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7.21.15

Split photo with a close-up shot on the left and medium shot on the right of floral smudge sticks with sage, lavender and rose
  • Split photo with a close-up shot on the left and medium shot on the right of floral smudge sticks with sage, lavender and rose
  • Split photo with wooden work surface displaying how to make a smudge stick from flowers

DIY’s don’t come any simpler than this – and rarely are they more gorgeous. We’re dying to burn our floral smudge sticks from 100 Layer Cake – cedar, sage, rose and lavender have us like “!”

This is our third summer tutorial from the styling geniuses over at 100 Layer Cake. Try these floral bundles first, then set-up shop at home for a sweet-smelling fete with their wall hangings too…

Continuing our obsession with dried flowers this summer, we came up with this simple project to infuse a bit of floral goodness into your home in an unexpected way. So you know about smudge sticks, yes? Those bundles of dried white sage that hippies like to burn? Well, what if you made your own using some extra fragrant herbs and flowers? Even if you don’t burn them (though you totally could), they’d make a beautiful hostess gift or favor for a bridal or baby shower this summer. They’re just so pretty as an object of appreciation in your home.

A starting note: You can buy the herbs already dried if you like, though they will be more difficult to wrap up together since the leaves will be pretty brittle. You can also find your pieces fresh, wrap them how you like and hang them up to dry for a few weeks.

Floral + Sage Smudge Sticks

Supplies:

white sage
cedar
lavender
roses or any other herb or flower that dries well.
cotton culinary twine

Directions:

The instructions are pretty basic here: Bundle together your herbs and flowers in a pleasing way. Wrap tightly with cotton twine and wait til dry.

Or if you’re working with dried ingredients already, disassemble an existing sage smudge stick (look for a high-quality one with large leaves still in tact, not one that looks crumbly already). The leaves will already have a shape to them so let their direction inform how you’re adding new bits and how you ultimately tie it all together. You can let the sage be the outside “wrapper,” since the leaves are the broadest of the bunch. Add springs of dried cedar, lavender, roses, rosemary or anything else you have on hand (maybe even some palo santo wood?) to the center of the bundle. Then carefully close the bundle together in your hand and wrap with cotton twine.

The leaves must be completely 100% dry to burn so it’s best to wait until you’re sure. Light one end and enjoy!

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Comments


  1. love your style and will follow

    Gavin | 09.01.2015 | Reply
  2. You look incredible!KISS

    Barth | 09.01.2015 | Reply
  3. I was suggested this website by my cousin. I am no longer
    positive whether this publish is written by way
    of him as nobody else recognise such certain about my trouble.
    You’re wonderful! Thank you!

    ผ้าม่าน | 12.31.2015 | Reply
  4. Very nice indeed. But far from being ‘bundles of dried white sage that hippies like to burn’, smudge sticks are a very sacred tool for First Nations ceremonies.

    kt2shoes | 04.30.2016 | Reply
  5. Please sign me up

    Donna | 05.05.2016 | Reply
  6. ^ what kt2dhoes said

    Beautiful though

    Adina | 05.11.2016 | Reply
  7. Beautiful. And seriously echoing this: “far from being ‘bundles of dried white sage that hippies like to burn’, smudge sticks are a very sacred tool for First Nations ceremonies.” —kt2shoes

    Brenda Salgado | 05.14.2016 | Reply
  8. They are our medicine. We burn them in ceremonies or to cleanse new spaces, or spaces where bad things have happened. Our four traditional medicines are sage, sweet grass, cedar and tobacco. In order for them to be authentic, one has to harvest the medicine themselves. This is very important, as whatever you burn echoes the feelings you put into it. It is the same with art, and the same with food preparation. You have to put positive thoughts and think about the outcome you want for this place, or your smudging will not be authentic.

    Not a hippy thing. An indigenous thing.

    Your flowers are cute, but you don’t mask the ignorance here. What you’re doing is colonial and frowned upon in many circles, and it seems clear that you did not know that. Despite this, if you do read your comments atleast, I would reconsider leaving this post up . I would rethink encouraging this sort of action if I were you, in respect to the struggle we indigenous people face daily when it comes to truth and reconciliation, and reclaiming our territories and traditions.

    Lauren | 07.13.2016 | Reply
    • I have griwn white sage and roses and lavender and I wanted to give this gift to my family and friends. Do you think that’s OK?

      Lawanda | 11.30.2017 | Reply
  9. This is cultural appropriation.

    Shane | 10.11.2016 | Reply
  10. People, give the finger shaking, and cultural bashing and shaming a rest! Homo sapiens have been bundling flowers and herbs for millennial. This gathering, binding, and burning of plants is not an “indigenous” trademark or copyright. It is not “colonial” or cultural appropriation. Modern and Ancient tribes and cultures of Europe, India, Asia, Africa, indeed people in the northern and Southern Hemispheres use and have used the bundling and burning of plants as an innately human artistic, spiritual, and healing expression.
    Do you “shamers” deliberately search websites to post your self-righteous, educationally judgmental and indignant comments on what you perceive as injustices to your culture? Talk about ignorance and time wasting. Perhaps, you should appreciate and comment on the beauty of using plants in any fashion.

    Mamaj | 10.12.2016 | Reply
  11. I think the smudge stick, as is labeled here, is most lovely. Mamaj is quite right in her analysis of bundling plants. If you research, you will find the Ayurveda and other ancient lifestyles used these. I would much rather do this than have a pot of artificially scented wood chips siting around gathering dust and creating migraine attacks for my daughter. I will be looking around this web site for more helpful and beautiful hacks on life. Thanks for posting this.

    Diane C Bush | 10.13.2016 | Reply
  12. Smudging is not something to be taken as lightly as its presented here. The cultures that smudge have had rituals for millennia, but this write up ignores the sacred and links the practice to hippies.

    Syringa | 10.14.2016 | Reply
  13. I agree … all grow and use these wonderful plants for our own reasons, in our own ways. No one person or people can claim singular dominion. I love reading about each persons combinations, rituals and use of the plants… but lets share without exclusion or judgement.. <3

    Linda | 11.05.2016 | Reply
  14. It’s frustrating to see that this website hasn’t taken this article down in over a year. Smudging is not just a “trend” that you can use in “your own way”. This is cultural appropriation, and those who continue to ignore these comments are perpetuating colonization and are being oppressive to indigenous peoples.
    Please try to be anti-oppressive and more inclusive in the space you have created here – especially if you’re goal is to spread love.

    Betty | 02.06.2017 | Reply
  15. I love this, thank you so much.

    Beth O'Neill | 03.26.2017 | Reply
  16. Do you not realize how ridiculous you sound? I guess we shouldn’t burn candles for the wonderful smells or decoration either because some cultures and religions light candles in remembrance of dead loved ones or as a symbol of prayer for the sick. Wow. Just wow.

    Mamaz4 | 05.01.2017 | Reply
  17. I so agree!!!

    Junebug | 05.01.2017 | Reply
  18. I get what you’re saying. We are ALL indigenous at our roots. So really it is an indigenous thing just not limited to one culture but something that can be found in all cultures. The medicine of the lands will perhaps speak to us in different ways. We are all related.

  19. So I guess according to “indigenous” individuals, I shouldn’t be smudging. Well, considering I’m Pagan, and its part of MY religion, who is anybody to tell me that I shouldn’t be doing something. Burning things that smell good doesn’t belong to any people, it belongs to ALL people. Some do it because it smells good, and others do it because its part of a religious or ritual ceremony. How bout you do your thing, I’ll do mine. Oh, and don’t bother to tell me that how I’m doing it is wrong, because “your people” supposedly did it first. Get over yourselves.

    BlessedBe | 05.01.2017 | Reply
  20. I think that there’s some real defensiveness going on here in the comments. So much of our White American heritage IS colonist. Speaking of getting over it, we need to and start recognizing when we are doing so and make corrections.

    As for these items……when you call them smudge sticks, that’s where it keys in. Call them something else…..which these actually are when the instructions say to include whatever dried plant material you have around the house with no attention paid to thinking about whether the materials should be burned (or whether the smoke would be OK to breathe).

    As for Pagan? Yes, I’m Pagan too. And using burning herbs for cleansing is part of what many of us do. Distinction, for me is awareness of colonization process and whether one it taking the practices of 1st Peoples……or burning herbs like our ancestors did as well.

    Lastly, telling someone to “get over” the on-going experiences of colonization is such a typical colonist remark. I’m sorry to read a co-coreligionist say so…..not part of my Paganism.

    Helen/Hawk | 05.02.2017 | Reply
  21. This is why I am a Hedgewitch. Such judgmental comments and backbiting going on when really we are all connected on this Earth. We all need the same things to survive and all believe that we give thanks for what we receive from the Great spirit or God , whatever you want to call your diety. Yet we cannot get on together and just accept our differences. It is trite to say burning smudge sticks is a hippie thing. It is incorrect to say only one people have the right to do so, the Ancestors of many races did this. Australian Aborigines still do smoking rituals at every important gathering. Stop being so racist and accept that we are all human. We all share the Earth and what we do affects the entire human race, not just parts of it. Now I will go back to my solitary place and continue to try and be a positive force in the world. I trust you will all do the same.

    Old Mother | 05.02.2017 | Reply
  22. What would be the smugging formula for getting rid of kitty litter or dog smell. Thinking kind of a natural antibacterial for the air.

    Paula Banta | 05.03.2017 | Reply
  23. I totally agree with you.I am pagan and Native as well and am happy to be reading the article. I didn’t think of being negative about it. I don’t think the author needed chastisement about not putting negativity into the smudge sticks as they appear wonderful to be writing about this. Are you speaking to the Native American who commented on your article are you afraid someone won’t buy your smudge sticks now that they will make them themselves? Shame on you

    Jamie Muir | 05.03.2017 | Reply
  24. What I mean is the original author of this article is a good person and what I said about selling smudge sticks is directed toward the Native American I was being facetious however it seems like they want to say that other races are wrong to me making smudge sticks and need chastisementperiod I am the witch as well living in Portland Oregon and I am in both communities so I hate you neither I shouldn’t just the Native American who commented on the article do the same. Shame on you…

    Jamie Muir | 05.03.2017 | Reply
  25. Beautiful idea!

    Trudy Hamilton | 05.05.2017 | Reply
  26. Love you smudge sticks, love to see more!

    Charmaine | 05.10.2017 | Reply
  27. Honestly, you can take the negative and with a grain of salt, . Or let it riddle you with anger and judgment of others. Letting it get to you based upon ill preconceived notions. Use and gather from where you can. Not everyone has the same resources or abundance as others. Intention are best when your are using good intentions . The basic gathering and drying of the ingredients to make into a bundle with natural cord for wrapping. Either for decorations, fragrant bundles (helpful since if you want to burn them they must hang and dry) incense type bundle, or smudge stick. Are all helpful in ways to start making them with basic instructions. (sorry about typos but I am imperfect as everyone else and getting my thoughts out was the important part)

    Angie | 05.20.2017 | Reply
  28. This sort of bashing seems to be prevalent on so many smudge sites….yikes!
    When people are making and using something beautiful (botanicals available all over Earth, not just in “indigenous” locations), how is that a rip-off or a negative, as some are seeming to imply? Beautiful things were meant to be shared/used…not singularly owned by any group. Intentions work both ways.

    Carol | 06.28.2017 | Reply
  29. Like the earth, sage is God’s creation for ALL of his children. Thank you for sharing your beautiful sage creations. I use them to cleanse and clear spaces.

    Tosh | 08.15.2017 | Reply
  30. You are now more aware of the sacredness of white sage. I was taught smudging by a native teacher. I have seen it used extensively by the native healers I have had the privilege of working side by side with. I have been able to grow my own white sage this year and will be harvesting it in a few days. Your dried bundles come from your heart and are beautiful. These will make some nice gifts for grandchildren to introduce them to the gifts that our plants bring us.

    Laurel | 09.26.2017 | Reply
  31. I love your herbal wraps and plan on making them with my grown daughters. We do use the sage to clear our homes (and other things) but never thought to add the other herbs or flowers. Lavender, Rosemary, Rose and others can also be used for healing, remembrance, or other specified reasons for adding them to the bundles. Each one will have meaning and use to the person making it, and this is reason enough to do it.

    Wini | 12.02.2017 | Reply
  32. Love them and been making them for years~

    Phoenix | 12.04.2017 | Reply
  33. Don’t think much!

    Pamela Thomas | 01.03.2018 | Reply
  34. As I start to read this persons instruction on the way they make a smudge stick lo and behold I’m overtaken by comments. I think some people need to find someone to like a prest or psychiatrist maybe a best friend to get out all their anger and frustration so they won’t take it out on people on varies media comments/blog areas

  35. Beautiful. Although I do not have these herbs or flowers in my yard, where could I purchase them? I would love to make these for my daughter.

    Lisa | 02.02.2018 | Reply
  36. #ALLSMUDGEMATTERS
    You don’t have to be “this” or “that” to do “this” or “that”. Do what makes you happy!

    Denise | 02.18.2018 | Reply
  37. I love this I usually just use white sage but this sounds Loverly I’m just decluteringmy home and will try this thank you for sharing . I also have a patio out side and would like to hang acouple out side .

    Lorra Whitehouse | 02.18.2018 | Reply
  38. I’m curious as the significance of the flowers chosen here. I understand the benefits of burning sage, but what are the benifits of burning the other flowers along with the sage?

    Rachael | 04.17.2018 | Reply
  39. I am white. My teacher is First Nations. Don’t let the haters get you down. You are making beautiful smudge sticks with a positive intention. No harm done.

    Andrea | 09.08.2018 | Reply
  40. Thank you and I àm going to try to make my own sages after what I have learn from you…

    Sonia Likhari | 09.13.2018 | Reply
  41. Where can I get these ingredients? I do not grow any of them and would love to make these beautiful smudge sticks for friends. Can I purchase these ingredients somewhere? I live in MO.

    TerriTinerella | 06.03.2019 | Reply
  42. I don’t know if you are Native American or not but if you are not please don’t use the word Smudge or smudging. Smudging is a Ceremony and unless you know the ceremony you are not smudging you are just doing a cleansing. It’s part of a beautiful culture that is being destroyed by people that don’t care to learn about what they are doing.

    Anna | 06.03.2019 | Reply
  43. I want to find a real Native American Shaman to do this in my home. Does anyone know where I can find one with a solid reputation? I don’t want to just make a smudge stick and wave it around. I want the spiritual aspect brought into it.

    Vicki Dabney Rooney Wells | 06.07.2019 | Reply
  44. There’s a Lavender Farm in Wright City, MO, currently in bloom. You could get plenty of lavender there.

  45. The classic French bouquet garni looks EXTREMELY similar to a white sage stick. My heritage is Northern European, and my knowledge of herbs has been handed down by my Irish and French grandmothers. The traditional European “parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme” bundle(or bouquet) smells fantastic as it hangs and dries, and then shares its fragrance again as it burns. I am also a hedgewitch, and grateful that I can practice my craft without the judgmental comments shown above. I love the photos included in this post. They are a beautiful illustration of the bounty of MotherEarth, that can be shared by people of all cultures. Christians sanctify bread and wine as their most revered sacrament, yet do not take offense when others simply enjoy consuming the non-sanctified versions. We should be free to use the gifts of the Earth in any respectful manner we please, and in accordance with our own traditions.

    Elle | 06.13.2019 | Reply
  46. Beautiful. One caution though, some flowers are toxic. I would research first.

    Michelle | 06.18.2019 | Reply
  47. I had been thinking of a special gift for an extremely important HPS in my life, I will be seeing her in August 2019. This will make an absolutely gorgeous mini gift to go in her bag of goodies that I am making. She is retiring from the Craft and teaching, you may know her as PA niteowl or Owl. I absolutely love her; What a beautiful spirit and excellent teacher. Thank you so much for this idea!

    Nvvasi | 06.28.2019 | Reply
  48. cultural appropriation? seriously the biggest joke on this planet. everything we have has come from something else and has evolved….food, clothes, hair styles…what makes you think that your ancestors did not take or borrow from some other group. please get on with your life and just stop your non-sense

    ivonne | 06.29.2019 | Reply
  49. the spiritual aspect comes from your own intentions…..you don’t need someone else to do it for you

    ivonne | 06.29.2019 | Reply
  50. Just a friendly reminder that the sacred white sage is creeping towards the endangered species list. We, the Chumash Nation do not promote selling or untraditional take of the sacred medicine. We do promote cultivating in your own garden and gathering from there. Thank you for listening. Shumawish Tipashumawish ((together we make peace harmony and health))

    Moke Sisha | 06.29.2019 | Reply
  51. My thoughts on this.. I have seen tribes in Canada use lavender in sage smudge sticks.
    So there ya go…

    Memo | 06.30.2019 | Reply
  52. Cultural misappropriation right here. Smudging is a religious practice by Native American tribes. And I think only sage and and cedar are the proper herbs

    Brian | 07.13.2019 | Reply
  53. I had to laugh at all the shamers here…cultural appropriation this, and so on. If it is sacred to you, then so be it. It means something to someone else, so be it. Live and let live.

    Laura B Sealey | 07.14.2019 | Reply
  54. Just to Clarify. If you want to throw some herb bundles or burn them in your house that’s fine. BUT DON’T CALL THEM “Smudge Sticks” Smudge Sticks are the term for the native American practice. That is where the Cultural appropriation comes in. Smudging and smudge sticks refers to a specific practice. if you want to do a pagan cleansing ritual or whatever else your cultural does that’s fine. but don’t take a term that refers to a sacred ritual done by a people that have already had so much of their culture take from them and make it your own.

    Brian | 07.16.2019 | Reply
  55. Where can we get cedar? In wood or leaves??

    Julia | 07.17.2019 | Reply
  56. Why can’t we simply embrace using natural items from the earth or would there be a preference for strictly chemical use? We all live on the same planet and breathe the air, drink the water and walk on the soil, none of us “ own “ what the earth provides. Look at the bigger picture.

    Charlie | 10.17.2019 | Reply
  57. Amazing to me the judging of one another here. Why do we feel compeled to expect others to believe like us? I am going to throw my opinion out there and whether everyone agrees or not…doesn’t matter to me. We have an autistic grandson 5 years old (also adhd) that we are raising. I have burned bay leaves for years as that has a calming affect on him. I also burn white sage….which also is calming and cleanses bad energy from our home. Whether I use a ritual or not is of no concern to anyone but me. Some people do….some do not. “Whatever works…”. I do this in an effort to make life a little easier for our little guy and my family.

    By the way….I grew up in the 60’s (the hippy age)…and most of us “hippies” used incense. We weren’t cults or any different than anyone else (as someone above seems to think)….just peace loving during a very difficult period in history. Maybe a bit more peace, tolerance, spirituality and love for one another would serve us well today.

    Lorna | 10.18.2019 | Reply
  58. For those who have issues with being called out for ‘cultural appropriation’. Had history not been written with blood, and then rewritten in schools so it doesn’t seem as bad ass it was, and had most of the land we live on in NA been built by slaves which we now forget and just want to ‘get on with it’s..perhaps we wouldn’t need to seemingly force cultural sensitivities down your throat. Perhaps we could all just ‘get on with it’. However, history has been forgotten, rewritten and made G rated. I feel it IS important to be mindful of these things, and at the very least be factual. Smudging IS NOT a hippy thing. That’s INCORRECT. Had the writer not said that ..many may be more forgiving . Get yer shit straight wannabe journalist. You might actually learn something while doing the research, and then maybe if others learned too, we could stop hurting the sensitive white folks and the collective shame we feel as we learn. Lots of whiny babies here who can’t handle a bit of correction, meanwhile they’ve had the too billing collectively for eternity. Get tougher. Those who have historically been put down ,held down have alot more strength than we will ever know.

    Larissa | 11.30.2019 | Reply
  59. I love these all natural sticks. I hope to do some and I am so sick and tired of all the people who are
    so negative and shame on them; I think you could call them bullies. Get a lilfe.
    they are great keep it up

  60. The hippies were right

    Patrice Jennings | 05.08.2020 | Reply
  61. Lovely lovely GODS own burning stick haha I’m Christian accept things for what they are xx

    Mrs willow | 09.23.2020 | Reply
  62. Etymology lesson: The word “smudge” is derived from the Middle English “smogen.” The first known use of “smudge” was in the 15th century. It is not a Native American language word.

    Joni | 10.05.2020 | Reply
  63. I love Joni’s comment haha. I so agree. Cultural appropriation my ass. Cultures don’t get to just claim shit and ban everyone on the planet from using it because “Ohhhhh it was mine first!!” What is this grade school? Grow up.

    Sure thing | 10.23.2020 | Reply
  64. These smudge sticks are very beautiful and I greatly appreciate how they have been so artfully arranged with a fantastic assortment of plants and materials. I was looking for some ways to incorporate different scents from nature to make my own & love how you paired your items together. Thanks for posting!

    Penny Ellis | 02.28.2021 | Reply

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