Clearing with Scent: Smudging, Incense & the Healing Power of Smell

(And a mindful conversation about White Sage)

Scent is one of our most ancient healing tools. Across many cultures, smoke and aromatic plants have been used to clear stagnant energy, mark transitions, and restore balance to both spaces and bodies.

Whether you call it smudging, smoke cleansing, or simply lighting some incense, this practice invites intention, ritual, presence, and a gentle reset, something many of us deeply need in modern life.

Why Smell Is So Powerful

Smell bypasses the thinking mind and speaks directly to the limbic system, where emotions and memory live. This is why a scent can instantly calm you, bring up old feelings, or make a space feel “lighter” without anything physically changing. For me, I love to use a perfume that my mom used when I was growing up, and the smell of a pipe and tobacco reminds me of my grandfather. 

Energetically, smoke acts as a carrier, lifting intention, prayer, and stagnant energy up and out. On a practical level, the ritual itself slows your breath, grounds your body, and signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to reset. I feel a settling and calmness when I light my incense after a long day; it invites me to feel ‘home’ and relax. 

Smudging vs. Incense

• Smudging / Smoke Cleansing usually involves burning bundled herbs or wood briefly and intentionally to clear energy.

• Incense (loose herbs, sticks, or cones) offers a longer, gentler burn and is wonderful for daily rituals, meditation, or ambiance.

Neither is better than the other; it’s about your preference on how you want to work with scent and intention.

A Mindful Note About White Sage 🌿

White sage (Salvia apiana) has a long history of sacred use among Indigenous peoples of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Traditionally, it has been used in ceremony for purification, prayer, and spiritual protection.

In recent years, many people have chosen to rethink or reduce their use of white sage, and it’s worth understanding why.

Why Some Are Moving Away from White Sage

• Cultural respect: White sage is part of specific Indigenous ceremonial traditions. Using it without understanding or acknowledgment can feel disrespectful or appropriative to Native communities.

• Overharvesting & sustainability: White sage grows naturally in limited regions. Much of what’s sold commercially is wild-harvested, sometimes irresponsibly, leading to habitat stress and making it harder for Indigenous communities to access the plant for traditional use.

• Ethical awareness: As people become more conscious consumers, many are choosing alternatives that don’t place pressure on wild plant populations.

White sage itself is not “bad,” nor is it officially endangered, but its popularity has created real ecological and cultural concerns. Many practitioners now reserve white sage for special occasions, seek sustainably grown sources, or choose other plants that are just as powerful and often more appropriate for everyday use. While we do offer white sage at Soulful Abundance, I am very intentional about my choice of vendors.

Powerful Herbs and Plants for Smoke Cleansing

🌿 Blue Sage

Gentle cleansing, calm, emotional balance
A softer alternative to white sage, perfect for regular use and shared spaces.

🌿 Rosemary

Clarity, focus, protection
Excellent for mental fog, workspaces, and fresh starts.

🌿 Juniper

Grounding, protection, and ancestral connection
Ideal when energy feels heavy or unsteady.

🌿 Cedar

Sacred space, grounding, protection
Traditionally used to bless homes and create energetic boundaries.

🌿 Eucalyptus

Renewal, breath, vitality
Great for physical and energetic refreshment.

🌿 Mugwort

Intuition, dreamwork, inner awareness
Best used gently for meditation or evening rituals.

🌿 Lemon Balm & Peppermint

Uplifting, soothing, emotional lightness
Perfect when anxiety is high or energy feels stuck.

🌳 Palo Santo (meaning Holy Wood)

Sweet clearing, peace, heart-opening
A fragrant wood from Central & South America used for stress relief and spiritual cleansing to invite calm, warmth, and clarity in.

How to Smoke Cleanse (A Simple, Respectful Practice)

1. Set an intention
   Keep it simple: “I release what no longer serves and welcome peace and clarity.”

2. Light your herb or wood
   Let it catch briefly, then gently blow out the flame so it smolders.

3. Guide the smoke
   Move it around yourself or your space, especially doorways, corners, and areas that feel heavy. Allow the smoke to surround your body, especially the soles of your feet and the top of your head (crown chakra)

4. Breathe and notice
   You don’t need to deeply inhale. Let the scent register and ground you.

5. Give intention to the movement of energy
     Open doors or windows to clear out the energy, visualize the energy being changed and moved.

6. Close with gratitude
   Extinguish safely and thank the plant for its support.

Let Scent Become a Ritual

Incense and smoke cleansing aren’t about perfection; they’re about relationship. With plants. With breath. With intention. With moving energy.

Trust what your body responds to. Some days call for deep clearing. Other days ask for softness and comfort. There is wisdom in listening to the needs of your body and your surroundings.

If you’d like guidance choosing the right smudge or incense for your space, mood, or ritual, stop by Soulful Abundance. We’re always happy to help you find what resonates. We have an extensive and ever-changing selection of smudge bundles, incense, and incense burners ✨🌙