I've always loved incense—something about that smoky sandalwood smell made my tiny flat feel a bit more like home. I’d light one every evening after work, especially during the colder months. But after a while, I started waking up with this weird tightness in my chest. I don’t smoke, don’t live with anyone who does, and it didn’t occur to me it could be the incense. I was also getting more headaches than usual, which I brushed off as stress, but it’s been happening too often to ignore now.
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I’ve been through something super similar. I used to burn incense daily too, mostly for relaxation—especially the nag champa ones. After a few months, I noticed I’d get light-headed or my nose would burn a bit after long sessions indoors. I brushed it off until my partner pointed out the room felt really stuffy after burning. That led me down a rabbit hole of info. One article that really opened my eyes was about the hidden dangers of burning incense sticks. It’s not alarmist or anything, just breaks down how these sticks can release particles that mess with your lungs over time. Now I’m super mindful about ventilation and switched to essential oils for scent instead.
It’s kind of wild how easily we normalize things that aren’t really serving us. I’ve been thinking lately about how our everyday habits, even tiny ones, build up and shape how we feel without us realizing. Especially when life gets hectic—we cling to comforts, even if they’re slowly dragging us down. For me, it’s been less about what’s “healthy” and more about being present enough to notice what my body is trying to say. That awareness took years to build.