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Saging is a ritual spanning several thousand years and used by various cultures to connect humans with the spirit world. There are many types of sage used, but dried white sage seems to be the most popular and the type used by shamans to ward off any evil, anger, illness, and conflict.
In this modern-day and age, saging is still relevant and is still used ritualistically to clear energy, restore balance, and for protection and spiritual purification. Below we have rounded up some authentic sage smudge stick options and alternatives that will help to create your own sage smudging ritual or ceremony.
Most of these options are made from white sage and come in multiple bundles or wands tied with 100% cotton cords. The most popular use of these sticks is when moving into a new residence, when starting a new job or business, and before meditation or yoga.
Comparing the Top Sage Smudge Stick
Sarimoire Sage Sticks — Best Overall
This bundle of six sage smudge sticks is the perfect start to your next spiritual cleansing. Whether you have a new home or office, these sticks are a great way to clear negative energy or clear the mind for a meditation or yoga session and create a space for healing and positive vibes.
Pros
- The sticks are tied with 100% cotton string
- The bundles are large enough to burn throughout the whole house
Cons
- The wrapping may need to be loosened for a longer cleansing
Alternative Imagination Sage Sticks — Runner Up
This set comes with three four-inch smudge sticks that are perfect for gift-giving or keeping on hand when needed. Made from high-quality ingredients, these smudge sticks will enhance all your smudging rituals or simply function as a subtle home fragrance.
Pros
- This is a natural product
- The sage is sustainably grown on small family farms
Cons
- The sage may have to be relit occasionally during smoldering
Ancient Veda Sage Sticks — Honorable Mention
For a slightly more unique and aesthetically pleasing option, these sage sticks are wrapped in multi-colored rose petals to bless and protect any sacred space with the virtues of love, strength, and power. The combined effects of smudging with rose petals and white sage are also known to stimulate love, attraction, romance, passion, peace, and harmony.
Pros
- This set comes with three smudge sticks
- Uses USDA organic sage sourced from California
Cons
- These may have a stronger scent
Craft & Kin Sage Candle — Best Sage Candle
Another unique way to infuse calming and relaxing white sage into the home is with this aromatherapy candle. Regular use of this candle will help you relax, soothe, restore and balance both body and mind. This is a premium candle made with 100% natural soy wax that is non-toxic, scented with essential oils, and has a 100% wood wick.
Pros
- This candle has a burn time of 45 hours
- The candle is non-toxic and safe to burn inside the home
Cons
- If you prefer more ritual smudging another option might be better
Purple Canyon Sage Sticks — Best for Beginners
These premium white sage bundles come in different-sized packs that are perfect for cleansing rituals, blessing, spiritual ceremonies, and for banishing negative energy in the homes. These bundles are sourced from farms focused on sustainability, eco-friendly practices and upon harvest are dried and hand wrapped with cotton string.
Pros
- These smudge sticks are sustainably sourced
- Comes with a detailed instruction manual
Cons
- These sticks may not stay lit for a long time
Sarimoire Sage Kit — Best Kit
Whether you are new to spiritual cleansing or a smudging aficionado this kit is sure to please. This is the ultimate smudging kit that comes with three sage bundles, a beautiful abalone shell, a feather tripod stand, and sand. Use the shell bowl to rest your smoldering sticks, the feather to fan the smoke in the direction of the needed cleansing, and the natural white sand to put into the shell or to extinguish the sage wands when done with cleansing.
Pros
- The included sand will preserve the brilliance of your abalone shell
- The beautiful pieces are perfect for displaying in your home
Cons
- The feathers and shells are all-natural and may vary in color from the pictures shown
Buying Guide: Sage Smudge Sticks
Often used to help ward off anything from negative energy to viruses and insects, sage smudge sticks were considered very important in the past. This is all you need to know about sage smudge sticks.
What Are Sage Smudge Sticks?
Sage smudge sticks are sticks of a plant known as sage. On their own, they don’t do much, but when burned, it produces a pleasant smell. Sage smudge sticks are used for various reasons, and while the process may look simple, it actually dates way, way back to old America.
The practice of sage smudging originated from the tribes of Native America. Back then, it was used as part of rituals and the like. Today, while not everybody uses sage smudge sticks for the same reason, they’re still recognized as a helpful tool in many households.
Why Do You Need a Sage Smudge Stick?
It clears out negative energy
One of the main benefits of sage smudge sticks is their psychological aspect. Sage smudge sticks are usually burned as a way to release negative energy in an area. This can mean a few things - if you’re the type of person who believes in the existence of intangible energies, then these sticks help dispel zones of these negative emotions and feelings from places throughout your home.
For those who don’t subscribe to such a belief, sage smudge sticks still help out with removing that negative vibe. Many people burn sage smudge sticks simply because they feel like it clears their head, much like how incense is used in many parts of the world. The scent gives them a good feeling, and they’re able to focus more on important things rather than dwell on negative thoughts.
It can make you sleep better
Some people require specific things to be in order before going to bed. This is because they need a perfect environment in order to get some good shut-eye. And even if you can tuck away in a chaotic environment, your sleep experience probably won’t be all that great. So anybody, regardless of how light of a sleeper they are, will benefit from having a relaxing environment to hit the hay in.
With sage smudge sticks, you can add an extra layer of comfort to any room. The scent of burnt smudge sticks will give your room a pleasant aroma, and you can even make your brain associate the scent with sleep, allowing you to get some shut-eye more effectively whenever you burn a stick. Finally, there exists research that suggests the benefits of using sage to help with insomnia, so it may be worth a try if you’re suffering from that or some other sleep disorder.
It smells good
So, let’s say that you’re the type of person who doesn’t believe in different types of energies, and maybe you’re fine with sleeping in your current environment - what do sage smudge sticks bring to the table for you? Well, the answer is simple - they smell good. Sage smudge sticks have that fragrance that makes them very pleasing to the nose, and though not everybody can get into the scent, it’s generally accepted as pleasant, so there’s a good chance you’ll like it if you haven’t smelled sage before in your life.
And honestly, smelling good is more than enough of a reason to get sage smudge sticks. After all, do people not buy air purifiers and scent bricks to make rooms smell better than they normally would? Why not use something a lot more natural instead?
Things to Consider When Buying a Sage Smudge Stick
Number of sticks
Smudge sticks are consumable, and they don’t last for very long, especially if you’re using them often. You’re basically burning away the stick to use it, so it does have a pretty short lifespan. Smudge sticks are often sold in packs of varying sizes. You could get them in sets of 3, 6, or 10, depending on where you look. Some physical stores may even sell individual sage smudge sticks, which can be useful if you want to try out saging without spending a lot of money on a bunch of sticks.
Sage variety
Like many plants, sages come in plenty of varieties. These varieties differ in look, texture, smell, and so on. For novice sage smudgers, you may not be sure what the difference may be, but those who use sage smudge sticks often will be able to tell the difference. It’s honestly not all that important if you’re just starting out, and frankly, if you don’t care, it won’t really matter, either. However, some people are quite particular when it comes to these sorts of activities. They may be looking for a particular scent or aroma that can only be achieved with a particular type of sage.
