SKILL ACQUISITION: A SPECIALIZED PROPOSED

TRAINING FOR YOUTHS AND STUDENTS ON THE ART OF

MAKING INCENSE, POPULARLY KNOWN AS TURAREN
WUTA

PREPARED BY

QAMSHI PLUS

KADUNA

BEING A TRAINING MANUAL

SUBMITTED TO:

INTERNATIONAL CENTRE OF EXCELLECE FOR RURAL

FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP (ICERFE) AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

APRIL 2023

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COMPANY’S DESCRIPTION:
Qamshi Plus has been in existence and got registered officially by the Corporate Affairs
Commission (CAC) on the 10th day of November, 2021 to be situated at n0. 164 Inuwa Wada
Road Ungwan Rimi GRA, Kaduna, Kaduna State being engage with selling of perfumes,
jewelry, Fabrics and Household Items and general merchandize.

PRODUCT’S DESCRIPTION:
Traditional Incense Turaren Wuta directly translates to 'light/fire perfume". It is a substance that
is burned to produce a fragrant scent. Incense is commonly used in Asian traditions, where it is
passed to guests as a gesture of hospitality. It is used in Northern Nigeria for its fragrance. Some
women also believe that the consistent use of Dhukkhan (a particular type of incense) serves as
an aphrodisiac.

Turaren wuta is scented wood or blends of natural traditional spices, wood chips and flowers. It
is soaked in fragrant oils and mixed with natural ingredients such as ambergris, musk,
sandalwood, frankincense and essential oils.These scented chips/bricks are burned in charcoal or
incense burners to cover the house and clothing with a fragrant mist. Incense is generally used
every day or on special occasions. Among Kanuri people, it is used during weddings as a sign of
blessing. It is widely used to provide fragrance and boost positive energy.

The incense chips burn in a traditional incense burner called Kasko (it has other names in other
cultures like Mabkhara). Charcoal of wood or artificial charcoal discs/briquettes is used in
burning the incense inside the Kasko. In recent times, using electrical incense burners to burn
incense chips is faster and safer. However, most prefer to use charcoal because it’s traditional,
natural and burns the chips better.

The popularity of the use of incense has grown to the extent that it is not only appreciated by the
northern tribe but by almost all tribes around the country. Locally made incense, or Turaren
Wuta as it is popularly known in the northern region of Nigeria, has become a very profitable
business in Nigeria, especially for those in the northern part, as some of the ingredients needed
are naturally grown there.

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MOTIVATION THAT BIRTHED THIS BUSINESS
As described by the CEO:
The industry came out of a passion for scents. I love smelling good, and at home, I'm the one
who always burned Turaren Wuta cause my family members and friends somehow believe I
have a nose for it. They believe there's something different about my hands and the way I burn
them. I woke up one day and told my mum I wanted to start a business, and she supported me. I
learnt how to make it from a friend's aunt, also from Maiduguri. Before I started making it
myself, I used to buy from other vendors and resell them, but when I learnt how to make it, I
started making it myself from scratch. The first time I made it and burned it in the kitchen, the
scent lasted for weeks.

APPLICATION OF TURAREN WUTA

It is soaked in fragrant oils and mixed with natural ingredients such as ambergris, musk,
sandalwood, frankincense and essential oils. These scented chips/bricks are burned in charcoal or
incense burners to cover the house and clothing with a fragrant mist. Incense is generally used
every day or on special occasions.

SIGNIFICANCE OF TURAREN WUTA

Most northern and some westerners especially women, love smelling nice no matter their social
class. There's this tradition of putting turaren wuta in their clothes or homes which normally

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beautify their environments. It is very important because it makes them smell different and
unique. It makes them stand out. It brings nice compliments. Islamically, you have to be clean.
They say cleanliness is next to Godliness, and Jinns don't like dirty things and dirty
environments, so using it reduces the chances of jinns being there. Most people don't use
insecticides anymore; it somehow drives insects and mosquitoes away.
To highly economically placed northern women, it's a means of identification to them. It makes
them feel different and stand out, so people know they're from the north. It's also important to
them in their marriages because men like the smell of it. There's Turaren Wuta for private parts
and herbs and all the steaming.

Some of its specific significances are: to creates a peaceful and inviting atmosphere in one’s
home, it calms the body, it heightens both creativity & alertness, it reduces anxiety and tension,
reduces vaginal discharge, improves blood circulation in the body, It cures yeast infections,
Smoothens the skin, It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, Strengthens the pelvic floor
muscles there by tightening the vagina

TYPES AND KINDS OF TURAREN WUTA

They are different types of turaren wuta available and they are made from a variety of different
materials. In Nigeria, the most common scents are sandal oud, grounded Kajiji, Hawee balls,
sandal sticks, Turaren Wuta. There's Khajiji, Sandal flakes, Sandal balls, Sandal sticks, Halud,
Hair among others

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
There are so many business opportunities when hit it correctly, and the thing about it is one can't
make the same kind of scent twice; you either make it better or worse, so if you market it
correctly and brand it well, also getting ideas from other brands for example (CEO testifying), I
have a friend in the U.S. who told me, "if I buy from any other person, let me die," I make sure I
make quality products and I don't over price the products. It's all about knowing the right people
to market. People think there are limited scents of Turaren Wuta but there's a really wide range
of scents and there's also liquid khumrah.

Not only Nigerians use Turaren Wuta, but it also moves widely from Chad to Senegal and Sudan
people use it all over Africa so it can move from a small business to a huge brand exporting it. I
know a store in Abuja that sells a 250 ml bottle for 25 thousand Naira. If the store stocks up
today by the next day there'd be nothing left. People order ahead. There are so many
opportunities for people who want to get into the business.

PRODUCTION PROCESS OF MAKING TURAREN WUTA

“Making turaren wuta is easy as long as all required ingredients are available, it can be done in a
conducive friendly setting. It involves making a sugar syrup and frying the incense woods before
adding the oils needed for the fragrance.” One of the trade secrets for this company is the ability

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to often use firewood and the local frying pans in order to perfect the mixture. It is recommended
by this company to always to put on a face mask to avoid catching a cold and hand gloves to
avoid your hands from being burnt.

MARKETING STRATEGY AND PULLED OF CUSTOMERS

The marketing strategy of Qamshi plus at attracting customer is obviously rooted from neighbors
when burning its incense at home, most times neighbours are always interested in knowing
where such incense that smells good. Qamshi plus’s customer at first, was mostly women from
the North as most times they believe that turaren wuta gives off the scent of a wealthy Arabian.
Where the CEO comes from, turaren wuta is considered an important gift on a reputable wedding
for the women, even more important than getting a fridge or TV. Recently, this company has
received a lot of female customers from the eastern part of the country. Although its customer
base is mostly women with male customers who buy the body oils and incense for their cars.

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COST OF RAW MATERIAL FOR MAKING TURAREN WUTA
This company has turaren wuta of different price range and sizes, depending on the ingredients
used. It sells in litres for those who may like to join the business and not want to go through the
stress of making it themselves.“Depending on how big the quantity is demanded to start, getting
into the business doesn’t need that much capital. For instance, with 100,000 naira you can get
two to three varieties of turaren wuta in litres to resale, with another sum of 400,000 you can
purchase three to five varieties of scents.” Asides the turaren wuta, this company also makes
humrah which is the body oil and can be used on clothes.
“Often times, because of how good the smell is, customers are always indecisive about what
scent they want. When issues like that arise, the company prefers to burn each scent and allow
the customer to decide which scent they like the most,” Its advises customers to use a charcoal
burner instead of an electric burner because from experience, the electric burner wastes the
turaren wuta and doesn’t burn as effectively as the charcoal.

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SEASON OF BUSINESS BOOMING
Qamshi plus most patronised scents are the sandal Oud, grounded kajiji and Halut. These
particular scents get sold out the minute its customers are aware of its availability. In this
business, the sales peak season is the rainy season, this is because the smoke that comes from the
incense burner aides in keeping the house warm so customers are always willing to purchase
more.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATION OF TRAINING PER PERSON

How to make scented Turaren wuta, khumrah & kulaccam from the scratch and become a pro
within 3 days.

*DAY 1*
Introduction to incense woods and raw materials.

*DAY 2*
How to make extremely scented turaren wuta
A. Hawii
B. Gabgab
C. Kajiji
D. Incense balls

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*DAY 3*
How to make 3 types of khumrah:-
A. Brown khumrah
B. Musk khumrah
C. White khumrah

BONUS: * How to make kulaccam (scented body cream).

At the cost of 20, 000 naira only.