Every day, tonnes of flowers—offered with devotion in temples throughout Jammu. All these were being discarded, left to rot in rivers, garbage dumps, or street corners. What was previously a sacred offering had turned into a cause of pollution, choking water bodies and contributing to waste build-up. For years, the problem remained unnoticed, quietly piling up with every passing ritual. That is until Payal Sharma, a young woman who felt strongly about environmental responsibility, decided to step in.
One Woman’s Vision to Transform Floral Waste
Payal, who came from a humble background, always had the faith that small things could initiate large changes. It was during one of her visits to the temple that she observed how quickly the new garlands presented to gods became trash by the next morning.
What bothered her most was not merely the waste but the lost respect for these holy flowers. She questioned: Could such sacred waste be turned into something as spiritual but useful and sustainable? With this question in her mind and the mission in her heart, Payal began her journey.
Breathing Life into Petals: Birth of JK Aromatics and Herbs LLP
Payal took a bold step and started JK Aromatics and Herbs LLP, a startup that upcycles temple flowers into natural, environment-friendly incense sticks in 2019. She began small—gathering temple waste flowers from near her locality with the assistance of volunteers and hand-separating them at home. Something that was a hobby turned into a registered company with an expanding footprint in Jammu.
Her vision was simple: to provide discarded flowers with a second chance in the guise of something that could return to the cycle of devotion—agarbatti, or incense sticks.
From Petals to Purity: The Eco-Friendly Process
What makes Payal's incense sticks unique is not only their source but also their production. In contrast to commercial incense sticks that employ harmful chemicals or charcoal, hers are biodegradable, handmade, and 100% charcoal-free. The flowers are dried and ground into fine powders and blended with natural binders such as guggal and resins. They are then rolled into incense by trainees hired by her from the neighbouring villages.
The natural perfumes—rose, sandalwood, lavender, and tulsi—are calming, long-lasting, and totally safe to use at home and in temples.
Spiritual Aromas with a Healing Hand
Every stick produced by JK Aromatics holds more than scent. It carries a story of sacredness, sustainability, and social impact. Her products have become popular not just for their eco-friendliness but also for their divine touch. Many customers are worshippers who love the concept of recycling temple flowers in such a respectful manner.
Payal's brand now features a whole line of scented items such as incense cones, dhoop sticks, and organic oils. These are all made with respect, and all totally free of synthetic additives.
Overcoming Hurdles with Determination and Grace
As a woman entrepreneur in a patriarchal society, Payal's journey was not without opposition. Her vision was questioned by people. Her business model was questioned by suppliers. Even temples initially refused to allow her to pick up the discarded flowers. But her persistence, along with her quiet confidence and mission clarity, won hearts over time.
She also had to face the challenge with financing and scaling the operations. With limited resources, she heavily depended on self-learning and participating in local startup programs and awareness drives to educate people about the environmental damage caused by flower waste.
Creating a Wave of Change in Jammu's Environment
Today, JK Aromatics and Herbs LLP is more than just a startup. It is a movement that cuts across tradition and transformation. Payal has directly benefited more than 30 women from the local area by providing them with jobs in agarbatti making. She has contributed to the reduction of organic waste load in a number of temple clusters in Jammu and raised awareness among priests and devotees.
Her work also aligns with broader environmental objectives like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its replicability is what makes her model unique to her—her aspiration is to enable other youths to establish such floral waste recycling units in India's temple towns.
An Invitation to Reimagine Waste and Worship
The story of Payal Sharma serves as evidence that innovation and dedication can coexist. Through her work, she has redefined what it means to present something to the divine, including healing, hope, and harmony with the natural world, in addition to flowers. She challenges everyone—citizens, entrepreneurs, temple officials, and devotees—to view garbage as the start of something sacred rather than its end.
Every stick of incense that rises fragrantly contains a prayer not only for the gods but also for Mother Earth.
