Palo Santo
Part of our Ingredient Glossary — educational information about raw materials we may use in our products. We don't sell raw ingredients.
Palo Santo, meaning "holy wood" in Spanish, comes from trees that grow wild along the coasts of South America. What makes this ingredient special isn't just its incredible scent, it's the sustainable way it's harvested. The wood can only be collected after the tree dies naturally and lies on the forest floor for several years, developing its characteristic aromatic compounds through this natural aging process.
The essential oil distilled from this aged wood creates one of the most complex and recognizable scents in aromatherapy. It's sweet but woody, fresh but grounding, with subtle notes of pine, mint, and lemon. Unlike synthetic fragrances that hit one note, palo santo oil reveals different layers as it warms on your skin.
Traditional use aside, the science backs up why this scent feels so centering. The natural compounds in palo santo, particularly limonene and alpha-terpineol, have documented stress-reducing properties. These same compounds that developed during the wood's natural aging process help create that sense of calm focus that makes palo santo such a sought-after aromatherapy ingredient.
We use palo santo oil sparingly in our formulations because a little goes a long way. It blends beautifully with other woody scents like cedarwood and sandalwood, but it's complex enough to stand alone. Whether in soap, lotion, or candles, it brings that distinctive grounding quality that turns everyday routines into mindful moments.
