Incense - Palo Santo

This 50-gram pack contains genuine Palo Santo sticks from Peru.

• Contents: 50 g, 6 Palo Santo sticks
• Size: each stick measures approximately 9–10 cm in length
• Material: Bursera graveolens wood
• Scent: Palo Santo has a warm, woody and resinous fragrance, with slightly citrusy and sweet notes. Its aroma comes from the wood’s natural essential compounds, which develop especially in aged heartwood.
• Made in Peru

Bursera graveolens, commonly known as Palo Santo, grows wild particularly in the dry tropical regions of South America, especially in Peru and Ecuador, as well as in parts of Central America. The Spanish name Palo Santo literally means “holy wood”. The species belongs to the same plant family as frankincense and myrrh, the Burseraceae, whose aromatic resins have been used in rituals and medicinal practices across different cultures for centuries.

History and traditional use

Palo Santo has been used especially in Peru, Ecuador and parts of the Andean region in ritual and folk-medicinal contexts. Its use is connected with the traditions of Indigenous peoples in the region, and its roots are thought to reach back to pre-Columbian times, possibly also to the Inca period, although direct historical documentation is limited. The wood was burned in purification rituals, healing-related ceremonies and to dispel so-called mala energía — energy or misfortune perceived as negative or imbalanced.

In traditional use, Palo Santo was not generally burned continuously like ordinary incense. Instead, it was used at ritual moments and in ceremonial settings. Its use was connected with prayer, healing, shamanic rituals and various transitional moments. The smoke was believed to cleanse a space, calm the mind and prepare a person for spiritual work or ritual activity.

Origin of the scent and modern use

The scent of Palo Santo comes from the aromatic compounds contained in the wood, particularly limonene and α-terpineol, which are abundant in its resin. These compounds accumulate especially in old heartwood. Traditionally, naturally fallen or dead wood that has been left to dry for a long time has been considered the most valued, as the wood’s aromatic compounds and resins are believed to become stronger over time.

Today, Palo Santo is used in many contexts, including:

• ritual cleansing of spaces and objects
• meditation and yoga
• fragrance and aromatherapy
• symbolic or spiritual practices
• folk-medicinal practices associated, for example, with relaxation or repelling insects

Instructions for use

Light the end of the stick, allow it to burn for approximately 20–30 seconds, then blow out the flame. Place the smouldering stick on a fireproof surface and use only in a well-ventilated space. Never leave a smouldering stick unattended. After use, extinguish the stick with water or by smothering the glowing end, for example in sand.