Cleansing with smoke is an ancient ritual that humans have participated in for millennia, across many different countries and cultures. This ritual is performed to cleanse a person’s energy, any retained energy in dwellings and to provide a greater connection with your spirituality. 

Palo Santo means 'holy wood' in Spanish and is harvested from a sacred tree which grows in South America. It is also a natural insect repellent. At 23 Urban we are proud to stock sustainably grown Palo Santo from Peru. The Palo Santo comes in a bundle of three sticks. 

How to use:

• Open all the doors and windows of your home to allow any collected energy to escape.
• Find a heatproof bowl and light the end of the Palo Santo, allowing it to burn for about 30 seconds, then blow gently on the flames to extinguish them and allow the smoke to rise. 
• Place the Palo Santo smoking end down in the heatproof bowl. 
• Start at the front door of your home and work clockwise around every room, allowing the smoke to drift where it needs to. 
• During this process you may also wish to ask (out loud) for any collected energies or spirits to kindly leave your space. 

When should you use it?

• After a long day around a lot of people
• After illness
• After an argument or stressful event 
• After entertaining or having friends and family around
• Whenever you feel the energy around you is a little 'off'

Before smudging your home, please be mindful of any fire rules or regulations in your building. Ensure that a heatproof bowl is used to catch any ashes that may be hot or create a fire hazard. Please ensure you extinguish your Palo Santo after using, stubbing the sage out in the soil of a plant pot, or a dish of sand, is a good way to do this.