In the dry forests of Peru, palo santo is collected only after the tree has fallen and the wood has aged on the ground. Nothing is cut from a living tree.
This page covers what palo santo is, how it is collected and how to burn it.
What Palo Santo Is
Palo santo is the wood of the Bursera graveolens tree, a relative of the trees that give frankincense and copal. Lit at one end, a stick smoulders and gives a sweet, woody aroma.
Many people burn palo santo to clear a room, before a quiet moment, or to welcome the evening.
How It Is Collected
Our palo santo comes from Peru. Only wood that has already fallen and aged is taken. It is untreated and cut by hand into sticks. We work with the people who collect it, and we have worked with the same makers for many years.
How to Burn It
- Hold a flame to one end of the stick until it catches.
- Let it burn for a moment, then blow out the flame.
- Rest the stick in a burner or a heatproof dish while the aroma rises.
- It usually goes out by itself. Light it again whenever you like.
Palo santo powder is warmed on a charcoal disc, like a resin. Burn in a ventilated room, and never leave a lit stick unattended.
Palo Santo at Maison Éthérique
- Palo Santo · Peru · 5 sticks
- Palo Santo · Peru · 100 g
- Palo Santo powder · Peru
- Palo Santo essential oil · Peru
- Palo Santo bracelet
- Stick burners: Air and Fire
At Warehouse 23, Alserkal Avenue, you can smell palo santo beside white sage and the resins before you choose. We are open daily, 9 am to 9 pm.
