Palo Santo also called Holy Wood or Saint’s Wood is a rare and delicious smelling relative of Frankincense that grows in South America. Sacred to the Inca and Aztec, it is used both as a medicine of protection and of welcome to friendly spirits. Burning Palo Santo is a special blessing to the tree spirits when it is appropriate to thank them for the use of their bodies when we use wood in a sacred fire as in a sweat lodge fire or other fire ceremony. Palo Santo (Bursera graveolans) simply smells wonderful and is similar to the fragrance of Frankincense (Boswellia carterii). Both trees are in the family of Bursureacea. The fragrance of Palo Santo is a high note with citrus overtones. Our Palo Santo is harvested only from downed trees and broken branches to protect this special sacred medicine.
Use Palo Santo by lighting one end of the stick, then blow out the flame and allow it to smolder. It can also be burned on charcoals or placed on the hot stones in sweat lodge. One stick can be re-lighted many times. Supplied as sticks of wood 3 to 4 inches long, 5 sticks are approximately one ounce.
