Palo Santo Sticks: Size, Smell and How to Choose
Not all palo santo sticks are the same. Size, density and the amount of natural oil in the wood change how they smell, how they burn and how long they last. This guide helps you compare sticks and choose the right pack.
What a palo santo stick is
A palo santo stick is a piece of Bursera graveolens wood, cut to a size that is easy to hold and light. The aroma comes from the natural oil in the wood, which concentrates as the wood ages.
Size
- Length: most sticks measure around 8 to 12 cm. Longer sticks are easier to hold while you move through a room.
- Thickness: thin sticks catch fire faster; thick sticks need more time to light but last more sessions.
- Per kilo: our 1 kg pack holds about 160 to 180 sticks, which is useful if you resell them in small bundles.
Smell: how to recognise good palo santo
- Unlit, good palo santo smells sweet and fresh, with citrus and mint notes. If you smell almost nothing, the wood has little oil.
- Lit, the smoke is white and fragrant, with a warmer, resinous note.
- Look and weight: darker streaks and spots in the wood and a heavier feel in the hand usually mean more oil.
How to choose
| If you want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| To try palo santo at home | A small pack of sticks or palo santo incense |
| Aroma without smoke | Palo santo essential oil in a diffuser |
| To use it every day or in sessions | The 1 kg pack, which includes a ceramic burner |
| To resell in a shop or make kits | The 5 kg or 20 kg packs; see the wholesale prices |
Palo santo sticks, cones or incense?
- Sticks: the wood as it is. Short, intense smoke each time you light them.
- Incense sticks: ground palo santo, sometimes blended with copal, myrrh or other aromas. They burn steadily for longer.
- Essential oil: the aroma of the wood without smoke.
Frequently asked questions
Does palo santo lose its aroma?
Very slowly. Kept in a dry place, away from sun and humidity, the sticks keep their aroma for years.
Why do two sticks from the same pack smell different?
It is natural wood: each piece has a different amount of oil. That is why packs are sold by weight and not by identical sticks.