If you’re having trouble tracking down palo santo locally, try ordering it from holistic lifestyle websites online. The wood is also available in cone form, making it suitable for incense burners and scent diffusers.

Watch for a glowing ember to form at the end of the stick.

Be careful not to blow so hard that you extinguish the flame accidentally.

Avoid bringing the palo santo too close to your hair, clothing, or body while you’re holding it. Have an ashtray or similar receptacle on hand to catch the ash that falls from the burnt wood.

Many palo santo users recommend metal containers over glass and ceramic, which have been known to crack or shatter when exposed to intense heat Since it burns so slowly, a single stick of palo santo can give you up to half an hour of use, depending on its size and thickness.

Palo santo makes a simple yet exotic alternative to scented candles and ordinary varieties of incense. [8] X Research source Bring a stick and ashtray along with you while you take a long, relaxing soak in the tub.

The sharp fragrance of palo santo is very effective for keeping persistent pests like flies, gnats, and mosquitoes at bay. Try burning palo santo in your porch or foyer to drive out bugs that have already found their way inside.

To dispel stubborn lingering energies, combine a stick of palo santo with a bundle of dried sage—another potent item that’s commonly employed in cleansing rituals. [13] X Research source

If you wish, you can recite a prayer of healing or wisdom while smudging. Remember to keep the palo santo a safe distance from you at all times.

Avoid breathing the burning wood too deeply, or it could irritate your nose, throat, and lungs. It’s the fragrance you want, not the smoke. Palo santo and other holistic remedies should not be considered a substitute for the advice of a qualified physician. If you’re really sick, see a doctor. [16] X Research source