Does Incense, Agarbatti, and Mosquito Coil Affect Air Quality?
For many households in India, lighting incense sticks or agarbatti is a daily ritual. Mosquito coils, on the other hand, are a common solution during evenings and monsoon months. These practices feel familiar, comforting, and often harmless. But have you ever stopped to wonder what happens to the air you breathe when these items burn indoors?
The truth is, while these products serve religious, cultural, or practical purposes, they can quietly affect indoor air quality—especially in closed spaces.
What Happens When Incense and Agarbatti Burn
When incense or agarbatti burns, it releases smoke made up of fine particles and gases. These particles are extremely small and easily inhaled deep into the lungs. The fragrance may feel soothing, but the smoke contains particulate matter that can linger in the air long after the stick has burned out.
In small or poorly ventilated rooms, this smoke builds up quickly. Over time, repeated exposure can irritate the eyes, throat, and nose. People with asthma, allergies, or sinus issues may notice symptoms becoming more frequent or intense, even if they don’t associate them directly with incense use.
Mosquito Coils: Small Coil, Big Impact
Mosquito coils are often seen as a necessary evil, especially in mosquito-prone areas. While they are effective at keeping insects away, they work by releasing smoke infused with chemicals. This smoke spreads throughout the room and stays suspended in the air for hours.
Burning a single mosquito coil can release pollutants comparable to several cigarettes. Prolonged exposure may cause headaches, coughing, dizziness, or breathing discomfort. Children, elderly family members, and pets are particularly sensitive to these emissions.
Why Indoor Spaces Make It Worse
Outdoor smoke disperses quickly, but indoors, it behaves differently. Walls, ceilings, furniture, and curtains trap smoke particles, allowing them to circulate every time air moves in the room. In homes where windows are kept closed—especially during winters or high pollution days—the concentration of these particles increases.
Many people assume occasional use is harmless, but regular daily exposure adds up. Over time, indoor air becomes a mix of outdoor pollution and smoke from household activities, creating an unhealthy environment without obvious warning signs.
Common Symptoms People Often Ignore
The effects of incense and mosquito coil smoke aren’t always immediate or dramatic. Instead, they appear gradually and are easy to overlook:
- Frequent sneezing or coughing indoors
- Burning or watery eyes
- Mild headaches after evenings
- Feeling tired or breathless in closed rooms
- Aggravated asthma or allergy symptoms
Because these symptoms develop slowly, people often blame weather changes or dust, not realizing indoor smoke plays a role.
How to Reduce the Impact Without Changing Traditions
Cultural practices and practical needs don’t have to stop—but they can be managed better.
- Use incense sparingly and avoid lighting multiple sticks at once
- Ensure good ventilation when burning agarbatti
- Avoid using mosquito coils in bedrooms or enclosed spaces
- Choose alternative mosquito control methods where possible
- Keep indoor spaces well-ventilated after use
Small adjustments can reduce the overall pollution load inside your home.
Indoor Air Quality Matters More Than We Think
Most people spend nearly 80–90% of their time indoors. When indoor air quality is compromised, it directly affects comfort, health, and overall well-being. While incense and coils may seem minor, their cumulative effect becomes significant when combined with cooking fumes, outdoor pollution, and household dust.
Awareness is the first step. Once you understand what affects indoor air, it becomes easier to protect yourself and your family.
Incense sticks, agarbatti, and mosquito coils may be a part of everyday life, but their impact on indoor air quality is real and often underestimated. Smoke from these sources introduces fine particles into the air, which can linger and affect breathing over time—especially in closed or poorly ventilated spaces.
In such situations, a portable air purifier like Airofy becomes useful. Designed keeping Indian homes and lifestyles in mind, Airofy’s compact purifiers help reduce indoor airborne pollutants without asking you to change your daily routines. Their portable design lets you move them easily from one space to another—whether it’s the living room during the day, the bedroom at night, or your workspace—making it simpler to maintain cleaner, healthier air, even with everyday habits around.