Palo Santo oil: holy wood from Ecuador, its scent and the question of sustainability

In brief: Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) is the South American "holy wood" with a sweet, woody scent with a citrus and slightly minty note. For a diffuser 2–4 drops are enough, on the skin 1–2% at most (maximum according to Tisserand & Young 3.4%). Beware of confusion with lignum vitae wood, which is also called palo santo.

Palo santo means "holy wood" in Spanish. In South America, sticks of this wood have long been burned at ceremonies, and in recent years they have become a fashionable accessory of yoga studios. The essential oil is a way to enjoy the scent without smoke, and usually with less burden on the trees.

Before you buy the oil, it is good to know two things: two different trees are sold under the name palo santo, and for Bursera graveolens there is repeated discussion of where the wood comes from. We deal with both below, together with dosage and safety.

Two plants, one name

In South America "palo santo" is the name of two unrelated trees. On the bottle, therefore, always look for the Latin name.

Pěstík sells both oils. This article is about BIO Palo Santo from Bursera graveolens; the other oil you will find as BIO Lignum vitae.

Is palo santo sustainable? Fallen wood and what we know about our oil

According to the IUCN Red List (2019 assessment), Bursera graveolens is a species of least concern. Locally it is more complicated, though. In 2006 Peru listed palo santo among critically endangered species (decree 043-2006-AG), banned the felling of living trees and permitted only the collection of naturally fallen and dead trees. In north-western Peru, meanwhile, the authorities repeatedly seize illegally harvested wood.

For an oil from wood, the right practice is therefore to distil only wood from fallen or naturally dead trees. The second route is oil from the fruits: the fruits are harvested from living trees and in Ecuador are distilled on a large scale (the oil yield from fresh fruits is up to 3%). The fruit oil, however, smells different and has a different composition from the wood oil.

According to the product page, our oil comes from Ecuador, from mature heartwood and "from ethically sourced wood". An explicit confirmation that it is from fallen trees is not yet on the product page, which is why we are verifying it with the supplier. If sustainability is decisive for you, ask exactly this at every seller.

How palo santo smells and what to blend it with

The scent is sweet, woody and balsamic, with a citrus start (limonene) and a peculiar cooling, slightly minty undertone for which menthofuran is responsible. It resembles a blend of frankincense, cedar and lemon. It goes well with:

• frankincense and myrrh – a meditative resinous blend,
• lavender – for evening calming,
• Himalayan cedar – a deeper, woody scent,
• orange and bergamot – they lighten and brighten.

Diffuser, aroma lamp and recipes

For an ultrasonic diffuser in a small room put 2–4 drops, in a medium one 4–6. For an aroma lamp 2–3 drops. Palo santo is pronounced, so start at the lower end. A table by room size is in the article how many drops to put in a diffuser and aroma lamp.

• Smoke-free meditation (diffuser): 2 drops of palo santo, 2 drops of frankincense, 1 drop of myrrh.
• Evening after work (aroma lamp): 1 drop of palo santo, 2 drops of lavender.
• Wood and orange (diffuser): 2 drops of palo santo, 1 drop of cedar, 2 drops of orange.

More ideas for calming rituals are in the article anti-stress rituals with essential oils.

On the skin: low dilution and fresh oil only

Tisserand and Young set a dermal maximum of 3.4% for palo santo. The reason is menthofuran, a substance that burdens the liver at high doses. On the skin, therefore, use less than the maximum permits: 1% on the face, 2% on the body.

Massage oil for the neck: to 30 ml of jojoba oil add 4 drops of palo santo and 4 drops of lavender (about 1.3%). Do a patch test on the forearm before first use. For a bath never drip the oil in on its own; first mix it in a spoonful of carrier oil.

The limonene in palo santo oxidises in air, and oxidised oil irritates the skin. Store the bottle in a cool, dark place, well closed, and use it on the skin within roughly a year of opening. The principles of dilution are summarised in the article essential oils for the skin.

Tradition and what research says

Smoke from burning palo santo wood is traditionally used in Peru at ceremonies, and the oil is inhaled for calming, as described in a field report by the Tisserand Institute. Laboratory studies examine the oil, for example, as a mosquito repellent or for protecting stored grain from pests. These are laboratory experiments, not recommendations for the household. Do not swallow the oil, even though you may encounter such use in South American folk practice.

Who should not use palo santo

• Pregnant and breastfeeding women: the manufacturer does not recommend it in pregnancy, and because of menthofuran you should leave it out entirely in this period.
• People with liver disease: do not use it on the skin, in a diffuser only briefly.
• Children: not under 6; for older children 1 drop at most in a blend in a diffuser, on the skin up to 1%. More in the article essential oils and children.
• Cats: because of limonene and other terpenes, do not diffuse it in a room with a cat that cannot leave. See essential oils and pets.

Frequently asked questions

Is palo santo endangered?

According to the IUCN, Bursera graveolens is a species of least concern, but in Peru it was classed in the past as critically endangered and illegal logging continues there. The one that is endangered (and protected by the CITES convention) is the lignum vitae tree, which is also called palo santo.

Is it better to burn palo santo sticks or use the oil?

Oil in a diffuser creates no smoke and the scent can be dosed precisely. When burning wood you inhale smoke with combustion products. For a home with children or an asthmatic, a diffuser with a few drops is the gentler choice.

What does palo santo oil smell like?

Sweet and woody, with a citrus start and a slightly minty cooling note. It is often compared to a combination of frankincense, cedar and lemon.

Can I apply palo santo to the skin undiluted?

No. On the skin always diluted, 1–2% at most in a carrier oil. Undiluted oil can irritate, and it contains menthofuran, for which it is advisable to keep doses low.

What is the difference between palo santo and lignum vitae?

They are two different trees. Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) smells citrusy and balsamic, lignum vitae (Bulnesia sarmientoi) sweet, rosy and smoky, and it is protected by the CITES convention.

Recommended products

• BIO Palo Santo, essential oil 10 ml – oil from the heartwood of Bursera graveolens from Ecuador.
• BIO Frankincense, essential oil 10 ml – with palo santo it forms a classic meditation blend.
• BIO Lavender, essential oil 10 ml – softens palo santo for evening use.
• BIO Jojoba 10 ml – carrier oil for massage blends.
• White ceramic aroma lamp 12.5 × 10.5 cm – a smoke-free scent instead of burning sticks.

Sources

• Tisserand R., Young R.: Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition, Churchill Livingstone 2014 (Palo santo profile, p. 379).
• AromaWeb: Palo Santo Essential Oil, composition, safety and conservation status – aromaweb.com
• Carrión-Paladines V. et al.: Agrochemical characterization of vermicomposts produced from residues of Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) essential oil extraction, Waste Management 2016 – PubMed
• Tisserand Institute (K. Ablard): Aromatherapy and plant medicine in Peru – tisserandinstitute.org

Updated: 27 September 2026