What Is Palo Santo?
Share
You've probably seen it everywhere — the pale, fragrant wood burning in yoga studios, boutique shops, and wellness spaces. But palo santo is far more than an aesthetic. Here's the full story, and how to actually use it in your daily life.
The Origins of Palo Santo
Palo santo (Bursera graveolens) literally means "holy wood" in Spanish. It has been used by indigenous cultures across South America — particularly in Peru and Ecuador — for centuries in spiritual ceremonies, healing rituals, and as a natural remedy. What makes it especially sacred: the wood's aromatic resin only fully develops after the tree has naturally fallen and rested on the ground for several years. It asks for patience before it gives its gifts.
What Does Palo Santo Actually Do?
- Energetic cleansing: Traditionally burned to clear negative or stagnant energy from a space — think of it as an energetic reset button. It has long been used in the same tradition as smudging with sage.
- Mood elevation: The scent — warm, woody, slightly sweet and citrusy — stimulates the olfactory system in ways that can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety and promote calm.
- Spiritual focus: Many practitioners burn palo santo before meditation, journaling, or intention-setting as a sensory signal that something purposeful is about to begin.
Palo Santo vs. Sage — What's the Difference?
Both are used for cleansing, but they work differently. Sage is more aggressive — it clears everything, like a full energetic sweep of a room. Palo santo is more selective and inviting — it clears heavy or negative energy while simultaneously drawing in positive, uplifting vibrations. Used together (as in several of our candles), they complement each other beautifully: sage clears the slate, palo santo fills it with warmth and light.
How to Use Palo Santo in Your Daily Life
- Light a palo santo candle before journaling, meditating, or beginning any intentional ritual.
- Use it to mark transitions — the start of a workday, the end of a hard conversation, the beginning of a new week.
- Combine with a written or spoken intention for maximum focus and clarity.
- Incorporate it into a weekly reset routine — read our Sunday Self-Care Reset Ritual for a full step-by-step guide.
Shop Palo Santo Candles from Good Scents Only
We make it easy to bring palo santo into your everyday life — no sticks, no mess, just the sacred scent and the intention. Our Palo Santo Candle for Energy Cleansing is crafted specifically to neutralize negative energy and enhance positive vibrations, making it ideal for meditation, manifestation, and daily rituals.
For a deeper purification experience, the Palo Santo Purification Candle brings pure palo santo essential oil in a clean soy wax base. And if you want palo santo as part of a love or abundance ritual, it's also a key ingredient in our Love Intention Candle, Unapologetic Intention Candle, and Next Level Intention Candle.
Ready to Start Your Palo Santo Practice?
If you're building a broader self-care ritual around this sacred wood, our posts on How to Use a Love Intention Candle and Being Intentional with Your Self-Care Routine are great next reads.