About your Smoulder Stick

Smoulder sticks are bundles of herbs bound together and dried for the purpose of burning. Burning herbs is one of the earliest forms of aromatherapy and has been practiced for thousands of years. You may be familiar with the term smudge stick or smudging, which refers to a specific Indigenous American sacred smoke ceremony. Most cultures across the world have burned herbs and dried plants at some point in their history.

All of our smoulder sticks are intuitively handcrafted with a blend of homegrown organic herbs & wild foraged plants local or naturalised in the UK, each with their own unique qualities.

As the stick burns and smoulders an aromatic smoke is released containing many of the beneficial compounds and energies of the plants. The element of fire also symbolises energy, transformation and clearing of unwanted energies.

We do not add any fragrance to our sticks. Burning herbs in this way is intended first and foremost for the benefit of smoke cleansing and natural plant properties rather than as fragrant incense.

How to use

Hold the end of your stick just above a candle until it smoulders or catches alight. Depending on the plants in your stick it can react very variably. It may produce flames especially on the first light which is normal but always use gently with care and attention and a fireproof dish underneath to catch any falling embers. Once lit, after the few seconds, blow the flame out as you would a candle allowing your stick to smoulder away and release aromatic smoke into your space. Place your smouldering stick in a heatproof dish or bowl.

Working with plants in this way can enhance a meditation or relaxation practice. Observing the smoke as you breathe deeply and relax, allowing the plants to support your intentions and clear what no longer serves you. You may also wish to move your smoulder stick around your space to bring the cleansing smoke to particular areas of your room/home. You can find our guided smoulder stick relaxation practice here.

Different plants burn at different rates. Sometimes your stick will extinguish by itself. You can light it again if you would like to continue enjoying the smoke.

When you are ready to extinguish your stick, hold the smouldering end against the heat proof bowl or dish until fully out, a layer of sand in your dish makes this easier too.

Always use your stick in a well ventilated area and with a heatproof bowl or dish to collect any embers that will fall from your stick.

Please be aware that plants are powerful and not all are recommended for use during pregnancy or breast feeding, if you have certain health conditions or around pets. Please always check the full blend list and consult a specialist before use. If you experience any adverse reactions, discontinue immediately.

Some people choose not to burn their sticks at all. If you prefer, you can hang yours above your bed or place on your altar to enjoy the energy of the plants.

How to care for your smoulder stick

You should be able to use your stick over many occasions. The herbs burn best when there is some air between them. You may find as you get closer to where the stick has been tied that it doesn’t smoulder as well. When this happens snip the next twine tie off and continue burning your stick.

If the end of the stick becomes too charred, it may not light as easily, in which case you can clear some of the blackened bits by pressing down against your fireproof dish or even snipping the ends if necessary.

Keeping your stick dry and out of direct sunlight will preserve its qualities for longer.

If you have any further questions we are always happy to hear for you.

Happy smouldering!