A few things to know (and love) about the ritual-friendly, beautifully fragranced, plant.
– KEYS SOULCARE
Earthy, yet refreshing. Hypnotically smoldering for hours on end. One whiff and it’s clear that palo santo’s popularity across the beauty and wellness world is rooted in real, soul-nourishing benefits.
Native to the Yucatán Peninsula, palo santo — which means “holy wood” in Spanish — was first burned by South American shamans as a means of removing negative energy and promoting tranquility.
The secret to it’s mood-lifting scent lies in the Limonene-rich resin flowing through each tree, and is particularly abundant in the central “heartwood” from which it’s usually carved. (And speaking of sourcing, always opt for bundles cut from fair-traded, wildcrafted and naturally felled trees, as those are less environmentally disruptive than others.)
Burning its sticks during meditation is akin to smudging sage or lighting incense: simply light one end, gently extinguish the active flame, and let the curling, fragrant smoke drift through the air while clearing your mind in the process.
“Hmm. It just feels fluid at its first breath and super, super vibrates to the core!” says Alicia of the contrasting notes of oat milk, sage, and palo santo throughout. (And yep, she’s also a fan of burning it solo, too.)
But that’s not the only way to incorporate palo santo into your soul care rituals. A few of our other favorites include using the oil (or resin) to repel mosquitos when enjoying nature, making tea (or digestion-friendly cocktail bitters) from its bark, and incorporating it into your daily ritual with our Sage + Oat Milk Candle, which includes notes of palo santo, too.
Learn anything new? Have more to share? We’re always down to discuss all things palo santo alongside you in the comments.
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