incense vs candles which is the safer option (featured image)

Fragrances + Odors

Incense vs. Candles: Which Is the Safest Option?

Jess Billitz 01/29/2024

Incense and candles share a ton of similarities. Both candles and incense date back to ancient times, require a flame, slowly release fragrance into a room, and generally improve a room’s aroma. But in an era where health and safety are priorities #1 and #2, which is the safer option between incense vs. candles?

Here’s the TL;DR:

Incense is generally safer than candles due to the lesser fire risk. However, candles are typically safer regarding the impact on human health. Some studies suggest burning incense can cause cancer due to the carcinogens released. Research also shows a much lower health risk from burning candles.

A 2020 Navigate360 survey concluded that 70% of Americans only felt safe at home. Yet, our safe places can also be home to hidden and unexpected dangers. So keep reading to discover the potential safety concerns of incense and candles, from fire hazards to possibly toxic fumes.

Fire Hazards

The Zebra—the insurance company, not the species—revealed that Americans dub home fires the #1 worst household emergency. But here’s a not-so-fun fact: home fires actually ranked 12% higher than natural disasters and 18 points higher than break-ins or thefts at 35%.

You may know that both incense and scented candles require a lit flame to release their long lasting fragrance. However, which fragrance solution is least likely to be a fire hazard between incense and candles?

Incense

Fires from lighting incense are typically not too common. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t happen. In fact, fire crews in the U.K. responded to two incense-related house fires within a few hours in April 2019.

Now, there are generally two ways to burn incense.

Direct-burning (combustible) involves lighting incense sticks or cones to smolder at the tip until it runs out of fragrance. Indirect-burning (non-combustible) does not require a flame and relies on an outside heat source to release its aroma.

Here’s how each of these types lends to a fire risk:

Direct-Burning Incense + Fire Risk

Direct-burning doesn’t require an active lit flame like a candle, which leads many to believe it’s safer than candles.

But is it?

As the incense sticks or cones burns, the ash at the tip will fall to the holder below until there’s nothing left to burn. The fire risk increases if this falling ash misses the incense holder entirely and lands on flammable materials.

Overturned incense holders and allowing incense to smolder near a flammable material can also lend to a fire risk. So can leaving lit incense unattended or lighting incense in the path of a breeze or draft that can blow the hot ash elsewhere.

Of course, most (if not all) of these risks are preventable:

Don’t light incense near anything flammable, such as curtains or wood.

Do not leave incense unattended when lit.
Don’t light it in an area with heavy traffic where someone (or something) may knock it over).
Don’t allow incense to smolder in front of an air vent or an open window.

Use a long, wide, sturdy, and fire-resistant incense holder.

Indirect-Burning Incense + Fire Risk

Despite its name, “non-combustible” incense isn’t 100% fireproof. That’s because the indirect-burning method involve a separate heating element that warms charcoal. (Oh, and this charcoal can top 1,000 °F or 538 °C.)

In essence, you’d heat the charcoal or charcoal tablets and then sprinkle the resin (the fragrance) onto the glowing charcoal. Doing so releases the scent.

With proper use, indirect-burning typically isn’t a fire risk on its own like traditional incense sticks and cones. However, the smoldering charcoal could create a fire risk when lit near something flammable or near a drafty window.

Take proper precautions—like those in the direct-burning section—for the safest experience. Additionally, don’t throw out anything incense-related until you’re completely sure it’s cooled down and won’t ignite in the garbage can.

Candle

According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles cause 2% of all house fires. It’s also worth mentioning that carelessness is to blame for many of these fires. 10% resulted from falling asleep, and 60% were from a candle lit near combustible materials.

Of course, the major concern with candles is the open flame when lit. It could take a matter of 30 seconds for an accidentally tipped-over candle to evolve into a major fire.

Although unusual, another fire risk comes from candles that—you know—spontaneously shatter. Mainstays recalled 1.2 million candles in February 2023 for just that.

Sometimes, the candle’s heat will also shatter the glass. The broken glass could cause the hot wax and flame to spill out, potentially igniting nearby combustible objects.

To burn a candle safely and lower the risk of a house fire:

Ensure candles have at least 12 inches of space from flammable objects.
Lit candles should never be left unattended.

Keep lit candles away from pets, children, and heavy foot traffic.
Avoid lighting candles in rooms where you sleep.
Don’t light candles near open or drafty windows or vents.

Trim your candle wick regularly.

Toxic Fumes

We live in a society where26.5 million Americans have asthma. Lung cancer ranks as the #3 most common cancer in the U.S. And, air pollution is only worsening.

Now, here’s the next safety concern: the potentially toxic fumes emitted by lit incense and candles.

Both incense and candles release a concoction of potentially harmful chemicals when lit/burned. So how do the two compare when it comes to potential fume toxicity?