You might have heard of Palo Santo before, and maybe even used this very fragrant wood to cleanse your space. But do you know what Palo Santo really is and why it has been revered by the South Americans for centuries?

Here are 9 Incredible Benefits of Palo Santo that will start you on a long and happy relationship with this versatile wood.

1. Spiritually purifying and energy cleansing.
For centuries the indigenous people of the Andes have been using palo santo for spiritual purification and energy cleansing. When the wood is burned it’s believed to clear negative energy and restore tranquility and calm.

2. Inspires creativity, brings love and good fortune.
Burn palo santo sticks or use the charcoal for ritual smudging that will welcome creativity, love, and good fortune into your space. The wood can help brighten energy and promote feelings of positivity and joy. The scent is also shown to reduce stress and anxiety, and enhance clarity and concentration.

3. Takes you into deeper connection to the divine source.
If meditation is the yin, palo santo is the yang. The uplifting scent is the perfect partner for your meditation practice. Raises your vibration, and discover peace and groundedness as you sink into a deeper connection into the Earth and your inner consciousness.

4. Cleanse and purifies your crystals.
Crystals do much of the heavy lifting in the work of drawing out negative energy. Like humans, crystals benefit from a ritualistic cleansing to maintain their best qualities. Integrating a smudging practice every 2-3 days for your rose quartz, amethyst, jasper, citrine, or other crystal types, is a lovely way to keep your crystals primed for their true power.

5. Protects your vibes and removes the negatives ones.
When used for smudging or burning, palo santo can eliminate negative energy, creating a calmer, more tranquil space. Set an intention about what you want to clear out of your space, then move from corner to corner, removing any bad energy, uplifting your spirit, and filling your home with good fortune.

6. That enticing and lovely signature scent.
Honestly, we couldn’t mentioned enough how remarkable, lasting scent of a palo santo smudge? For our kitchens and bedrooms, vehicles and workspaces, the brightness of citrus, marked with the ancient notes of its natural heritage, bring a uniquely clarifying scent to every space. The benefit of burning palo santo wood in a smudging practice is its lingering scent.

7. Convenient and travel friendly.
Unlike a sage bundle, palo santo wood is graciously proportioned for spiritual seekers who spend ample time away from home. Palo santo sticks are well-paired with car rides, hikes and other travel experiences. People are known to safely cleanse their hotel rooms before sleep for a more peaceful, deepened rest.

8. Calms the mind.
The symptoms and causes of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are complex. Palo santo by itself does not necessarily can act as the cure. However, a smudging or essential oil practice along with the proper medical treatments can provide some relief. Consider it as your go-to aromatherapy session; releasing a calming scent to the olfactory and limbic systems of the body and brain in order of creating a sense of relaxation and calm.

9. Safer alternative for insects repellent
Smudging provides the additional benefit of warding off mosquitoes in a natural, non-harmful way. Palo santo features volatile oils and aromatic resins that communicate a warning sign to pesky bugs, but without the harsh chemicals.