Herbs have been used for centuries to purify the air and energy of a space. Native americans used a variety of herbs, but the most well known one is Sage. There are endless kinds of burnable herbs that all have their own effect on a space. When you want to produce a specific effect on an area or person, choosing the right kind of plant to go with your intention is crucial!

Sage

Sage is one of the most popular burnable herbs. The main properties of this plant is for healing, blessing and cleansing spaces and the energy around people. It’s used to sort of wash off old, negative or stagnant energies.

Studies have actually found that it cleans the bacteria in the air, so it is quite practical to use. The small eventually fades, so it takes any unwanted smell along with it.

There are different kinds of sage plant, one of the most well known ones being Salvia Apiana or White Sage. Many other plants come from the Asteracea family.

This type of plant comes from the Artemisia family which has around 400 different types of plants. There’s also Grey sage, Prairie sage, Dakota sage, Lakota Sage and a few more. Each sage has it’s own look and slight difference in smell.

Cedar

Cedar has been burned for protection. Cedar trees have been around for a long time, so they were used for their wise and powerful energy.

Cedar is also used for cleansing an area. It is good for smudging a new house or room to clear old energies, memories and attachments you might have had there.

Cedar is actually a name used for a multiple genera of trees and shrubs, the primary ones are Cedrus, Thuja, Libdocedrus and Juniperus.

Cedar has a more sweet, forest-y type smell so if that’s what you enjoy, try this herb out! The cedar tree is also perfect for starting fires as they burn incredibly hot and can still let off a sweet smell.

Sweetgrass

Sweetgrass, as you can tell by its name, smells very sweet!

It is also known as Seneca grass, holy grass and sometimes vanilla grass. It has a very vanilla-y, sweet smell to it.

Because of this, it has sort of a feminine energy of Mother Earth.

Many people braid sweetgrass and burn it like an incense. It can also be sprinkled over hot coals to create a sweet scent in the room.

Lavender

Lavender can be used for a whole bunch of things, including burning it, making a tea out of it, using it as a decoration or garnish.

Lavender is great for cooking and adding flavors to your food or water.

In ancient times, it was used for helping with mummification. Some believe burning lavender can help ward off evil spirits, but really it’s always your perception that matters.

Frankincense and Myrrh

These two go hand and hand with each other. In the past, these substances were considered to be worth more than gold! These trees are used to cleanse and protect the human spirit.  Frankincense and Myrrh are sap like substances that secrete from trees.

They played important roles in many major religions including Muslim, Jewish and Catholicism.

Frankincense and Myrrh is said to aid in healing depression and help enhance our physic abilities. The most popular way of burning Frankincense and Myrrh done on top of hot Charcoal Tablets.