Palo Santo Holy Wood: History, Uses & How to Burn It

The Complete Guide to Palo Santo Holy Wood — History, Uses & How to Burn It (2026 Update)

Palo santo has been used in South American ritual and healing traditions for centuries. Today, people across the world burn its fragrant wood to clear the air, calm the mind, and create a sense of sacred space. But what exactly is it, where does it come from, and how do you use it properly?

What Is Palo Santo?

Palo santo is a wild tree native to the dry tropical forests of South America, particularly Peru and Ecuador. Its name is Spanish for "holy wood," a name that reflects the deep spiritual significance it has held for indigenous communities for thousands of years. The tree belongs to the same botanical family as frankincense and myrrh — and like those ancient resins, it has a rich, aromatic quality that forms the core of its appeal.

What makes palo santo special is that only fallen branches and naturally dead wood are traditionally harvested. The tree must rest on the forest floor for several years before its essential oils reach their full potency. This slow process is part of what gives the wood its unique character. It is, in a sense, a gift of patience — from the tree, and from the land.

The active compounds responsible for its aroma include limonene, alpha-terpineol, and terpene, which together produce a sweet, warm, slightly citrusy scent. Many people find this smell immediately grounding and calming.

A Brief History of Palo Santo

The use of palo santo stretches back to the time of the Inca Empire. Shamans and healers burned the wood during spiritual ceremonies to drive away negative energies, prepare the mind for ritual, and connect with the spirit world. It was considered a gift from the forest — something to be used with gratitude and respect.

Spanish colonists, encountering these traditions in the 16th century, gave the tree its now-universal name. Over the following centuries, knowledge of palo santo spread beyond South America, carried by traders, healers, and travellers. Today, it has become one of the best-known aromatic tools in wellness and mindfulness culture worldwide.

However, as its popularity has grown, so have concerns about over-harvesting. Sustainable sourcing matters. When you buy palo santo holy wood, look for suppliers who harvest only naturally fallen wood and support reforestation efforts. Responsible sourcing protects both the forests and the indigenous traditions that made this practice meaningful in the first place.

Traditional and Modern Uses

Energy Cleansing

The most widespread use of palo santo is cleansing — clearing a room, an object, or a person of stagnant or negative energy. This practice, sometimes called "smudging," involves waving the lit wood through a space while setting a clear intention. Many people do this when moving into a new home, before a meditation session, or after periods of stress or illness.

It is worth noting that this is a deeply intentional practice in its traditional context. Approaching it with awareness and respect for its cultural roots makes the experience more meaningful.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Burning palo santo before or during meditation is a simple way to signal to the mind that it is time to slow down. The scent acts as an anchor — something consistent that the nervous system begins to associate with calm. Over time, even a brief inhalation of the aroma can help shift your mental state into a quieter, more focused place.

For those who explore consciousness through practices like mindfulness or plant-based ceremony, palo santo can form a meaningful part of the preparation ritual.

Aromatherapy and Mood Support

Research on limonene — one of palo santo's key compounds — suggests it may have mood-lifting properties. A 2012 study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that inhalation of limonene-rich scents produced measurable reductions in anxiety-related behaviours in animal models. While this doesn't make palo santo a medical treatment, it supports the widely reported experience that it simply makes people feel better.

Beyond ceremony, many people burn palo santo as an everyday ritual — first thing in the morning, during yoga, or in the evening to unwind.

Insect Repellent

A more practical traditional use is as a natural insect repellent. The smoke from burning palo santo is thought to keep mosquitoes and other insects away. Whether you are sitting on a terrace in summer or setting up an outdoor ceremony space, burning a stick nearby can help keep the air clear.

How to Burn Palo Santo: Step by Step

Burning palo santo is simple. However, a few small details make the difference between a good experience and a great one.

Select a palo santo stick that feels solid and dry. Well-cured wood will have a golden to dark-brown colour and a faint sweet smell even before you light it. Our palo santo holy wood is sourced from sustainably harvested, naturally fallen trees in Peru.

Before lighting, take a moment to decide why you are burning it. Are you clearing a space? Opening a meditation? Simply unwinding? Intention is the foundation of any meaningful ritual. A few seconds of quiet focus make all the difference.

Hold the tip of the stick over a candle flame or lighter for 30 to 60 seconds until it catches and produces a small flame. Palo santo is denser than many types of incense, so it needs sustained heat. Let it burn for a moment before blowing it out gently.

Once the tip is glowing orange, blow the flame out. The wood will then smoulder and produce a thin, fragrant stream of smoke. This is what you want. If the glow fades, simply hold the stick at a slight angle or blow gently on the tip to rekindle it.

Walk slowly through the space you want to cleanse, allowing the smoke to drift into corners, doorways, and areas where you spend most of your time. You can use a feather or your hand to gently guide the smoke. Keep a fireproof dish or abalone shell beneath the stick to catch any falling ash.

When you are done, press the glowing tip firmly into your fireproof dish to extinguish it. Palo santo self-extinguishes relatively quickly, but always make sure the ember is fully out before leaving the room. The same stick can be relit many times.

Palo Santo and Psychedelic Ceremony

Palo santo features prominently in many traditional plant medicine ceremonies, particularly those involving ayahuasca and other sacred plants. Healers often burn it before, during, or after ceremony to mark transitions — opening sacred space at the start, or grounding participants after an intense experience.

If you are preparing for or integrating a psychedelic experience, burning palo santo can serve as a simple sensory anchor. The ritual act of lighting, smelling, and moving with intention helps the mind shift into a more receptive state. It can also be useful during integration — burning it while journalling or reflecting helps recreate the contemplative atmosphere of the experience.

Those interested in how traditional cultures have combined plant medicines and ritual can explore more in our article on shamanism and magic mushrooms, or read about how to turn your experience into a ceremony.

Caring for Your Palo Santo

Store palo santo sticks in a cool, dry place — away from direct sunlight and moisture. A wooden box or cloth pouch works well. Properly stored wood will last for years and actually improve with age as the resins continue to concentrate.

If your sticks lose their scent over time, a brief period in a warm, sunny spot can help reawaken the natural oils. Some people also keep a few sticks in a drawer or wardrobe simply for the lingering ambient fragrance.