Search for “bakhoor” and you will find two very different products under the same name. One is a fragrant material you burn to scent a room. The other is a perfume oil you wear on your skin. Both are called bakhoor, both smell warm and smoky, and it is easy to buy one when you meant the other.
This guide explains what bakhoor is, where the tradition comes from, and how bakhoor incense and bakhoor attar differ, so you can choose the right one.
Bakhoor: A fragrance tradition
Bakhoor (also spelled bakhur or bukhoor) comes from the Arabic word for incense. In Arab and Gulf households, it usually refers to wood chips, pressed tablets or other fragrant pieces that are heated so their aromatic smoke scents the home, clothes and hair.
Bakhoor is commonly used:
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To welcome guests
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To freshen rooms after cooking
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To perfume clothing and textiles
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On special occasions and gatherings
Recipes vary widely between makers. Bakhoor is often based on fragrant wood soaked or blended with perfume oils, resins, sugars and other aromatics. There is no single “correct” bakhoor recipe, and two products can differ greatly in ingredients and burning behaviour.
What is bakhoor incense?
Bakhoor incense is the version you burn, not wear. It is placed on a heat source, either a charcoal disc in a traditional burner (mabkhara) or an electric burner, and gently heated until it releases fragrant smoke.
Our Bakhoor collection includes five heritage incense blends:
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Rangrez Sufi Bakhoor: rose and oud
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Gulzara Bakhoor: rose
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Yasmina Bakhoor: jasmine
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Chandanam Bakhoor: sandalwood
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Ruh Oud Bakhoor: oud
Bakhoor incense is for home fragrance. It should never be applied to skin, eaten or burned unattended. Our guide on how to burn bakhoor safely explains charcoal and electric burners step by step.
What is bakhoor attar?
Bakhoor attar is a perfume oil you wear. It does not contain burning material. Instead, it is blended to recreate the warm, smoky, woody character that people associate with bakhoor smoke.
Our Bakhoor Attar is an alcohol-free perfume oil from Kannauj, described as smoky, woody, warm and slightly sweet. You apply it like any other attar, with a small touch on the pulse points.
Bakhoor incense vs bakhoor attar at a glance
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Bakhoor incense |
Bakhoor attar |
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What it is |
Fragrant material that is heated to release smoke |
Concentrated perfume oil |
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How it’s used |
On a charcoal or electric burner |
Dabbed on skin or, carefully, on clothing |
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Scents |
Rooms, textiles, hair (indirectly through smoke) |
Your skin |
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Typical form |
Chips, tablets or pieces |
Liquid oil in a small bottle |
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Safety focus |
Fire safety and ventilation |
Patch test; avoid eyes and broken skin |
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Ideal for |
Hosting, home fragrance, special occasions |
Personal fragrance with a smoky, oriental character |
What does bakhoor smell like?
Most bakhoor has a warm, smoky, resinous character, but the detail depends on the blend:
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Oud-based bakhoor smells deep, woody and rich.
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Rose-based blends are smoky with a soft floral heart.
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Sandalwood blends feel creamy and calm.
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Jasmine blends add a sweet, floral lift.
Because bakhoor is heated, you smell both the fragrance and a gentle smokiness. Bakhoor attar captures the impression of that smoke without any burning.
Which should you choose?
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Choose bakhoor incense if you want to scent your home, welcome guests or perfume fabrics in the traditional way.
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Choose bakhoor attar if you love the bakhoor character and want to wear it personally.
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Use both for a complete effect: scent the room with incense and wear the attar.
If you are deciding between Bakhoor Attar and Mitti Attar, our comparison of Bakhoor Attar and Mitti Attar explains how they differ.
A note on safety
Burning anything indoors produces smoke. Use bakhoor in a ventilated room, keep it away from children and pets, and never leave a lit burner unattended. People with asthma or other breathing sensitivities may prefer bakhoor attar to burning incense.
Frequently asked questions
What is bakhoor made of?
Bakhoor is usually made from fragrant wood or other materials blended with perfume oils, resins and aromatics. Recipes vary widely between makers, so check each product’s description.
Is bakhoor the same as oud?
No. Oud is the fragrant resinous wood of the agarwood tree. Some bakhoor contains or is inspired by oud, but bakhoor refers to the burnable fragrance tradition, which can feature many different scents.
Can you put bakhoor on your skin?
Not bakhoor incense, which is meant only for burning. If you want the bakhoor scent on your skin, use a bakhoor attar, which is a perfume oil designed for that purpose.
What is the difference between bakhur and bakhoor?
There is no difference. Bakhur, bakhoor and bukhoor are different spellings of the same Arabic word for incense.
Explore bakhoor at Maruti
Whether you want to fill your home with fragrant smoke or wear its warmth on your skin, start with our Bakhoor collection or our Bakhoor Attar.
C. Internal links
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Destination URL |
Anchor text |
Reason |
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/collections/bakhoor-collection |
Bakhoor collection |
Main collection supported |
Verified (page opened) |
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/products/bakhoor-attar |
Bakhoor Attar |
Perfume oil product |
Verified (page opened) |
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Five bakhoor product URLs |
product names |
Products |
Verified (listed on collection page) |
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/blogs/news/bakhoor-attar-vs-mitti-attar-differences-uses-which-to-choose |
Bakhoor Attar and Mitti Attar |
Existing comparison |
Verified (blog page) |
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/blogs/news/how-to-burn-bakhoor |
how to burn bakhoor safely |
Future article 8 |
Publishes 25 Nov 2026 |
D. External sources
None linked. The etymology (Arabic for incense) and general usage are widely documented. Optional: cite a reputable dictionary or Gulf cultural source after editorial review.
E. Image recommendations
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Bakhoor smoke rising from a traditional burner beside an attar bottle |
Hero |
Bakhoor smoke rising from a burner next to a bottle of bakhoor attar |
Original photography |
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The five bakhoor incense products |
Incense section |
Five bakhoor incense packs in rose, jasmine, sandalwood and oud blends |
Original product photography |
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Bakhoor Attar bottle |
Attar section |
Maruti Bakhoor Attar perfume oil bottle |
Original product photography |
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Comparison graphic: burn vs wear |
Comparison table |
Graphic comparing bakhoor incense for burning with bakhoor attar for skin |
Educational illustration |
F. Social distribution
Instagram: Bakhoor you burn vs bakhoor you wear. Same name, different products. Which do you need? Guide in bio. #Bakhoor #Bakhur #Attar #HomeFragrance
Facebook: Bought “bakhoor” and got a perfume oil instead of incense, or the other way round? You’re not alone. Our guide explains bakhoor incense and bakhoor attar, and when to use each. [link]
Pinterest: What Is Bakhoor? Incense vs Attar Explained — How traditional bakhoor is used to scent homes, and how bakhoor attar brings the same warmth to skin.
Reel concept: A split screen. On the left, smoke curls from a burner (caption: “Burn it”). On the right, an attar dab on a wrist (caption: “Wear it”). Final caption: “Both are bakhoor.”
G. Publication checklist
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Check |
Status |
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Search intent satisfied |
Passed |
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Keyword targeting natural |
Passed |
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Distinct from the Bakhoor vs Mitti post |
Passed |
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Claims supported |
Needs verification: confirm the physical form and ingredients of the five incense products and add them to the product pages; the article stays general until then |
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Internal links valid |
Passed |
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CTA relevant |
Passed |
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Metadata included |
Passed |
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Product data issue |
Needs verification: fix the ₹799 meta price on /products/bakhoor-attar (page shows ₹1,399) |
