Choosing your smoke

Different smoke does different work. Herb bundles like white sage, rosemary, cedar and lavender are the go-to for clearing a room after an argument, a move or a long week. Stick and cone incense is easy and steady, good for meditation, reading or just making the house smell like a home. Resins like copal, frankincense and dragon's blood burn on charcoal and fill a space fast, which is why they show up in so many older traditions.

Whatever you burn, give it a safe place to land. A cauldron, an abalone shell or one of our incense holders catches ash and embers. New to resin? Start with resin burners and charcoal, light one small piece, and open a window. Smoke cleansing works better when the old air has somewhere to go.