Homemade Smudge Sticks

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What is Smudging? Smudging is the act of burning herbs and flowers and has been done for thousands of years. Smudging was traditionally a ceremony for purifying or cleansing. The smoke is said to help purify the air and invite good energy into the home. It smells like incense burning and can be used by anyone to bring the smell of the great outdoors inside.

“Native Americans and other indigenous peoples have burned sage for centuries as part of a spiritual ritual to cleanse a person or space, and to promote healing and wisdom. It’s been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians and Romans to treat digestive issues, memory problems, and sore throats.” Direct quote from WebMD.

Make your own smudge sticks using herbs and flowers from your garden or source locally.

Some commonly used plants include:

Sage
Frankincense
Lavender
Mint
Catnip
Sweetgrass
Juniper
Rosebud
Lemon balm
Cedar
Rosemary
Thyme
Cinnamon sticks
Pine
Bay leaves

I used lavender, purple sage, catnip, and mint in the smudge sticks I made, all from my garden and flower beds.

Cut your selected herbs or flowers all about the same length, 6-10 inches long. You can make your smudge stick as thick or thin as you like. Whatever you use to bind the bundle will eventually burn, so use a natural fiber twine or cotton string to tie the plants together. I used natural twine on some and embroidery thread, which is 100% cotton, on others.

Tighten your string around the stems and tie in a knot, leaving a 1 – 2 inch loose piece on one side.

Wrap the other end around the bundle tightly at an angle up to the top of the bundle.

Crisscross the string as you wrap back down to the base. Wrap the string around the base a few times to create a handle. Then tie in a knot to the loose end of the original knot at the base of the stick and cut off the excess.

If desired, clip off or tuck in any loose leaves or flowers.

Hang to dry in a well-ventilated area, outside is fine if the weather permits. A thin wire or an ornament hook works well for hanging, just loop it through the handle and hang the smudge stick upside down. You could also lay them flat to dry on a rack or screen. It generally takes about two weeks for fresh smudge sticks to dry completely.

When you’re ready to use your smudge stick, hold onto the handle and light the other end. A candle or match is recommended. Once it’s burning, blow out the flame and allow the stick to continue smoldering and smoking. Be sure you have a dish to catch the cinders and ashes in. This can be a clay bowl, an ashtray, any non-flammable container, or even a traditional seashell.

To extinguish, smother, or crush the lit end until it goes out. Submerging in a bowl of sand works well to put out the cinders. If you use water to extinguish it, you will need to re-dry the stick before being able to use it again.

It is recommended that you open windows in the home after smudging to let fresh “new” air in.

Bestseller No. 1
Home Cleansing & Smudging Kit with White Sage, Palo Santo, Abalone & Stand, Smudge Feather & Guide - Smudge Kit with Sage Smudge Sticks
  • 🌙 At Blue River Sage, we work very hard to make sure the quality of our sage is excellent. We quality check every single piece of sage that we touch and make sure it is up to our standards before it reach your hands.
  • 🌎 Grown on private land in the mountains around California, our white sage is carefully picked and prepared by trained workers who hand tie each bundle one-by-one.
  • 🪐 Let the calm and loving energy gently season you as the sage burns and crystals shine ~
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  • 💙 Quality Sage, Sustainably Grown - For Your Ceremony, Healing & Spiritual Growth!
SaleBestseller No. 2
Sage Smudge Kit - White Sage Smudge Sticks - 4in ~ Abalone Shell 5-6in ~ 2in Tripod Stand ~ 9-12in Feather and White Sand
  • SMUDGING KIT - 3 Sage Bundles with an Abalone Shell, Feather, Tripod Stand and sand. This is the perfect sage smudge stick kit if your new to smudging or are experienced in spiritual cleansing
  • CALIFORNIA WHITE SAGE – (Salvia Apiana) 3 Sage Smudge Stick - 4 Inches in length - Grown primarily in high desert ecosystems, this evergreen shrub was well known to Indigenous American and used for its healing properties to drive out negative and evil spirits. 4" wands make the perfect sage for burning
  • SMUDGE BOWL ~ ABALONE SHELL ~ TRIPOD WOOD STAND- 5-6 inch the perfect natural heat resistant bowl for resting your smoldering sticks. With a natural Mother-Pearl finish from earth's ocean and a natural hand carved wooden cobra tripod stand (2” when open, 4” when closed). This beautiful shell and stand will make the perfect bowl for your spiritual cleansing. Please Note: shells and stands are all natural, so they may vary in color from the pictures shown
  • TURKEY FEATHER - 9 -12 inch natural turkey feather to fan the cleansing smoke in the direction of the needed cleansing. Please note Feathers are all natural and may vary in color from the pictures shown
  • WHITE SAND - Natural white sand to put into your shell. Use the sand to extinguish your sage wands when finished with your cleansing. This will also preserve the brilliance of your abalone shell
Bestseller No. 3
Purple Canyon Smudge Kit (Beginner's Gift Set) - 3 White Sage Smudge Sticks, 2 Palo Santo, Abalone Shell, Smudge Feather w/Stand + Smudging Guide for Home Cleansing & Healing Meditation Rituals
  • 🎁 COMPLETE BEGINNER'S SMUDGE KIT by Purple Canyon is perfect for cleansing rituals, blessing, spiritual ceremonies, and for banishing negative energy in homes, offices, yoga studios, and more. It has everything you need to seize back the lost energies of your daily life. Makes a great housewarming gift!
  • 📓 HOW TO USE: Hold Sage or Palo Santo Bundle at a 45 degree angle and ignite. Let burn for a few seconds. When the fire is mostly out, wave the smoke around your home while thinking peaceful and happy thoughts. Make sure the smoke reaches corners and closets. Use the abalone shell to catch ash. When finished, place the Sage/Palo in the abalone shell face down, and it will put itself out.
  • 📦 INCLUDES: Three (3) White Sage Smudge Sticks, Two (2) Palo Santo Sticks, Abalone Shell with Tripod Stand, and Smudging Feather. This kit also includes a Smudging Guide with cleansing blessing.
  • 🔮 USES: Perfect for cleansing rituals, neutralizing negative energy prior to meditation, aromatherapy, or simply burn for the pleasant and soothing aroma. A detailed instruction manual and Guide to Smudging is included with every order.
Bestseller No. 4
White Sage Smudging Kit Smudge Stick Gift Kit + Instructions & Blessings (Beginner's Kit)
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  • 🦋 Balance Your Heart & Mind So You Can Listen To Your Soul

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