What is a desert sage smudge stick?

This is a hand-bound 5-inch smudge stick of dried desert sage (Artemisia tridentata), the silvery sagebrush of the American West. Lit at the tip and blown out, it smolders with a warm, herbaceous smoke that carries the plant's characteristic peppery edge.

About desert sage

Desert sage goes by many names: sagebrush, Great Basin sage, big sagebrush. Despite the "sage" in all of them, it is an Artemisia, kin to mugwort and wormwood, not a true Salvia like white sage or the sage in your kitchen. The shrub blankets the high-desert steppe of the western United States, and its aromatic foliage has a documented history of ceremonial use among many Indigenous peoples of the region, including the Shoshone and Paiute. Smudging, the burning of aromatic plant bundles, is a documented practice in many Indigenous North American traditions; we present that history factually and with respect.

Burning characteristics

Light the tip until it smolders and rest the stick over a heatproof dish to catch ash. Smudge sticks are made to be relit: used intermittently, a 5-inch stick typically gives 10 to 20 burns. Extinguish by pressing the lit end into sand or ash.

Related smudge sticks

• Loose Desert Sage — the same plant in loose-leaf form.
• Mugwort Smudge — the European Artemisia in a 5-inch stick.
• White Sage Smudge — the California Salvia classic.

Format & size

Sold as a single hand-bound stick, approximately 5 inches long. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Keep the stick dry and away from humidity so it stays tight and burns evenly.

Desert sage smudge at a glance

Botanical name

Artemisia tridentata

Length

Approximately 5 inches

Aroma

Warm, herbaceous, a bit peppery

Burn character

Smolders with fragrant smoke; relightable