You can easily make your own smudge sticks to keep creepy crawlies away. Smudge sticks are used to freshen the air, clear unpleasant smells, warm the atmosphere and of course send the mosquitoes and their friends next door! It brings the fresh fragrance of the forest and garden into your home and outdoor entertainment area.
Three easy steps:
- Pick sprigs of fresh healthy herbs, such as sage, thyme, rosemary, fennel leaves and stalks, pine, cypress, lemon scented tea tree and mugwort.
- Hold twigs together in a tight bundle and tie with cotton thread. It is important to use cotton thread as synthetic threads just smoulder and fall apart. Wrap the thread tight around the bundle up, down and across. Trim both ends, then secure the bunch every 1cm with a tight knot from top to bottom. Leave sticks to dry naturally over the course of a few weeks.
- To use, hold the end about 5cm above a candle flame. It will take time but the end will become red and smoulder, releasing a thin trail of fragrant smoke. Some oily herbs may splutter and spit oil as they burn. When using outdoors stand the unlit end in a bowl of river sand and allow the smoke to waft around where you are entertaining. When the smudge stick has done its work, put it out carefully (in a bowl of dry river sand), trim the end ready for use next time.
“You herbs, born at the birth of time more ancient than the gods themselves. O Plants, with this hymn I sing to you Our mothers and our gods.”
The garden of life, by Naveen Patnaik