What is a mugwort smudge stick?

This is a hand-bound 5-inch smudge stick of dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) foliage. Mugwort smoke is herbaceous and slightly sweet, distinctly sage-like even though the plant is not a true sage: it belongs to the Artemisia genus, alongside wormwood and the Great Basin sagebrush.

Mugwort across traditions

Mugwort has one of the longest documented histories of any European herb. It appears in the Anglo-Saxon Nine Herbs Charm, one of the oldest surviving pieces of English herbal writing, and figures in Midsummer customs across Europe. In East Asia, the plant has its own deep tradition as the source of moxa, the processed mugwort used in East Asian practice for centuries. Related Artemisia species hold ceremonial significance in several Indigenous North American traditions as well. We present all of this as documented history, not as a promise about what the smoke does.

Burning characteristics

Light the tip until it smolders, blow out any flame, and rest the stick over a heatproof dish to catch ash. Relit between sessions, a 5-inch mugwort stick typically gives 10 to 20 burns. Extinguish by pressing the lit end into sand or ash.

Related smudge sticks

• Loose Desert Sage — the North American Artemisia in loose form.
• Juniper Smudge — clean and resinous.
• Yerba Santa Smudge — California's slow-smoldering Holy Herb.

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 burns evenly.

Mugwort smudge at a glance

Botanical name

Artemisia vulgaris

Family

Asteraceae

Length

Approximately 5 inches

Aroma

Herbaceous, slightly sweet, sage-like

Burn character

Smolders with fragrant smoke; relightable