What Is Palo Santo?
Palo Santo, meaning “Holy Wood” in Spanish, is an aromatic wood native to the dry forests of Peru, Ecuador and other parts of South America.
Known for its distinctive woody, resinous fragrance, Palo Santo has a long history of traditional and cultural use in South America. Today, it is also burned as incense and enjoyed for its natural aroma around the world.
For ELMNT EARTH, understanding where Palo Santo comes from is just as important as the finished product.
Its origin matters.
Where Does Palo Santo Come From?
Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) grows naturally in the tropical dry forests of Peru and neighbouring regions.
Our journey took us to Piura in northern Peru, where we walked through the Palo Santo forest and saw firsthand the environment in which the trees grow. We saw the wood, seeds and natural regeneration of Palo Santo within the landscape and learnt more about the forest from the people who work with it.
From Piura, the Palo Santo used in our incense travels to Huanchaco, on Peru’s northern coast, where it is processed and handcrafted by local artisans.
Seeing both the land and the hands behind our Palo Santo gave us a deeper understanding of what sits inside each box.
It isn’t simply an ingredient. It has an origin, a process and people behind it.
What Does Palo Santo Smell Like?
Palo Santo has a distinctive natural fragrance unlike conventional incense.
You may notice notes of:
- Warm wood
- Soft citrus
- Natural resin
- Earthy sweetness
- A subtle mint-like freshness
When burned, the heat releases the natural aroma of the wood, creating the warm, woody and slightly sweet fragrance Palo Santo is known for.
What Is Palo Santo Used For?
Palo Santo has traditionally been used in cultural and spiritual practices in parts of South America, where its aromatic smoke forms part of rituals and ceremonies.
Today, Palo Santo is also burned during meditation, at the beginning or end of the day, to create atmosphere in a space, or simply because people enjoy its distinctive natural fragrance.
There doesn’t need to be an elaborate ritual attached to it.
Break • Burn • Breathe.
How to Burn Palo Santo Incense
ELMNT EARTH Palo Santo incense is designed to be broken, so you can choose how much you want to burn.
- Break the stick into your preferred size.
- Light the end for approximately 10–20 seconds.
- Blow out the flame.
- Place it securely in a suitable heatproof incense holder.
- Allow the fragrant smoke to move through your space.
A full stick burns for approximately 25–30 minutes. For a shorter burn, break off a smaller piece and save the remainder for another time.
Always use incense in a well-ventilated space and never leave it burning unattended. Keep away from flammable materials, children and pets.
How Is ELMNT EARTH Palo Santo Incense Made?
Our Palo Santo incense is processed and handcrafted in Huanchaco, Peru.
The wood is milled before being hand pressed into our distinctive compressed incense sticks by local artisans.
Our original Palo Santo incense keeps things simple:
Palo Santo wood.
No synthetic fragrance.
No added perfume.
We also offer Palo Santo blended with botanicals including Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Wallpa Chaqui and 7 Andean Herbs.
Each box contains four sticks, designed to be broken and burned at your own pace.
Respect its origins.
Can You Use Palo Santo Without Burning It?
Yes. Palo Santo’s distinctive aroma isn’t limited to burning incense.
Our Palo Santo jewellery is handcrafted in Peru using the aromatic wood itself. When worn against the skin, the natural warmth of the body helps release its subtle woody aroma — a simple way to carry Palo Santo with you throughout the day.
For spaces where smoke isn’t practical, our Palo Santo Aura Mist offers another way to experience it. Made in Australia using Palo Santo essential oil sourced from Peru, it can be misted into the air whenever you want the distinctive aroma of Palo Santo without lighting incense.
Burn it. Wear it. Mist it.
Bringing Palo Santo Into Everyday Life
Palo Santo doesn’t need to be saved for a particular occasion.
Burn a small piece with your morning coffee. Wear Palo Santo on your wrist. Mist your space when burning incense isn’t practical. Or simply enjoy its distinctive fragrance at the end of the day.
How you use Palo Santo is entirely your own.
The world can wait.