A hand-braided length of sweetgrass, 18 to 24 inches of Hierochloe odorata, the grass whose sweet vanilla-hay scent gives it its name. Braided in the traditional manner, it smolders gently when lit, releasing a soft, honeyed smoke. We carry it with respect for the traditions it comes from, and we describe those traditions carefully rather than teaching what is not ours to teach. Key Features Hand-braided sweetgrass. 18 to 24 inches of Hierochloe odorata. A sweet, gentle smoke. Vanilla and warm hay when smoldered. Honored across many Native traditions. One of the widely held sacred plants of North America. A welcoming smoke. In broad practice, burned after cleansing to invite good in. Product Details Braided sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), approximately 18-24 inches Natural dried botanical; thickness and length vary by braid Burn over a fire-safe dish; extinguish fully in sand or ash after use The Spiritual Significance Sweetgrass is one of the most widely honored plants of Native North America, held sacred by many nations across the continent and often counted among the sacred medicines alongside tobacco, sage, and cedar. It is traditionally braided, and the braid itself carries teaching in the traditions that keep it; those teachings, and the ceremonies that use them, belong to those nations and are learned from their own knowledge keepers, not from a product page. What we can say for the broader practice many of our customers keep: where harsher smokes are burned to clear a space, sweetgrass is widely burned after, a gentle, sweet smoke understood as welcoming good in once the clearing is done. Its scent alone, warm vanilla over hay, explains why it has been loved for so long. Burned or simply kept, it asks the same thing of everyone: gratitude and respect. How To Use Light one end. Hold a flame to the braid's tip until it smolders; sweetgrass burns gently and may need relighting as you go. Let the smoke move. Carry it over a fire-safe dish and let the sweet smoke drift through the space, traditionally after a clearing smoke has done its work. Extinguish fully. Press the smoldering end into sand or ash until cold; never leave it burning unattended. Or keep it whole. Many keep an unburned braid on the altar or in the home simply for its scent and presence. Pairs Well With White Sage Smudge Stick: the clearing smoke that traditionally comes first. Red Smudge Feathers, 12 Inch: feathers for guiding the smoke. Cast Iron Cauldron: a fire-safe vessel to rest and extinguish the braid. Frequently Asked Questions What does sweetgrass smell like? Warm vanilla over fresh hay, soft rather than sharp, and gentler still as smoke. How is it traditionally used? It is held sacred by many Native nations, and its ceremonies belong to those traditions and their knowledge keepers. In the broader practice many customers keep, it is burned after a clearing smoke as a welcoming, sweetening smoke. Why does it keep going out? Sweetgrass smolders reluctantly by nature. Relighting as you go is normal; a gentle blow on the ember keeps it moving. How do I put it out? Press the smoldering end into sand or ash until fully cold, and store the braid dry for next time.
