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Writer's pictureOlivia Carter

What is Palo Santo? What are the benefits?

Updated: Oct 30

It’s Sunday morning, and you’ve finally made it to the studio—maybe after a bit of a rushed exit from the house, or maybe even after a minor disagreement with your other half! (let’s face it, even slow Sunday mornings can get a bit chaotic!).

But as you walk up the steps to the studio on Totnes High Street, things begin to shift. The sun is streaming through the windows, and the soft, sweet scent of Palo Santo fills the air. You take a deep breath, and just like that, the stress of the morning starts to melt away.

 

That scent? It’s Palo Santo.

 

Palo Santo, or “Holy Wood,” comes from the Bursera graveolens tree, native to South America, particularly in Peru and Ecuador. It’s been used for centuries by indigenous cultures in healing and spiritual rituals, often burned to clear out negative energy and invite a sense of peace. These practices are still alive today, passed down through generations. When I use Palo Santo in my work amd in my sessions, it’s not just about clearing the space—it’s about setting the tone for deeper relaxation and connection. (And by work, I mean lying in wonderfully comfortable restorative yoga poses, with the subtle sounds of the gong and the singing bowls, and not forgetting receiving the Reiki…)

Yet despite all that loveliness we often have a hard time enjoying the stillness! Yes, even in a luxurious class like this, finding stillness in the mind the hard part.

 

It’s funny, because while the poses are deeply relaxing and the environment is soft and supportive, the real challenge is internal. Letting the mind quiet down, dropping into that elusive state of stillness—it’s not as easy as it sounds! It’s the kind of “hard work” that doesn’t look like work at all from the outside, but inside, there’s a lot going on. That’s where the magic of scent comes in. The sweet, citrusy aroma of Palo Santo helps bring us back to the present, gently guiding the mind away from its usual busyness.

 

I also love using frankincense in my practice, which, like Palo Santo, comes from a tree in the same botanical family—the Burseraceae. Frankincense has been used for thousands of years, especially in the Middle East and Africa, where it’s known for promoting spiritual clarity and grounding. Its resinous, calming scent creates a peaceful atmosphere that’s perfect for the kind of 'work' we do in restorative yoga.

 

But what about sage, I hear you say? Doesn’t everybody who’s anybody in the wellness space use sage? Okay, let me be real with you. I literally cannot stand the smell of sage. Infact sadly it will always remind me of the time a dear little bird flew into the front grill on a car I owned in Australia!

We disdnt realise untill the awful smell arrived and then spent a good few months not being able to use the air con during a very hot ozzy summer!

Enough said! 🙈


In all seriousness though, while I respect sage for its ability to clear energy, I personally can’t handle the smell—it’s too overpowering for me, so I stick with the rich woody scents of Palo Santo and frankincense, which feel more grounding clear and inviting.

 

Beyond their energetic properties, scents like Palo Santo and frankincense help create a relaxing atmosphere that supports our nervous system. Our brains naturally associate certain smells with calm, wellness, and relaxation—especially when we experience them in spaces dedicated to healing. So while these smells might seem like just a pleasant touch, they’re actually helping us shift from stress to rest, which is exactly what we need during these restorative sessions.

 

However, as Palo Santo has gained popularity in the West, it’s important to talk about cultural appropriation. The use of Palo Santo and other sacred tools, like sage, has deep roots in indigenous cultures. When we use these practices without understanding their origins, we risk turning them into mere trends. I believe that all things of the world are for the world, but with that comes the responsibility to respect and understand the roots of these practices. When we burn Palo Santo, we’re connecting to the history, people, and land that have cared for and passed down these traditions for centuries.

 

Another key aspect of using Palo Santo is ensuring it’s ethically sourced. Unfortunately, due to the rising demand, unsustainable harvesting has become an issue. Traditionally, only fallen Palo Santo trees were harvested, allowing the wood to cure naturally. But,due to western demand some suppliers have resorted to cutting down living trees, which threatens the species and local ecosystems. To avoid this, I always look for certifications like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or FairWild, which ensure the wood has been harvested sustainably. In Peru, SERFOR (Servicio Nacional Forestal y de Fauna Silvestre) oversees the responsible collection of Palo Santo, ensuring only fallen trees are harvested. Supporting suppliers who work with indigenous communities is another way to ensure ethical sourcing.

 

So, whether you’re enjoying the beautiful scent of Palo Santo during a class or using it in your own practice, remember that it’s about more than just a nice smell. It’s about honoring the deep cultural traditions that come with it, respecting its origins, and creating an environment where true relaxation—and maybe a little mental stillness—can finally begin to unfold.





Want to read a quick review of the weekly Restorative yoga class?


“I'm a therapist and have lived in totness for 32 years and was so delighted when I heard of Olivia's restorative yoga class it's something I had been hoping for for a long while and I hardly ever miss a week. There's a great mixture of conviviality as a lot of people come very often. And this extraordinary experience of relaxing so deeply and coming out feeling completely different to when I went in. The combination of the skill which Olivia uses to support us in the restorative postures and the beauty of the sounds that she uses including distance reiki if we choose to have some is quite extraordinary I've never experienced anything like it in the 32 years of living in totnet and I feel so grateful that this is available every Sunday morning. I have found my stress levels are so much lower these days. The healing and the classes goes very deep and having recently experienced and abnormal amount of loss I find it a very safe class for allowing held feelings out gently. Olivia is a brilliant teacher”

SU. Totnes October 24


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