Palo santo · sent from the UK
Palo Santo
The sweet, woody "holy wood" of South America, long used to clear a space and mark the start of a ritual. Smudge sticks, incense, resin and oil, all in one place.
- 88 palo santo pieces
- Dispatched in 1–2 working days
- Free UK delivery over £50
Palo santo blends
Palo santo is often paired with other classic scents. Choose a blend to see every product with it:
Palo santo & White Sage
All blends
Palo santo & Lavender
All blends
Palo santo & Sandalwood
All blends
Palo santo & Cinnamon
All blends
Palo santo & Dragon's Blood
All blends
Palo santo & Frankincense
All blends
Palo santo & Nag Champa
All blends
Palo santo & Copal
All blends
Palo santo & Rosemary
All blends
Palo santo & Vanilla
All blends
Palo santo & Myrrh
All blends
Palo santo & Rose
All blends
Holders & heaters
Palo santo resin, beads & cups
Palo santo smudge sticks, wood & bricks
Sage & herbal smudge sticks
Many people clear a space with a bound sage or herbal smudge stick first, then sweeten it with palo santo. Here are all our bound smudge sticks.
Show all 52 smudge sticks
Palo santo cones & backflow
Palo santo oils & mists
Palo santo incense sticks
What is palo santo?
Palo santo, Spanish for "holy wood", comes from Bursera graveolens, a tree that grows along the dry Pacific coast of South America. Its wood is rich in fragrant oils that develop slowly after the tree has died naturally, giving a sweet, warm scent with notes of citrus, pine and mint. In the Andes it has long been burned in homes and ceremonies to clear the air and bring a calm, fresh feeling to a room.
Today people light it before meditation, yoga or a tarot reading, after guests leave, or simply at the end of the day. Many use it alongside white sage: sage to clear, palo santo to sweeten the space afterwards.
Sticks, incense or resin?
Natural smudge sticks give the truest scent and a gentle, short-lived smoke. Incense sticks and cones are easier to burn for longer and come blended with lavender, sage and other favourites. Resin and beads are burned on a charcoal disc for a rich, slow fragrance, and palo santo essential oil brings the scent without any smoke at all.
Read our full guide: what is palo santo and how to burn it.
How to burn palo santo
- Hold the stick at a 45-degree angle and light the end with a match or lighter.
- Let it burn for 30 to 60 seconds, then gently blow it out so it smoulders.
- Walk slowly around the room, letting the smoke drift into corners and doorways, with a window open.
- Rest it in a heat-proof dish, a shell or a burner. It usually goes out on its own; if not, press it gently into sand or the dish.
- Never leave it smouldering unattended, and keep it away from children, pets and anything that could catch.
Choosing palo santo responsibly
Good palo santo is gathered from trees that have fallen and dried naturally, and the best of it is aged for several years before it is cut, which is what gives it its scent. Bursera graveolens is not currently listed as endangered, but responsible harvesting still matters, so it is worth buying from established makers and treating palo santo as something special rather than burning it every day. A little goes a long way: one stick can be relit many times.
Palo santo: questions and answers
What is palo santo used for?
Palo santo is traditionally burned to clear and refresh a space, before meditation, yoga or ritual, or simply for its sweet, woody scent. Many people use it after white sage, or on its own at the start or end of the day.
Is palo santo the same as sage?
No. White sage is a herb from North America with a sharp, herbal smoke, while palo santo is a South American wood with a sweet, warm scent. They are often used together: sage first, then palo santo.
How long does a palo santo stick last?
A single natural stick can usually be lit many times, burning for a minute or so each time. Most people find one stick lasts for weeks of regular use.
How do I put out palo santo?
It usually goes out on its own within a minute. If it keeps smouldering, press the tip gently into sand, soil or a heat-proof dish. Never leave it burning unattended.
Do you deliver palo santo across the UK?
Yes. Orders are dispatched within 1 to 2 working days, with free UK delivery on orders over £50. We also deliver to Europe and worldwide.
Looking for more ways to clear a space? See all smudge sticks, incense and backflow burners.