Palo Santo

The palo santo aromatic wood is extracted from the Bursera graveolens tree. It grows in South America, especially on the Pacific coast. The aroma is sweet and intense with citric notes.

Native Americans still use it during religious rituals as they consider its scented white smoke chases evil spirits away and protects the village. It’s highly valued for its mystical capacity to bring positive energies, to cleanse and perfume spaces and to allow a deep spiritual connection. In the regions where it comes from, people also use raw palo santo wood to make protective and decorative objects.

In order to get a high quality palo santo, the wood must be collected following a specific process. “Maturity is between 50 and 70 years old. Once the tree dies from natural causes, it has to remain at the same place for at least 5 to 8 years so that the oils are mature enough to be able to make quality incense”, according to Jonathon Miller Weisberger, ethnobotanist author of Rainforest Medicine: Preserving Indigenous Science and Biodiversity in the Upper Amazon. Our palo santo comes from fallen trees. Controled by SERFOR (Forest and Wild Fauna National Service), it fulfils the Peruvian regulations in force. The Bursera graveolens wood is not on the CITES list.

How to use it
Light the stick, and then shake it to extinguish the flame. Its lovely fragrance will fill the air with the resulting smoke. Remember that smudging is an intention-based ritual. With a pure heart and noble aspiration, you will boost its effect. Palo santo easily fades out and you can use it many times. Ventilate the room after use. Do not inhale the smoke directly.