What Is Palo Santo?
Palo santo — Spanish for "holy wood" — is a wild tree (Bursera graveolens) native to the dry forests of South America, particularly Peru and Ecuador. For centuries, shamans and healers have burned its resin-rich wood to clear negative energy, invite good fortune, and deepen meditation and prayer.
Unlike sage, which has an earthy, herbal scent, palo santo has a warm, sweet, woody aroma with subtle notes of mint and citrus — one of the most beloved ceremonial scents in the world.
Benefits of Palo Santo
- Energy cleansing: Traditionally used to clear heavy or stagnant energy from spaces, objects, and people
- Grounding and calm: The scent has a naturally calming effect — ideal before meditation or breathwork
- Mood elevation: The aromatic compounds in palo santo have been shown to support emotional wellbeing
- Insect repellent: Its smoke naturally deters mosquitoes and other insects
- Spiritual protection: Many practitioners burn it to create a protective, sacred perimeter around a space
How to Burn Palo Santo
- Hold the stick at an angle and light the tip with a lighter or match.
- Let it burn for 30–60 seconds, then gently blow out the flame so it smolders and releases smoke.
- Move through your space, allowing the smoke to drift into corners, doorways, and any areas you want to clear.
- Set an intention as you move — what energy are you calling in? What are you releasing?
- Rest the stick in a fireproof smudge bowl or on the Smoke Cleanse Burner. Palo santo will naturally extinguish itself when you stop fanning it.
Palo Santo vs. Sage: Which Should You Use?
Both are powerful cleansing tools, but they have distinct energy signatures. White sage is a deep, full-spectrum cleanse — it clears everything. Palo santo is gentler and more inviting, often used after sage to bring in positive energy, sweetness, and light. Many practitioners use them in sequence: sage first, palo santo second.
Ethical Sourcing Matters
True palo santo comes only from naturally fallen branches or trees — never harvested from living trees. Our Palo Santo collection is ethically sourced and sustainably harvested to protect this sacred wood for generations to come.
Shop Palo Santo
Ready to add palo santo to your practice? Explore our Palo Santo Incense Collection and Smoke Cleanse collection for everything you need — including bundles, gift sets, and ceremony tools.