Smudge Sticks: What They Are and How to Use One

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Updated November 1, 2026

White sage growing in the wild — Photo: John Rusk from Berkeley, CA, United States of America, CC BY 2.0

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Quick answer: A smudge stick is a bundle of dried herbs tied with string and burned for its smoke. Common plants include white sage, garden sage, cedar, lavender, rosemary and sweetgrass. Light the tip, blow it out so it smolders, waft the smoke, and extinguish it in sand or a fireproof dish.

Smudge sticks are sold widely, but smudging is a sacred practice for many Indigenous peoples, and some plants used are overharvested.

Common plants

Plant	Scent	Notes
White sage (Salvia apiana)	Strong, herbal	Native to southern California and Baja California; wild populations have declined in places
Garden sage (Salvia officinalis)	Herbal	Widely cultivated alternative
Cedar	Woody	Varies by species
Lavender	Floral	Easy to grow at home
Rosemary	Piney	Easy to grow at home
Sweetgrass	Sweet, vanilla-like	Usually braided

How to use one

Ventilate the room.
Light the tip over a fireproof dish, let it catch, then blow out the flame.
Waft the smoke with your hand or a feather.
Extinguish by pressing into sand or a dish of soil. Never use water on a hot bowl.

Where to shop

Cultivated sage smudge sticks
Look for 'cultivated' or 'farm-grown'.
Check price on Amazon
Lavender or rosemary bundles
Alternatives to sage.
Check price on Amazon
Sand for smudge bowl
Safe extinguishing.
Check price on Amazon

We link to Amazon search results so you can compare current listings, prices and reviews yourself. We have not tested these products.

Safety

Treat a smoldering stick like an open flame: never leave it unattended, keep it away from curtains, children and pets, use a fireproof dish, and make sure it's fully out. The NFPA's candle-safety guidance applies. Smoke from burning any plant material affects indoor air, so ventilate the room, and skip smoke if you or someone at home has asthma or breathing problems.

A note on tradition

Smudging has deep spiritual meaning in many Indigenous cultures. This site explains products and safe use; it doesn't speak for any tradition. We don't make health claims about smoke.

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone smudge?

Many people burn herbs for scent. Some Indigenous communities ask non-Native people to avoid sacred plants like white sage, or buy only from Native-owned or cultivated sources.