Smudging 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Cleansing and Purifying Your Space

I recently ran an informal poll on social to find out how many people do smudging. I was very shocked to find that a very low percentage of folks on either platform had tried it. This smoky, meditative practice has been something I have intuitively incorporated into my home life for several years, and I find it extremely beneficial. Since this is something easy to do at home with aromatics that is not only fun but also can support your health, I wanted to write a little bit about the 101 of Smudge. Consider this your step-by-step smudging guide for beginners.

What is Smudging?

Smudge. It’s kind of a funny word. Doesn’t really roll off the tongue. Evidently it is foreign in practice to many of us. So let’s define it. 

At a very basic level, smudging is simply the burning of an aromatic herb or wood. Dense bundles of an aromatic herb, or blends of aromatic herbs, are first gathered and bound together. They are then dried. Once dried, they can be used as a smudging stick. 

Is smudging legit? Some scientific support for smudging.

Ok, so this is an interesting question to answer because it has both spiritual overtones and some scientific basis. 

Let’s start with a scientific overview from the lens of aromatherapy. We know from scientific studies that aromatic compounds (essential oils) from many different types of plants can cleanse and clear the air. In fact, many have the ability to neutralize pathogens—bacteria, viruses, fungus, what have you. The plants used in smudging contain small amounts of essential oil. Through the process of burning, those aromatic compounds and then released into the air. So, as an aromatherapist, this makes total sense to me. This is just another way to administer aromatics. 

Is there more to it than that, though? Does the smoke itself do something? 

Traditional smudging practices and their significance

I direct you to virtually every religious and spiritual tradition on the planet. In nearly every one there is some kind of an understanding of fire purifying things. Fire cooks food and makes it safe to eat. It cleans. It even has the ability to create greater purity in metals. And if you think about it, we use smoke to cook and even preserve some foods (have you enjoyed any jerky lately??!!) 

In my aromatherapy training I learned about smoke from the standpoint of resins—things like frankincense or dragon’s blood resin—that have been used in spiritual ritual. It is understood that churches began using incense during gatherings to help combat plagues and sickness. And it was also noticed that perfumers and those that worked with aromatics got sick less than the average person. 

Burning something to release smoke helps to release more negative ions into the air—something that many people find uplifting, and there are even beliefs that negative ions are healthy. Interestingly, there are some studies that have been done recently to support the idea that smoke can clear negative things from the air. One such study found that smoke helps to clear bacteria at a very high rate when used in a closed environment. Within one hour, airborne bacteria was reduced by a whopping 94%, and this clearing of the bacteria was maintained in this closed room for 24 hours. Impressive! Even more astonishing was that a significant number of some of the more pathogenic bacterias were still not present in the room 30 days later (this included Corynebacterium urealyticum, Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Enterobacter aerogenes (Klebsiella mobilis), Kocuria rosea, Pseudomonas syringae pv. persicae, Staphylococcus lentus, and Xanthomonas campestris pv. tardicrescens). The particular smoke used in this study was a mixture of wood and herbs and interestingly, is a traditional blend used in India as an offering to fire. 

I like the idea that there is some science to back up these types of ceremonies, and that there isn’t necessarily anything magical going on when we smudge. Another study looked at five different plants that are traditionally used in southern Africa to treat lung issues. These herbs are administered through smoke. I realize this is a mindset shift since many of us in the West have only learned of smoking as a bad and potentially dangerous practice. And while that is true with chemically-laden cigarettes and addictive usage, it looks like clean herbs used under medicinal settings can, in fact, be of benefit to the lungs. The study found that the smoke of these five herbs contained acetone, menthol, and a variety of essential oils. The combination of these compounds was found to have anti-microbial activity, making a case for their medicinal in traditional cultures.

A wide variety of herbs can be made into smudging sticks. These are smudging sticks made from the leaves and flowers of the Russian olive tree that grows wild here in North Dakota. A warm, sweet scent in smoke form that will bring warm-cozies to your space.

Some of my training in aromatherapy included learning Ayurvedic practices, all of which I have found to enhance my health quotient significantly. Fumigation is one of those practices of Ayurveda that now also has scientific backing. A study looked at the efficacy of Ayurvedic fumigation herbs against three different strains of MRSA and found that the fumigation herbs were effective in reducing the bacteria not only in the air, but also on inanimate surfaces. Some of these herbs you may even have in you possession right now—garlic peel and turmeric powder!

Best herbs for smudging and their benefits

One last study I would like to highlight (though a PubMed search reveals quite a few more) is one that involved 265 medicinal plants from 50 different countries across 5 continents. Several things about this study stand out to me. Firstly, we see that traditional medicinal uses of smoke span the globe—this is not a practice reserved for certain populations but something that has been done throughout a wide variety of cultures. Secondly, reviewing the plant families used, we see the same families of plants that often show up in aromatherapy as containing essential oil. Here we see allies from Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Fabaceae, and Apiaceae. Thirdly, we see several different means of administering smoke—anything from social smoking to ritual practices. Finally, we see that smoke has been used for a wide variety of complaints including skin disorders, respiratory issues, neurological concerns, heart and circulation issues, and even genito-urinary disorders. Wow—that is quite the list. While this study didn’t seek to prove or disprove the effectiveness of these smoke treatments, it does impress upon the reader the wide and long use of these types of treatments throughout human history and cultures. 

Why should I smudge my space?

Hopefully you are finding yourself excited about the possibilities of these practices for your own home use. So let’s clear up the reasons why a person would smudge.

Firstly I want to introduce a concept that is embedded deep within herbalism and many holistic healing practices, and that is that quantity matters. Sometimes a small amount of something will support health while a large amount can be damaging. So, in regards to smudging, this is not something one will want to practice every day. 

I encourage you to connect with your intuition a bit on this. Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if it is a good time to clear your space with smudging:

• Does my energy or mood seem especially stagnant or negative?
  

• Does my space feel “dead” or does the air seem stale?
  

• Have I recently been “slimed” by someone—meaning someone dumped their problems on you directed negative emotions at you, or the like?
  

• Have I recently been exposed to illness through environment or contact with others? 
  

• Do I have an ill person in my home?
  

• Is this a seasonal change or a time of transition?
  

• Do I feel like I need a fresh start?
  

• Am I craving the scent of a smoky aromatic?
  

• Has anyone recently asked me if I am ok, and I am unsure why they are asking?
  

• Would I like to use essential oils but don’t have the budget to purchase them or any on hand?
  

• Do I want to learn how to use my own wild-crafted or homegrown aromatics?
  

• Have I recently had house guests or am I preparing for company?
  

• Am I a healer? Have I recently been assisting anyone with healing work?
  

• Have I recently had an argument or difficult conversation with someone?
  

• Do I need to bring more of any of the following elements into my being: fire, air, space?
  

• Do I have excess water element manifesting in inertia, coldness, heavy limbs, lack of motivation?
  

• Is it winter or the rainy season?
  

• Do I want the feeling of warm coziness in my space?
  

• Am I experiencing mysterious pain or other weird symptoms atypical for me? (Of course, see a doctor if needed).
  

• Do I have a big project coming up or am I taking on a new roll or calling?
  

Any of the answers to these questions being “yes” means that it may be a good time for you to practice smudging. 

It should also go without saying there are times when we may not want to smudge. For instance, around infants and small children, in enclosed spaces with no ventilation, around those with compromised respiration, and during hot, dry seasons (because this is adding too much fire element to an already high fire time). We also want to make sure we are being safe with our smudging. More on this next. 

Step-by-step smudging guide for beginners

My friends, here is where our discussion is going to depart somewhat from the scientific and move more towards traditional practices simply because there is not a large body of literature at this time about the best ways to administer smoke. While science is great, I think we also need to place a high value on our elders and traditional lifeways and what they can teach us through their centuries of experience. 

It is important to know that there also isn’t a firm right or wrong way to smudge. I truly began doing this intuitively by noticing where energy felt stuck or stagnant in my body or in my home. What I have learned over time is that my instincts are usually right, and that things really do feel better after I smudge. 

First, pick your smudging material. Everyone thinks of sage for this, but there are MANY good options. I have been surprised by the effectiveness and fun of using culinary herbs for smudging. There are also some precious aromatic woods that can be used such as cedar. If you are looking for ethnically-created and environmentally sensitive smudging sticks, look no further than the Apothecary for some interesting and creative choices (I highly recommend the Russian sage sticks!!)

Then find something to set your smudging stick on while it is smoking. A beautiful shell, some great pottery, a vintage plate—these would all be great choices. Nothing flammable, obvi. 

Next, find fire. You need fire to start your smudging stick. 

Light the smudging stick. You are going for a moderate amount of smoke—not flames. Start the material on fire and then blow or shake it to get rid of the flames and begin the flow of smoke. You may have to light it several times to get the amount of smoke you want, and you may also need to relight it several times during your smudging session.

Wondering how much smoke? This is a good start. Probably a little bit more than this is ideal. Play and have fun! This is also an example of a good, non-flammable surface on which to set your smudging stick when not in use. I like to carry this surface along with me to catch any cinders.

I like to start by smudging myself first. This is woo-woo, ok. I get it. But it is also harmless to do. Because I follow the chakra system in life and in practice, I always cleanse the chakras from the bottom up. I like to also smudge my palms, feet, and groin areas, and I like to finish with the top of my head. Just simply swirl the smoke in the direction of the thing you are clearing. And to get even more “out there”—I have also noticed that sometimes smoke will go toward the thing or area that most needs clearing. To have more ease and fun with this process, use a smudging fan like the ones I have created here.

Smudging Fans
A beautiful way to spread the benefits of smoke

Other ways to use smudging for cleansing

Space clearing. I take a lot of direction from the tradition of feng shui with this. I like to start at the bottom of my home and work my way toward the top. Bring your fire with you as you will probably need to restart your smudge stick many times throughout the process. Pass through each room, swirling the smoke. Use the smudging fan to direct the smoke towards objects and into the space. Pay special time and attention to corners—this is often where stagnant energy and air gets stuck. Don’t forget closets and storage spaces. You won’t believe how much better your place will feel when you are thorough. Work your way up into the main floor, upper floors, and any other space you may want to clear, such as garages, storage sheds, yards, outbuildings, etc. The sky is the limit, and there is no harm in doing it. 

I would also suggest clearing your work spaces and place of business, if this is allowed. I find more creative flow and an easy energy to my work after I clear these spots. 

To clear another person, you will do it as I directed above for self clearing. Make sure you ask permission, and stay a safe distance away. Or, if you intuitively know there is a specific area that needs clearing, take some extra time with this. Make sure you then also smudge yourself!

Clearing stones and crystals. Now we are fully into woo-woo territory, but I would remiss if I didn’t pass along my experience with this. I feel that moonlight is truly the best clearer and charger of stones and crystals, followed by using a charging mat. I have cleared them in a pinch with smoke, but I personally feel this just brings them to a neutral energy, whereas moonlight seems to infuse them with positive energy. Just my experience and take on things—and of course no one can prove any of this. Play with it and see how the materials speak and work with you. 

Resource Use and Cultural Appropriation with Smudging

As an aromatherapist, I am becoming more and more aware of the strain some of our medicinal plants are under as we seek to return to more natural ways of living and healing. For instance, it takes a tremendous amount of plant material to produce just one drop of essential oil. What this means is that when we excessively use essential oils, we are putting an undue and untenable strain on our resources in this regard. 

This is one of the reasons why smudging excites me—it offers us many of the same benefits of essential oils but without as much strain on Nature. Having said that, I want to make something abundantly clear:

Please. Please. Please. Do not gather your smudging materials from sacred lands, and make sure, if you are purchasing them, that they have been sourced from people and companies that have a long-term view in terms of sustainability, earth care, and people care. Lately, white folks have been gathering sage from sacred indigenous lands, for example, and this not only steals their opportunity to use these aromatic materials for their own ceremony and healing, but it is selfish on our parts. 

Something that has been suggested from BIPOC herbalists and healers as of late is that each of us look at our own ethnic roots and find the medicines from our own cultures first before we seek help from someone else’s tradition. I think this is wise, and with smudging there are SO many options for us. And, looking at the studies above, this is something we can practice from the standpoint of it being a global tradition. HOW we do this will be different. For example, in talking with and learning from several indigenous First Nations healers within the past several months (find them Here, Here, and Here), I have learned that smudging as I have described it above is not used this way in these cultures. They don’t “clear a space.” They instead use smudging as part of ceremony.

On the other hand, I have spent some time in recent years reconnecting with my roots which are Scandinavian. Last summer on a trip to Sweden, I got to visit a reproduction of a long house. Several things struck me about them—first that this would have been an environment with a fair amount of ambient smoke. Secondly, that the environment there is abundant with potential aromatics to be used in smudging—and I in fact did see dried herbs and smudging sticks displayed in the reproductions of these habitations. I have since learned that there is a Norse ritual called “saining” that is very similar in many ways to the process I described to you above for self and space clearing. This, then, further underlines to me the importance of following our instincts with healing and these types of practices, rather than what we think we are supposed to be doing by following someone else’s. 

So, bottom line, explore your own traditions first, be open to learning from others, and see what your instincts tell you while honoring the Earth, yourself, and others. Learn to grow and work with your own aromatics, and purchase them from ethical sources. 

I hope you find the cleansing and uplifting powers of smudging to be beneficial. Would love to hear how it goes for you! Please comment here or join the conversation with me on Instagram or Facebook! If this type of lifestyle, especially the elements of Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and aromatics are of interest to you in regards to a more connected life, please check out the Eastern Medicine Academy to go deep with this type of material or consider joining us in the Rewild + Untame Community.