s perfume capital, blend them, and hand-dip traditional dhoops, so the product is finished in Vrindavan. Though it is debatable how much it can be truly called "made in Vrindavan".
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