Are incense sticks really harmful?
Incense sticks - what are they actually?
Incense sticks are small, thin sticks that are available in a variety of fragrances. They are often used to incense or smudge the rooms or to revitalise the atmosphere. The incense sticks consist of a bamboo stick that is coated with a mixture of charcoal and essential oils or aromas. The smoke of the incense sticks is said to have a calming and relaxing effect and can help with meditation.
In many cultures, the smoke of incense sticks is also being used in religious ceremonies. In recent years, more and more people have started using incense sticks to improve the atmosphere in their homes. Many people find that the scent of the incense sticks helps them to relax. Others use the incense sticks to dispel unpleasant odours from their homes.
The ingredients of incense sticks
Incense sticks are often labelled as natural, although they are actually produced of synthetic ingredients. They do not contain any harmful substances and are not toxic, but they are not natural either. These include the classic "black" incense sticks. They consist of a mixture of synthetic aromas which are combined together and supposed to smell like a certain fragrance. Truly natural incense sticks (=masala) consist of essential oils, herbs, resins and other ingredients. The essential oils are natural essences extracted from flowers, herbs and other plants. They have different effects and fragrances. However, not all scents are possible to make essential oils - they are more classic fragrances.
Harmful substances in incense sticks
Incense sticks are a favourite way of perfuming the rooms with the scent of herbs and spices. However, they can also produce fine dust, which is harmless in small quantities but can be harmful to the respiratory tract in higher concentrations. Though incense sticks only contain a small amount of fine dust, if they are burnt or consumed in a closed room, the fine dust can be dispersed in the surrounding area due to the air circulation and thus increase the concentration in the air. Fine dust is particularly harmful for our health if it is being inhaled.
Because it can enter the lungs and from there into the bloodstream. In high concentrations, particulate matter can cause respiratory infections, cardiovascular problems and even cancer. However, there is no need to worry about generating harmful concentrations of fine dust while using incense sticks occasionally.
Even in closed rooms, the concentration of fine dust usually remains below the threshold value above which it is harmful for our health. However, if you use incense sticks regularly and in high concentrations, you should be careful. This is the case if the air in your room is already permeated with clouds of smoke or if you suffer from respiratory irritation. In this case, it is advisable to use incense sticks either outside or in well-ventilated rooms. Or simply use less :-)
What are the consequences of using incense sticks?
Incense sticks have been used in many cultures for centuries and are a much-loved way to perfume rooms with pleasant fragrances.
Although incense sticks are generally considered to be harmless, regular or intensive use can lead up to health problems.
The smoke from incense sticks contains small particles that can get into the lungs while inhaling and cause irritation. Asthmatics should therefore be especially careful and preferably refrain from using incense sticks completely.
Advantages of incense sticks
Incense sticks can fill a room with pleasant aromas and create a relaxing or calming atmosphere.
Disadvantages of incense sticks
On the one hand, they produce fine dust, which can be harmful if inhaled. They can also contain compounds such as benzene. Intensive use can irritate the mucous membranes and respiratory tract.
Is using of incense sticks really so harmful?
In most cases, incense sticks are harmless for our health. However, in rare cases they can also be harmful. Incense sticks can lead to respiratory irritation, headaches and other health problems, especially if they are used regularly and intensively.
Incense sticks can also cause fire if they are not properly extinguished.
We recommend you not to try to extinguish the flames of a lighted incense stick with your hands, as this can cause burning.
Our personal opinion
Many people ask the same question: whether incense sticks are really harmful for our health? In this blog post, we tried to shed some light on this question. It is not the product itself, but the frequency and concentration of use that can cause health problems. If you would like to learn more about the background, especially about the production of natural incense sticks (=masala), you can find more interesting articles in our blog.