DIY Floral & Sage Smudge Stick

Sage incense bundles release negative energy and bring all the joys and aromas of your summer garden indoors. Here’s how to make your own sage smudge stick with this easy DIY.

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

Summer days may or may not be in full bloom, but we’re bringing the garden indoors either way!

With so many flowers and herbs flourishing, I, Erin could enjoy the flowers and sage all day long Naturally, that meant making our very own floral sage bundles. 

Similar to smudge sticks, you burn them a little at a time, and they fill your home with all the smells of your summertime garden.

They are considered to be “incense bundles” which are a fresh form of aromatherapy that’s different from a DIY incense holder

Make up a bunch this season and give them as DIY gifts, housewarming presents, or as hostess gifts throughout the year!

a photo of 3 sage bundles with flowers and scissors

a photo of sage bundles handing to dry on a hanger

What Are Sage Smudge Sticks and Incense Bundles?

You’ve probably come across white sage smudge sticks on more than one occasion. They’ve been used as a smoke cleanse for centuries and are meant to release negative energy. 

However, burning sage bundles is a bit different than smudging. Sage smoke is more of a natural aromatherapy that clears a space or person’s aura. 

It’s also believed to strengthen tuition, improve moods, and increase positive thinking.

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

How to Make a Sage Smudge Stick

Sage bundles are relatively simple to make even though they offer lots of different benefits.

You can use fresh sage from the garden, a local farmers’ market, or even the grocery store. 

The bundles can also be customized however you’d like, but we love giving them a colorful twist by adding florals. 

  • Variety of herbs: sage, cedar, rosemary, thyme, etc.
  • Variety of wildflowers such as roses or lavender
  • Cotton twine
  • Scissors
  • Hanger for drying

You can even buy white sage bundles in bulk that are already dried to add your own florals.

Cut the herbs down to about 6” in length and the flowers anywhere from 2-6” in length.

First, cut the herbs down to about 6” in length and the flowers anywhere from 2-6” in length.

Cluster several sprigs of different kinds of herbs together. If using sage, lay the sage down first.

The broad, flat leaves are great for holding all the other herbs in. Then lay the flowers on top of the herbs, and lastly top the flowers off with a few more sage leaves.

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

Cut your cotton twine roughly 5 times the length of your incense.

Double knot the twine around the base of the incense grouping, making sure to leave a 2” tail of twine on the shorter end.

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

Wrap the twine up and around the herbs at an angle until you reach the top of the herbs.

Then, wrap the twine back down and around at the opposite angle as before to form “X’s” on the bundle.

Pull the twine as tight as possible as the herbs will shrink a little bit as they dry.

Double knot the twine to the short twine tail you created initially. Hang the bundles up to dry for 2-3 weeks or until completely dry.

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

How to Do a Sage Cleanse

When ready to burn, open a window or door to make sure there is safe ventilation if needed.

Place the sage bundles on a flameproof plate or bowl and light the leaves until there is a small flame. 

Gently blow out the flame over the heatproof bowl or abalone shell, and then the sage bundle will omit a soft smoke just like incense.

While sage removes the negative energy, you can use palo santo sticks afterward to fill the space with new, positive energy. 

Keep in mind that sage should only be burned for short periods of time, and you’re doing so at your own risk.

If you have a history of asthma or lung concerns, you should consult a physician prior to using smudge sticks. 

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

And that’s all there is to it! Who knew incense was so easy to make?! Now you have even more ways to enjoy all that this gorgeous summer nature has to offer indoors!

You can find more of our favorite aromatherapy ideas below —

DIY Fresh Floral and Herbal Incense Bundles by Ashley Rose of Sugar & Cloth, a top lifestyle blog in Houston, Texas

a photo of 3 sage bundles with flowers and scissors

DIY Floral & Sage Smudge Stick

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5 from 2 votes
Bring all the joys and aromas of your garden indoors by making your own incense bundle. Here's how to make your own sage smudge stick.
Active Time20 minutes
Dry Time14 days
Total Time14 days 20 minutes
Course DIY
Category Aromatherapy

Equipment

  • Scissors
  • Hanger

Materials

  • 1 roll cotton twine
  • 2 bundle fresh sage
  • 2 bundle fresh herbs and flowers of your choice

Notes

How To Do A Sage Cleanse

When ready to burn, open a window or door to make sure there is safe ventilation if needed.
Place the sage bundles on a flameproof plate or bowl and light the leaves until there is a small flame. 
Gently blow out the flame over the heatproof bowl or abalone shell, and then the sage bundle will omit a soft smoke just like incense.
While sage removes the negative energy, you can use palo santo sticks afterward to fill the space with new, positive energy. 
Keep in mind that sage should only be burned for short periods of time, and you're doing so at your own risk.
If you have a history of asthma or lung concerns, you should consult a physician prior to using smudge sticks. 

Instructions

  • Cut the herbs down to about 6” in length and the flowers anywhere from 2-6” in length.
    an overhead photo of fresh herbs flowers
  • Cluster several sprigs of different kinds of herbs together. If using sage, lay the sage down first. The broad flat leaves are great for holding all the other herbs in.
  • Lay the flowers on top of the herbs. And lastly top the flowers off with a few more sage leaves.
    a photo of bundle supplies and a pile of flowers with sage
  • Cut your cotton twine roughly 5 times the length of your incense.
    a close up of how to string twine around a fresh herb bundles
  • Double knot the twine around the base of the incense grouping, making sure to leave a 2” tail of twine on the shorter end.
  • Wrap the twine up and around the herbs at an angle until you reach the top of the herbs. Then wrap the twine back down and around at the opposite angle as before to form “X’s” on the bundle.
    a close up of how to wrap an incense bundle
  • Pull the twine as tight as possible as the herbs will shrink a little bit as they dry.
  • Double knot the twine to the short twine tail you created initially.
  • Hang the bundles up to dry for 2-3 weeks or until completely dry.
    a side photo of how to dry sage bundles on a wall hanger
Cost: $8
KEYWORD: how to make a sage smudge stick

 

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. I wonder if my grandmother will discover this site because her garden is well-flowering and quite fragrant.

  2. This is such a sweet and wonderful idea for a gift as well as incense. I do have variety of herbs and flowers in my garden that I sometime wonder what to do with and you have just given me the inspiration!