Palo santo is one of those names you meet everywhere in the wellness world, usually attached to a little bundle of pale, fragrant wood. If you have wondered what it actually is, where it comes from and whether it is a kind choice to burn, this is an honest look at the tree, its traditional use, and the sustainability and ethics you should weigh before you buy. It matters, because palo santo is sacred to Indigenous peoples of South America and its harvest carries real concerns.
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Check tonight's moon phaseWhat palo santo actually is
Palo santo is the wood of Bursera graveolens, a wild tree of the dry tropical forests of South and Central America, especially Ecuador and Peru. The name is Spanish for "holy wood". It belongs to the Burseraceae family, the same botanical family as frankincense and myrrh, which is exactly why the wood is so fragrant. That resinous, aromatic lineage is the whole story of its scent.
The smell most people love, sweet and warm and woody with hints of citrus and pine, is not there in fresh-cut wood. It develops only after the tree dies naturally and the fallen wood is left to age for years. The aromatic oils concentrate in the deadwood over time, which is why properly sourced palo santo is gathered rather than felled.
Its traditional use
Palo santo has a long history among Indigenous peoples of South America, who have burned the aromatic wood for cleansing and ceremony for generations. It is traditionally lit so that the fragrant smoke can be carried through a space or over a person, and it is treated as a sacred material, not a novelty. We describe this respectfully and from the outside: it is a living tradition that belongs to those communities, and it is not ours to instruct or package.
That respect is the reason the ethics below are not an afterthought. When a sacred material becomes a global trend, the people whose practice it is often carry the cost, so it is worth understanding the wood before you reach for it.
The honest sustainability and ethics picture
Here is the part that matters most. Bursera graveolens is not classified as an endangered species, and it is important to be accurate about that. But "not endangered" is not the same as "no concerns". There are real worries about over-harvesting and about the illegal cutting of living trees to meet growing demand.
The ethical line is simple. Only naturally fallen deadwood should ever be used, because that is where the fragrance comes from anyway and because it does not harm a living tree. Harvesting live trees is regulated or illegal in Ecuador and Peru, so cutting a standing tree is not just wasteful, it is often against the law. And because the wood is sacred to Indigenous peoples, the sourcing question is an ethical one as much as an ecological one.
What that means for you as a buyer:
- Buy only certified, sustainably sourced wood. Look for sellers who state clearly that their palo santo comes from naturally fallen branches, not felled trees.
- Favour sources that support Indigenous communities. Choose suppliers who work with, and give back to, the communities the wood is sacred to.
- Be wary of very cheap, unlabelled wood. Suspiciously cheap palo santo with no sourcing information is exactly the kind that fuels illegal cutting.
- Consider an alternative instead. If you cannot verify the source, a garden herb you can grow yourself is the kinder choice.
This is the same reasoning we apply to white sage, another sacred, at-risk material sold as a wellness trend. If you would rather step away from contested materials altogether, our guide to sustainable alternatives to white sage lists plenty of fragrant herbs you can grow on a windowsill.
How to choose ethically
If you do decide palo santo is right for you, a few simple habits keep your choice a kind one.
- Read the sourcing statement. Only buy from sellers who explicitly say the wood is naturally fallen deadwood, gathered rather than cut.
- Look for certification. Certified, sustainably sourced wood gives you a paper trail rather than a promise.
- Support Native and community-led suppliers. Where you can, buy from sources that support the Indigenous communities the wood is sacred to.
- Buy less, use less. A single stick, lit briefly, goes a long way. Treating it as precious is part of using it respectfully.
- Call it what it is. Burning aromatic wood or herbs at home is smoke cleansing, a broad, cross-cultural practice. Keep that word separate from the closed Indigenous ceremonies it should not be confused with, as we explain in smoke cleansing versus smudging.
Does it actually clear energy, and is it safe?
Honestly, there is no scientific evidence that palo santo smoke, or any smoke, removes energy from a room. What is real is the ritual and the scent. Pausing, breathing and setting an intention genuinely helps us reset, and ritual has been shown to lower anxiety, while some of the benefit people feel is a gentle placebo effect. That grounding, calming feeling is available from any aromatic plant, which is one more reason the sacred, contested wood does not have to be the one on your shelf.
Whatever you burn, remember that burning plant material makes smoke, and smoke is not neutral for your lungs. Open a window and keep the room well ventilated, keep the burn brief, and take care around asthma, young children and pets. Rest the wood in a heatproof dish and never leave anything burning unattended.
Keep exploring
Read the full respectful guide to smoke cleansing, learn how to use palo santo mindfully, understand the difference between smoke cleansing and smudging, and browse sustainable alternatives to white sage. For the wider picture, see our guide to spiritual cleansing rituals.
Frequently asked questions
Palo santo is the aromatic wood of Bursera graveolens, a wild tree of the dry tropical forests of South and Central America, especially Ecuador and Peru. The name is Spanish for holy wood. It belongs to the Burseraceae family, the same botanical family as frankincense and myrrh, which is why the wood is so fragrant.
Sweet, warm and woody, with hints of citrus and pine. That scent is not present in fresh-cut wood. It develops only after the tree dies naturally and the fallen wood is aged for years, as the aromatic oils concentrate in the deadwood.
Yes. Indigenous peoples of South America have burned the aromatic wood for cleansing and ceremony for generations, and it is treated as a sacred material. We describe this respectfully and from the outside; it is a living tradition that belongs to those communities.
Bursera graveolens is not classified as an endangered species, but there are real concerns about over-harvesting and the illegal cutting of living trees. Ethically, only naturally fallen deadwood should be used. Harvesting live trees is regulated or illegal in Ecuador and Peru, so buy only certified, sustainably sourced wood that supports Indigenous communities.
Buy only from sellers who state clearly that the wood is naturally fallen deadwood, gathered rather than cut, and look for certification rather than a promise. Favour Native and community-led suppliers, be wary of very cheap unlabelled wood, and use less. If you cannot verify the source, a garden herb you can grow is the kinder choice.
There is no scientific evidence that palo santo smoke, or any smoke, removes energy from a room. What is real is the ritual and the scent. Pausing, breathing and setting an intention helps us reset, ritual has been shown to lower anxiety, and some of the benefit is a gentle placebo effect. Frame it as a traditional association, not proven fact.
Burning plant material makes smoke, and smoke is not neutral for your lungs. Open a window and keep the room well ventilated, keep the burn brief, and take care around asthma, young children and pets. Rest the wood in a heatproof dish and never leave anything burning unattended.
