Ethically Sourced Palo Santo

Palo Santo literally means “holy wood” in Spanish, which is a tree that is widely distributed throughout Central and South America. Palo Santo is used in South America in much the same way as White Sage is used in North America- to combat negative energy and to cleanse the space. Palo Santo is different than many of the other smudging materials as it is fragrant in its raw form and does not necessarily need to be lit, though it usually is when being used for ceremonial purposes.

Traditionally, only the fallen branches and twigs of the tree are harvested, and this practice is regulated by the government of Peru to ensure that the trees do not become overharvested. Unfortunately, as Palo Santo has become more popular, the illegal harvesting and cutting of trees have also greatly increased. Consequently, if you are purchasing wild-harvested Palo Santo, it is important to do so from an ethical wildcrafter. Our Palo Santo comes from a 50-acre farm in Peru that contains both naturally occurring and replanted Palo Santo. They have replanted Palo Santo trees on the land so far to ensure adequate supply for the future.