Is Burning Incense Bad for You?
Burning incense adds pollution to indoor air. An EPA literature review published in 2001 said burning candles and incense can be sources of particulate matter, that exposure to incense smoke has been linked with several illnesses, and that certain brands of incense also contain chemicals suspected of causing skin irritation.
A 2013 study from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health tested two agarwood incense types commonly burned in homes in the United Arab Emirates and found both emitted significant amounts of particles, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and oxides of nitrogen, resulting in an induced inflammatory response in human lung cells. Greater amounts of the charcoal used to burn the incense caused larger and longer emissions. The American Lung Association says further research has shown that burning just one gram of incense can create about 45 milligrams of particulate matter, which is four times more than a cigarette produces.
The Lung Association says no indoor burning is completely safe, as it adds pollution to the air and increases health risks. It quotes Dr. Brian Christman of Vanderbilt University saying the key is to reduce the duration and frequency of exposure and improve ventilation, and that opening a window and burning the incense near it can reduce exposure. The UNC authors likewise recommended better ventilation in homes where incense is burned.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- StudyAn EPA literature review published in 2001 said burning candles and incense can be sources of particulate matter, that exposure to incense smoke has been linked with several illnesses, and that certain brands contain chemicals suspected of causing skin irritation. US EPA Science Inventory ↗
- StudyA 2013 UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health study found two agarwood incense types used in UAE homes emitted significant amounts of particles, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and oxides of nitrogen, resulting in an induced inflammatory response. UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health ↗
- StudyThe UNC researchers found greater amounts of charcoal caused larger and longer particle and gas emissions, and recommended better ventilation where incense is burned and alternatives to charcoal such as electric devices. UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health ↗
- Medical referenceThe American Lung Association says studies have identified carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in incense smoke. American Lung Association ↗
- Medical referenceThe American Lung Association says research has shown that burning just one gram of incense can create about 45 milligrams of particulate matter, four times more than a cigarette produces. American Lung Association ↗
- Medical referenceThe American Lung Association says no indoor burning is completely safe, and quotes Dr. Brian Christman that the key is to reduce the duration and frequency of exposure and improve ventilation, such as burning incense near an open window. American Lung Association ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.