DIY Smudge Sticks

Bundle blends to make at home 

Basic Method

Harvest or buy fresh herbs with long, sturdy stems. 

1. Trim stems to roughly 6–8 inches and remove any damaged leaves. 
2. Bundle several stems together, layering for fullness. 
3. Wrap tightly with undyed cotton string in a crisscross pattern from one end to the other, then back again, tying off securely. 
4. Hang the bundle somewhere dry and well-ventilated for 1–2 weeks until fully dried out before burning. 

Classic Clearing Bundle 

• Garden sage (Salvia officinalis), main body of the bundle 

• A few sprigs of rosemary for clarity 

• Optional: a strip of dried orange peel for brightness 

Calming Evening Bundle 

• Lavender, the main body of the bundle 

• A few sprigs of mint for freshness 

• Optional: a few dried chamomile flowers tucked between layers 

Grounding Bundle 

• Cedar tips, main body of the bundle 

• A few sprigs of rosemary 

• Optional: a small pinch of dried thyme 

Focus & Clarity Bundle 

• Rosemary, main body of the bundle 

• A few sprigs of mint 

• Optional: a few dried bay leaves tucked between layers 

Tips for Better Bundles 

Use an undyed string

Synthetic or dyed string can release fumes you don’t want to inhale. 

Dry thoroughly

Underdried bundles smoulder unevenly and are more likely to go out, or smoke far more than expected. 

Keep bundles modest in size 

Thin bundles about an inch in diameter burn more evenly than thick ones.