Smoke Cleansing.
Also known as: Smudging, Saining
The practice of using burning herbs or resins, such as sage, palo santo, or sandalwood, to clear a space, object, or person.
Smoke cleansing is the practice of burning a dried herb or resin and letting the smoke pass over a space, an object, or a person, usually with the intention of clearing accumulated heaviness. Variations of the practice exist almost everywhere humans have lived with fire. White sage and sweetgrass come from First Nations North American traditions. Palo santo comes from South America. Frankincense and myrrh trace back to the ancient Mediterranean and Middle East. Mugwort and juniper appear in European folk practice; the Scottish word saining covers a similar custom.
A note on respect. White sage and palo santo are both subject to over-harvesting and have specific cultural origins. Buyers who care about the practice are increasingly turning to ethically sourced bundles, garden-grown rosemary or mugwort, or simple frankincense resin on a small charcoal disc.
For crystal work, smoke cleansing is one of the safer methods. It works on stones that should never touch water (selenite, malachite, halite) and carries the small ritual benefit of slowing down and marking a transition. Ventilate the room afterwards.