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Velvet Digest

What kind of smudge stick should I use?

Author

Ethan Hayes

Updated on July 11, 2026

Smudge StickSome common ones are: sage, cedar, sweet grass and lavender. My personal go-to is palo santo, a wood from South America. I find that it has a sweet, bright and minty energy that's perfect for everyday use. White sage is probably the most common and popular herb for smudging.

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Similarly, it is asked, what are the different smudge sticks used for?

Smudge sticks are bundles of herbs – white sage, lavender, or Yerba Santo – bound together by twine. Burning these herbs in order to prevent illness, ward off negative energy, or cleanse a space, person or group, is a tradition that goes back thousands of years. Native Americans used sage and sweetgrass in ceremonies.

Also Know, how often should you smudge? Now to answer your question: There's not a set certain amount of times you should smudge. If you feel negative energy, vibes etc.. it may be helpful to do a cleansing of your home. I would recommend a Seasonal cleansing: four times a year when the seasons change.

Also to know, does smudging really work?

Sage smoke offers rapid delivery to the brain and efficient absorption to the body. Scientists have observed that sage can clear up to 94 percent of airborne bacteria in a space and disinfect the air. When sage is burned, it releases negative ions, which is linked to putting people into a positive mood.

What can I smudge with?

Smudging and Blessing Herbs

  • Sage. The use of sage is for healing.
  • Cedar. Cedar is a medicine of protection.
  • Sweetgrass. Also called Seneca grass, holy grass and vanilla grass.
  • Lavender. This native of Europe is often used for invitation of the spirits.
  • Copal.
  • Frankincense.
  • Myrrh.
  • Smudging Feather.

Related Question Answers

What type of sage is best for cleansing?

For example, blue sage is used in cleansing and healing rituals, while desert sage is used for purifying and protection. Other herbs, including juniper and sweetgrass, can also be burned for similar purposes.

What is the difference between sage and white sage?

Appearance. The mature leaves of a white sage plant are smooth and white, while the leaves of garden sage are gray or gray/green. Also white sage is slightly larger, growing 4 to 5 feet tall compared to garden sage's 2 feet height max.

Can you use any shell for smudging?

Shell-Type ContainerAbalone shells are a very popular material for use as a smudging bowl. But be careful not to handle the shell midway, since heat also transfers to the shell. Abalone shells, being shells, are not bowls, so they sometimes have holes in them.

Can regular sage be used for smudging?

Not all herbs, and even some varieties of sage are best to burn when dried. Garden or common sage will do the trick, too. Other smudging plants to use include cedar, sweetgrass, and sagebrush. Various herbs and wildflowers make as wonderful additions to your smudge stick.

How do you smudge?

Get your smudge on“Visit each room and ring a bell to awaken the energy present.” Then, head to your altar (or another favorite space) and place your sage into a fireproof bowl or your shell. Burn a candle, set an intention, and then light the sage using the candle. “Blow it out so the embers are glowing.

What do you say when smudging a house?

Use this example prayer.“You could simply say: 'Sacred and holy ones, please clear this place of stagnant and negative energy,'” he says. “And after you are finished working, you can thank them and the sage for their help.” According to him, it's a solid stand-in that'll do the job just fine.

How do I cleanse my house of negative energy?

How To Get Rid Of Negative Energy In Your Home
  1. "Shoo" negative energy straight out the window.
  2. Scatter black tourmaline throughout your home.
  3. Use houseplants or small bouquets to keep the energy clear.
  4. Spritz room cleansing sprays or burn incense to increase positive feelings.
  5. Move around your furniture to shift how you feel emotionally.

How do you smudge for beginners?

Start at the front door of the home and light your smudge stick. Then, begin to move around the home. Move mindfully and with care, walking clockwise around the entire perimeter of the home. Be sure to allow the smoke to drift into even the hidden spaces, like inside closets, basements and dark corners.

What does sage do to spirits?

The Latin word for sage, salvia, means to heal. Burning sage has traditionally been associated with increasing wisdom, clarity, and spiritual awareness. When sage is burned, it releases negative ions, a natural way of putting people into a more positive mood.

How do you know if your house has negative energy?

Get a clear (transparent) glass and pour sea salt in it – it should cover about 1/3 of the glass. Top the glass off with 1/3 water and 1/3 white vinegar, then put it in the room where you think the bad vibes are most powerful. Put the glass in a hidden spot and leave it for a full day.

What does burning sage do?

Burning sage is is a powerful ritualThe ritual of sage burning has its roots in Native American tradition. Today, people burn sage and other holy herbs to cleanse a space or environment of negative energy, to generate wisdom and clarity, and to promote healing.

Is smudging a religious ceremony?

Smudging, or other rites involving the burning of sacred herbs or resins, is a ceremony practiced by some Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

How much sage is too much?

What's more, it's nearly impossible to consume toxic amounts of thujone through foods. However, drinking too much sage tea or ingesting sage essential oils — which should be avoided in any case — may have toxic effects. To be on the safe side, limit sage tea consumption to 3–6 cups a day ( 47 ).

Is smudging bad for your lungs?

If this is the case, burning sage may be a blessing for those with asthma, allergies, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. But inhaling the smoke during the smudging can aggravate any respiratory condition.

Does Sage purify the air?

Poor air quality may be linked to various health conditions. In this way, burning sage is seen as a cost-effective way to purify the air (to an extent). This is because sage is thought to have antimicrobial properties that help kill bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Does Walmart sell white sage?

White Sage Smudge Stick - 5 in - Walmart.com.

Is burning incense bad for you?

Particulate matter in incense smoke not only contains carcinogens but also irritants. This means it could lead to a number of respiratory diseases, such as asthma. One study evaluated over 3,000 schoolchildren for asthma, symptoms of asthma, and burning incense.

Where is incense from?

Incense is a substance that's burned to produce a fragrant scent. In fact, the word “incense” is derived from the Latin word for “to burn.” Incense has been around since ancient times — it was used in religious rituals in ancient Egypt, Babylon, and Greece.

Where can you get white sage?

Salvia apiana, the white sage, bee sage, or sacred sage, is an evergreen perennial shrub that is native to the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, found mainly in the coastal sage scrub habitat of Southern California and Baja California, on the western edges of the Mojave and Sonoran deserts.