Is burning incense toxic? The truth about your indoor air

The invisible damage in your air

Every time you light an incense stick, you are filling your home with ultrafine particles that trigger programmed cell death in human cells. A 2026 study published in Chemical Research in Toxicology found that these particles, specifically those smaller than 0.18 μm, cause severe mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Researchers tested three common incense types and found that sandalwood-dominant varieties were the most potent. These particles don't just sit in the air. They penetrate human cells, deplete ATP, and activate pathways linked to cell death. Even worse, 80% of the particles emitted during burning fall into this dangerous, ultrafine size range.

Stop the cycle of exposure

You aren't just smelling smoke. You are inhaling lipophilic aerosols that damage your cells at a molecular level. If you are burning incense to relax or clear the air, you are doing the exact opposite. Your lungs and mitochondria are working overtime to process these toxins.

The solution is simple: stop burning things inside your home. If you want to change the atmosphere of your space, ditch the smoke and look into non-toxic home alternatives that don't require combustion or chemical-heavy aerosolization. Your indoor air quality is a non-negotiable part of your health.

Source: Tseng YE, Teng MC, Huang YS, Selvam P, Pan CH (2026). Chem Res Toxicol.