There’s always that one housemate who starts burning some form of incense as soon as they walk through the door.
Step into their room and the space is most definitely lined with crystals, hemp bedding and Monstera Monkey Leaf. If this is the case, then a burning stick of palo santo is bound to be perched on their bedside table.
Palo santo holds a place of prestige in the homes of the spiritual. The sweet, citrus scent of the purifying wood is said to energetically cleanse the home and encourage spiritual healing. Hence why the waft of palo santo is a regular feature in aromatherapy, yoga and meditation classes.
Known formally as Bursera graveolens, palo santo wood hails from a tree that’s native to Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico and other South American countries. The timber grows in dry tropical forests and produces a fragrant, woody resin.
In Spanish, palo santo translates to ‘holy wood’ which leans into the belief that the wood is cleansing. There may be little scientific backing to the healing benefits of the product, yet it has been used by indigenous communities for medicinal purposes for centuries.
Palo santo wood is associated with a handful of positive benefits. Alongside alternative oil and resin forms, palo santo is set to repel mosquitos, reduce pain such as inflammation and relieve stress. This is due to the limonene found within the wood, a substance which is believed to have pain-relieving properties.
How to burn palo santo wood sticks
- Light a palo santo stick with a lighter or match.
- Hold the stick downward at a 45-degree angle.
- Allow the stick to burn for 30 seconds.
- Extinguish the flame and carefully place the stick in a heatproof dish to let it burn.
- Be sure not to leave the palo santo unattended when burning
As palo santo is extracted from dry tropical forests, it must be purchased with consideration. Increasing deforestation means that palo santo’s habitats are being increasingly decimated, as evidenced by a 2012 report. The paper reads: “Timber primary production (in tonnes of logs) of B.sarmientoi (one particular species of palo santo) in Argentina and Paraguay soared from less than 500 tonnes in 2000 to 35,000 tonnes annually in the last years, considering both countries together.” As with everything, it’s about buying ethically and in moderation.
Discover the best palo santo sticks to burn at home and rid the space of bad vibes and negative energy.
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Toast Palo Santo Set
This palo santo set blends perfectly with Toast’s earthy aesthetic. The included palo santo sticks are made only of naturally dead branches and trunks, which are collected without cutting down any living trees or damaging the surrounding environment. They are complemented by a glazed Leach Pottery bowl, which is hand-thrown. Each bowl differs in glaze colour variation, making everyone unique.
Buy now £32.00, Toast
Real Mish Mash Palo Santo Aromatic Wood Incense and Burning Holder
A wholesome housewarming gift, this pal santo set comes with wood to burn and a holder to match. The holder has been designed to mirror the shape of the palo santo stick, making for an attractive home trinket. Be sure to hold the stick horizontally so that it will burn slowly and evenly, and allow the tray to catch the ash.
Buy now £18.00, Etsy
Tales of the Wind Palo Santo Sticks
Sustainably sourced from Peru, these affordable palo santo sticks are a win for the planet and a win for your pad. The sticks have been carved from fallen trees and left to dry and cure for over five years. Burn yours to release a subtle, distinctive fragrance into the home and distil a sense of calm.
Buy now £1.61, Etsy
Luna and Fern Californian White Sage Smudge Sticks Set Pink Flowers
Luna and Fern’s pretty Californian White Sage Smudge Sticks Set is designed for novices. Dainty pink petals encase Californian white sage, which is complemented by palo santo and an abalone shell. Clear negative energy by lighting your palo santo, which was imported from a village in Peru that only procures palo santo wood from naturally fallen trees at the end of their lifespan.
Buy now £30.00, NOTHS
Portentum Natural Palo Santo Incense
Enjoy the authentic, sacred properties of naturally sourced Peruvian palo santo. This pocket-friendly option hails from the South American country and is set to alleviate stress and anxiety with ease. Reuse one stick multiple times and bathe for hours in the sweet scent, culminating in a long-lasting and holistic experience.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
Into the Wanderness Energy Cleansing Set
Buy gifts on a budget with a helping hand from Not On The High Street. For just £6, you can treat a loved one to a petite cleansing set consisting of Peruvian palo santo and selenite crystal. Both are powerful energy cleansers and can be used in everyday rituals to restore your crystals to their highest healing frequency.
Buy now £6.00, NOTHS
PALOSANTO Palo Santo Sticks
Cut to a medium thickness for ample burning, these fragrant palo santo sticks will rid the atmosphere of bad vibes and gloomy blues. These particular sticks are made in Ecuador in collaboration with local families and have undergone a smoke analysis to certify their purity and quality. Another option derived from naturally fallen trees, the sticks offer up blissful home relaxation for all.
Buy now £10.99, Amazon
Lots of Zen Palo Santo Sticks
Lots of Zen quite literally promises lots of zen. The brand stocks a generous supply of palo santo sticks for the whole house to burn. Create your own corner of calm away from the office and city bustle with one of twenty smudge sticks to light. Plus, the label donates one per cent of every purchase to an organisation that works to plant and grow trees. A win-win all-round.
Buy now £20.97, Amazon
ROCK + REALM Palo Santo Holy Wood Sticks
Aid meditation, yoga and breathwork sessions with ROCK + REALM’s palo santo offering. Sustainably sourced in Northern Peru, the palo santo sticks provided are traditionally, legally and ethically harvested. Once lit, inhale sublime scents of mint, wood and citrus and set your intentions for the week ahead.
Buy now £4.00, ROCK + REALM
