Palo Santo Oil: Origins, Uses, Safety and Sustainable Sourcing

Palo Santo oil has a warm, sweet, citrusy-woody scent that has made it a favorite for diffusers, yoga rooms and meditation corners. This guide explains where Palo Santo oil comes from and what is actually in the bottle. It also covers how the tree is used in tradition, what research has and has not shown, and how to use and buy it responsibly.

What Palo Santo oil is and where it comes from

Palo santo means “holy wood” in Spanish. The name belongs to Bursera graveolens, a shrub or small tree in the Burseraceae family. According to Kew’s Plants of the World Online, it grows natively from Mexico to northwestern Venezuela and Peru. Its home is the seasonally dry tropical forest, a habitat that has been heavily cleared across Latin America.

The tree’s close relatives explain its scent. Burseraceae is often called the incense tree family. It also includes Boswellia, the source of frankincense, and Commiphora, the source of myrrh. If you enjoy frankincense oil, Palo Santo will smell familiar, though brighter and more citrusy.

Two different trees share the name “palo santo”

This is the single most useful fact for anyone buying Palo Santo products. A second, unrelated tree is also sold as palo santo: Bulnesia sarmientoi from the Gran Chaco of Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia. In English it is better known as guaiacwood, and its oil is a long-standing perfume base.

Sources: Kew POWO; CITES documents PC16 Doc. 21.2 and CoP17 Prop. 62. Always check the Latin name on the label.

Bulnesia sarmientoi was added to CITES Appendix II in 2010. That means its international trade needs permits showing the harvest is legal and not harmful to wild populations. The listing covers logs, sawn wood, powder and extracts, and CITES defines extracts to include essential oils. A label that says only “palo santo” tells you very little.

How Palo Santo oil is made and what is in it

Palo Santo oil is usually steam-distilled from the wood. Steam passes through chipped heartwood, carries the aromatic molecules out, and condenses into water and oil that separate. Some producers also distill the fruit, which gives a slightly different oil.

A 2007 analysis of steam-distilled oil from Ecuadorian Bursera graveolens identified its main components. Monoterpenes made up about 78% of the oil and sesquiterpenes about 10%. Limonene, the same molecule that dominates orange peel oil, accounted for about 59%. Alpha-terpineol, a softer floral-woody note, made up about 11%.

Why every bottle smells a little different

Essential oils are natural mixtures, not fixed recipes. The balance of molecules shifts with the region the tree grew in, the age of the wood and the season. Whether the oil came from heartwood, branches or fruit also changes it, as does the distillation time. That is why two honest bottles of Palo Santo can smell noticeably different.

Variation also creates room for fraud. Because limonene is cheap, an oil can be stretched with citrus terpenes and still smell plausible. A batch analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is the reliable way to check what is inside. Reputable suppliers will share one on request.

That high limonene content matters for two practical reasons. It explains the oil’s bright, citrus-like top note. It also shapes the oil’s safety profile, because limonene reacts with air over time, as the safety section explains.

Traditional and spiritual uses of Palo Santo

Everything in this section describes tradition and belief. None of it is evidence that Palo Santo has a health effect.

In its home region

In coastal Ecuador and northern Peru, Palo Santo wood has long been burned as incense. Communities have used it in households, in folk healing and in religious settings. The smoke is traditionally associated with cleansing a space and keeping insects away. In 2022, Peru’s forestry agency gave 2,000 kg of seized wood to a parish in Callao. It went to church services as incense, a sign of how rooted the practice is.

In modern wellness culture

Since the 2010s, Palo Santo sticks and oil have spread through yoga studios and wellness shops worldwide. In this setting it is often described as “clearing negative energy,” “cleansing the aura” or “raising vibrations.” These are spiritual beliefs. They are not measurable effects, and they have not been studied scientifically.

Some sellers also describe Palo Santo in Ayurvedic terms, assigning it to doshas. Palo Santo is a New World tree and does not appear in classical Ayurvedic texts. Any dosha labels are modern interpretations, not part of the traditional system.

A note on respect

Burning plants to cleanse a space has deep roots in many Indigenous cultures of the Americas. Some writers ask buyers to learn where a practice comes from before adopting it. Choosing legally sourced products from the tree’s home communities is one practical way to show that respect.

Palo Santo oil benefits: what research shows

Most Palo Santo oil benefits you will read about online come from tradition or marketing, not studies. Here is how the evidence actually stacks up.

Research on Bursera graveolens is mostly chemistry and laboratory work. Researchers in Ecuador have described the oil’s composition and tested its antioxidant activity in chemical assays. A 2012 study examined the oil’s effect on cancer cells grown in a dish. Results like these are a starting point for science, not evidence of benefit. Many substances that affect cells in a dish do nothing useful, or cause harm, in the body.

For aromatherapy more broadly, the US National Cancer Institute’s PDQ summary is a useful reality check. Trials in cancer patients have looked at anxiety, nausea, pain and sleep, and the results are mixed. Some found improvements and others found no change. Aromatherapy products are not reviewed or approved by the FDA.

So the honest claim is modest. Many people find Palo Santo’s scent pleasant and use it as part of a calming routine. That is a perfectly good reason to enjoy it. It is not a treatment for anything.

How to use Palo Santo oil safely

Diffusing

Diffusing is the simplest way to enjoy the scent. Follow your diffuser maker’s instructions for the number of drops, and start at the low end. Diffuse in short sessions in a ventilated room rather than all day. Keep the diffuser where children and pets cannot reach or knock it over.

On the skin

Never apply Palo Santo oil undiluted. Blend it into a carrier oil such as jojoba, sweet almond or fractionated coconut oil. The Tisserand Institute, a leading essential oil safety educator, sets lower dilutions for children and sensitive skin than for adults. Many aromatherapy guides use about 1% for the face and sensitive areas.

Patch test before wider use. Apply a little of your diluted blend to the inner forearm, cover it and wait 24 hours. Redness, itching or swelling means stop and do not use that oil on your skin again.

Never swallow it

Do not drink Palo Santo oil or add it to food or water. The NCI notes that swallowing large amounts of essential oils is not recommended. Concentrated oils can harm the mouth, throat and stomach, and a small amount can poison a child. If someone swallows essential oil, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 in the US, or your local emergency number.

Burning the wood

Palo Santo sticks give off smoke, and any smoke can irritate the airways. If you have asthma or another lung condition, choose the oil in a diffuser instead of burning wood. Never leave a smoldering stick unattended, and keep burning wood away from children and pets.

Palo Santo oil safety: skin, storage, pregnancy, children and pets

Old oil is a skin risk

Limonene is stable when fresh but reacts with oxygen as the bottle ages. Oxidation creates hydroperoxides, compounds that can sensitize skin. Sensitized skin develops an itchy, red allergic rash on later contact. A European patch-test study found oxidized limonene to be a frequent cause of skin allergy. Because Palo Santo oil is mostly limonene, storage matters more than many users realize.

Allergies and sensitive skin

The NCI notes that prolonged skin contact with essential oils can cause irritation or allergic reactions. People with eczema, very sensitive skin or known fragrance allergies should be especially careful. Keep all essential oils away from the eyes and inside of the nose.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

There is no safety research on Palo Santo oil in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor or midwife before using it on your skin. Keep any diffusing light and short.

Babies and children

Children’s skin and airways are more sensitive than adults’. The Tisserand Institute publishes separate, lower dilution recommendations for each age group. Do not use Palo Santo oil on babies’ skin. Store every bottle out of reach, with child-resistant caps where possible.

Pets

The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center warns that concentrated essential oils can be dangerous to dogs and cats. Pets can be harmed by oil on the skin or fur, or by licking it. Signs include unsteadiness, depression, vomiting and diarrhea.

• Never apply Palo Santo oil to a pet.
• Diffuse only briefly, in a room your pet can leave.
• Do not diffuse at all around pets with breathing problems, or in homes with birds.
• Small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters are also at risk.
• If you suspect exposure, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Palo Santo sustainable? Sourcing and legality

The global boom in Palo Santo has raised real questions about its future. The answer depends on which tree you mean and where it comes from.

Conservation status

Globally, the IUCN lists Bursera graveolens as Least Concern. National pictures differ. In October 2026, Ecuador’s El Comercio reported that the country has no up-to-date study of the species’ status or conservation plans. A Galápagos subspecies, malacophylla, is listed as threatened.

In Peru, the agency SERFOR describes Palo Santo as critically endangered under national rules. Supreme Decree 043-2006-AG classifies it that way. Felling live trees without authorization is banned. Only naturally fallen or dead trees, including branches, may be collected.

Illegal trade is real

Enforcement shows the pressure. In 2022, SERFOR seized more than 6,800 kg of Palo Santo wood and about 99 kg of resin from a Lima warehouse. The owner could not prove the wood’s legal origin. The wood was reportedly from Piura and Tumbes and destined for local and international markets.

Tradition also favors fallen wood. Producers often say the aromatic oils develop as dead wood ages on the forest floor. That makes “fallen wood only” both a legal requirement in Peru and a selling point. It is still a claim, though, so look for proof.

Buyer’s checklist

• Latin name on the label: Bursera graveolens, not just “palo santo”.
• Country of origin: usually Ecuador or Peru.
• Plant part and method: wood or fruit, steam-distilled.
• Proof of legal sourcing: ask whether the seller can show permits or documentation for fallen or dead wood.
• A test report: good suppliers can share a GC-MS analysis of the batch.
• Be wary of very cheap oil: it may be diluted, adulterated or illegally sourced.
• If it is Bulnesia sarmientoi: legal international trade requires CITES permits.

Palo Santo oil compared with similar oils

If you are choosing a woody, meditative scent, it helps to see how Palo Santo sits beside its neighbors.

A general comparison for scent choice. Check the safety notes for each oil before use.

Lavender is the easiest sustainable swap if you want a calming scent from farmed plants. Our lavender oil guide covers it in detail. You can browse more scents in our oils and scents collection.

When I would use Palo Santo oil, and when I would not

Common mistakes with Palo Santo oil

1. Buying by common name only. “Palo santo” can mean two different trees with different laws.
2. Treating the scent as medicine. No human trial shows Palo Santo oil treats any condition.
3. Applying it neat. Undiluted oil raises the risk of irritation and allergy.
4. Keeping a half-empty bottle for years. Air in the bottle speeds limonene oxidation.
5. Diffusing all day in a closed room with pets. Short sessions and an open door are safer.
6. Trusting “anti-cancer” or “antiviral” headlines. They usually describe test-tube results.

Your one step before your next bottle

Before you buy, ask the seller one question. “Can you show me the Latin name, the country of origin and proof of legal, fallen-wood sourcing?” A good supplier will answer easily. If they cannot, choose a different seller, or a farmed oil like lavender instead.

Sources

1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Bursera graveolens (Kunth) Triana & Planch. Plants of the World Online. powo.science.kew.org
2. Young DG, et al. Essential oil of Bursera graveolens (Kunth) Triana et Planch from Ecuador. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2007. Record: redi.cedia.edu.ec/document/197892
3. Chemical composition and antioxidant activity of Bursera graveolens essential oil from Manabí, Ecuador. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 2019; 31(3). doi.org/10.1080/10412905.2018.1564381
4. Chemical composition and anti-proliferative properties of Bursera graveolens essential oil. Natural Product Communications, 2012. PubMed 23285824
5. National Cancer Institute. Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ), Patient Version, updated September 2023. cancer.gov
6. ASPCA. The Latest Home Trend Can Be Harmful to Your Pets: What You Need to Know (essential oils and diffusers), January 2018. aspca.org
7. Tisserand Institute. Recommended dilutions for children. tisserandinstitute.org
8. Oxidized citrus oil (R-limonene): a frequent skin sensitizer in Europe. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2011. Record: em-consulte.com
9. Agencia Andina. Serfor decomisa más de 6,000 kilos de palo santo por no acreditar su origen legal, May 27, 2022. andina.pe
10. El Comercio (Ecuador). Report on palo santo overexploitation and conservation status, October 12, 2026. elcomercio.com
11. CITES. CoP17 Prop. 62: Amendment of Annotation #11 for Bulnesia sarmientoi, 2016. cites.org
12. CITES Plants Committee. PC16 Doc. 21.2: Bulnesia sarmientoi. cites.org