What Smells Similar To Palo Santo?

What is Palo Santo?

Palo Santo, also known as “holy wood,” comes from the Bursera graveolens tree, which is native to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, as well as parts of Central and South America (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bursera_graveolens). The name “Palo Santo” means “holy stick” in Spanish, referring to the wood’s traditional use for spiritual purposes.

Palo Santo has a rich history of use for incense and ritual cleansing by indigenous cultures across Central and South America. The aromatic wood has a delicate, woody scent with notes of pine, mint, and lemon. Today, Palo Santo is commonly used in aromatherapy and for cleansing spaces (https://www.ecuador.com/blog/palo-santo-myths-and-reality/). It is often burned as sticks, ground into powder, or distilled into essential oil.

The Scent Profile of Palo Santo

Palo santo has a complex, earthy, and woody aroma profile. The dominant scent is often described as woody and sweet, with subtle herbal and citrus notes.

The woodsy scent comes from the fact that palo santo is derived from tree wood. Specifically, palo santo comes from the heartwood of the Bursera graveolens tree. When the tree is harvested and the resinous wood is burnt, it gives off a warm, rich, sweet woodsy fragrance.[1]

In addition to the primary woody aroma, palo santo contains hints of pine, mint, and citrus. The pine notes add a subtle evergreen element. The mint brings a touch of freshness and brightness. Finally, citrus scents like lemon, lime, or orange add a zesty, uplifting quality.

Woodsy Aromas

Woodsy aromas are at the heart of Palo Santo’s scent profile. These warm, earthy notes create a grounded, forest-like fragrance. Some of the key woodsy oils that smell similar to Palo Santo include:

• Cedarwood – With its rich, sweet, and woody aroma, cedarwood oil is often compared to the scent of fresh-cut cedar or a cedar chest. It has balsamic undertones reminiscent of Palo Santo.
• Sandalwood – This essential oil has a deep, soft, warm, and woodsy fragrance that is distinctly sweet and perfect for blending with Palo Santo.
• Rosewood – Featuring delicate woody and floral notes, rosewood oil shares Palo Santo’s comforting, nostalgic scent.
• Pine – With its crisp, clean, evergreen aroma, pine oil has hints of the outdoors that also characterize Palo Santo.

These woodsy essential oils form an excellent base for Palo Santo-inspired blends. Their rich, warm, sweet aromas emulate the comforting soul of this sacred wood.

Citrus Scents

Some of the most prominent scents in Palo Santo come from citrus oils like lemon, grapefruit, orange, and lime. These all contain potent essential oils that provide uplifting and energizing aromas.

Lemon essential oil is known for its clean, fresh, citrusy scent that can help boost mood and energy. Studies show lemon oil can reduce anxiety and depression (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5217602/). The limonene compound gives it an invigorating citrus aroma.

Grapefruit essential oil has an energizing citrusy aroma often described as uplifting and mood enhancing. It contains compounds like limonene that provide stress-relieving effects (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25842469/).

Sweet orange essential oil has a fresh, sweet citrusy scent that can help reduce anxiety and stress. Studies show it boosts mood and serves as an anti-depressant (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9774566/).

Lime essential oil has an invigorating citrusy aroma. Its refreshing scent contains compounds that can help uplift mood and energy levels.

Herbaceous Notes

Palo Santo has distinct herbaceous and green aromas reminiscent of various culinary herbs. These scents come from compounds like camphor, 1,8-cineole, and borneol, which are also present in herbs like lavender, rosemary, sage, and thyme.

The fresh, sweet floral scent of lavender is commonly described as herbaceous. Like Palo Santo, lavender contains camphor and 1,8-cineole, contributing a green, herb-like aroma. Palo Santo and lavender blend well together in diffuser recipes to enhance relaxation. See some lavender oils from Grampas Garden here.

Rosemary is another herbaceous essential oil that complements Palo Santo. Its sharp, penetrating scent comes from 1,8-cineole, a chemical compound also found in Palo Santo. When blended, Palo Santo softens rosemary’s intensity. They combine for an herbal, woodsy aroma great for energizing or purifying spaces.

Sage is known for its robust, herbaceous fragrance that combines well with woody scents like Palo Santo. The camphor in both oils gives them an invigorating green aroma. Blending Palo Santo and sage oils creates an herbaceous scent perfect for rituals or meditation.

Thyme essential oil has an intense, spicy and herb-like aroma due to thymol, a compound that provides its antimicrobial effects. When combined with Palo Santo, thyme adds a sharp, green herbal note that energizes the woody, vanilla-like scent of Palo Santo.

Spices

Some of the spice notes found in the aromatic profile of Palo Santo include clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom. These provide a warm spice sensation to Palo Santo that compliment its woody nature.

One of the most notable spice aromas in Palo Santo is that of clove. Clove has a strong, warming, sweet yet spicy scent that gives Palo Santo a rich depth. The eugenol chemical compound found in clove is likely responsible for this aromatic characteristic. Clove essential oil is often used in aromatherapy and pairs nicely with woody oils.

The scent of cinnamon is also detectable in Palo Santo. True cinnamon has a robust, sweet aroma with subtle spicy undertones. Like clove, cinnamon contains compounds like cinnamaldehyde that provide a warming sensation. Cinnamon oil can have calming properties.

Subtle traces of nutmeg and its sweet, spicy aroma can sometimes be found in Palo Santo. The myristicin compound contributes to the distinctive scent. When blended with woody notes, nutmeg can create an earthy, aromatic profile. It has been used for centuries for its soothing properties.

Finally, cardamom may lend its green, gently spicy fragrance to Palo Santo. Its complex aroma contains hints of camphor and lemon which enhance woody scents. Cardamom oil is popular in folk medicine for its uplifting capabilities.

Together, these spice scents intermingle with the wood, citrus, resin, and herbal notes of Palo Santo to create its unique, dynamic fragrance profile that many find meditative, relaxing and restorative.

Incense

Palo santo has a natural incense-like aroma. Some of the most popular incense scents that are similar include:

Frankincense is one of the most famous incense scents. It has a woody, earthy aroma with hints of pine and lemon. Frankincense incense is often used in religious ceremonies and meditation for its purifying and uplifting properties [1].

Myrrh is another classic incense scent. It has a rich, smoky aroma with balsamic, spicy undertones. Myrrh incense is believed to promote spirituality, prayer, and healing [2].

Copal incense has a bright, crisp scent that is often described as lemon-like. It has subtle hints of pine and floral notes. Copal is traditionally used in Native American and South American cultures for cleansing and purification rituals [3].

Resins

Some of the key resins that contribute to the aroma profile of Palo Santo include benzoin and dragon’s blood. Benzoin resin comes from the Styrax tree and has a sweet, warm, vanilla-like scent that adds depth to Palo Santo (https://holysmokeincense.com/collections/resins). Dragon’s blood, which comes from the Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, and Pterocarpus genuses of plants, provides Palo Santo with earthy, raw, and rich notes (https://soulniche.com/collections/resin-incense). When burned, the resins in Palo Santo are released and produce its characteristic smoky, meditative fragrance.

Blending Tips

Palo santo has a complex, woodsy aroma with hints of citrus, herbs, and resins. To create a blended oil with a similar scent profile, some great oils to use are:

• Cedarwood – Adds a warm, woody base note like palo santo (Source).
• Lime – Provides bright, citrusy top notes to mimic the freshness of palo santo (Source).
• Rosemary – Contributes an herby, stimulating middle note (Source).
• Frankincense or myrrh – Adds a subtle resinous undertone like palo santo.

A good starter blend would be 2 drops cedarwood, 3 drops lime, 1 drop rosemary, and 4 drops frankincense or myrrh. Experiment with different proportions until you find a blend you love!

Safely Enjoying the Aroma

One of the safest ways to enjoy the aroma of Palo Santo is by using an essential oil diffuser. Diffusers allow you to disperse the fragrance into the air without applying it directly to your skin. When inhaled gently through a diffuser, Palo Santo can provide calming effects and make any space feel more peaceful.

However, it’s important to be cautious if you have any allergies or sensitivities. Always do a skin test by applying a small amount of Palo Santo oil to your arm and wait 24 hours to check for any reaction before diffusing the oil or using it topically. If you experience any itching, redness, or discomfort, discontinue use. Certain compounds in essential oils can cause reactions in some individuals. It’s also best to avoid diffusing Palo Santo around babies and young children.

By diffusingPalowith care and awareness, you can safely experience its woody, resinous, relaxing scent. But be sure to heed any negative reactions from your body and adjust your usage accordingly. For most people, diffusing Palo Santo in moderation is an enjoyable way to savor its aroma (Webmd).