Kinnick kinnick (1 oz / 28 grams)

Kinnick Kinnick - Traditonal Native American pipe mixture
Kinnick kinnick is a traditional Native American name for the mixture that is used when smoking the sacred pipe (or peace pipe). Combinations of herbs can vary between different mixtures. It is also acceptable to burn it separately, say in a shell or bowl without a pipe.

Bearberry - Cleansing, purifying
Bearberry (Arctostphylos uva-ursi) is a hardy evergreen trailing plant found in North America and some parts of Europe. It belongs to the heath family and is found in high and rocky places and has glossy green leaves, small white or pink flowers in the spring and then red berries. Its growth rate is slow compared to other plants, and during the winter its leaves turn a stunning bronze colour.

Bears favour the red berries - hence the name - and the leaves were widely used as an ingredient in folk medicine. Native Americans also gathered the leaves and used them during ceremonial purposes, as they contained antiseptic and astringent properties, which helped cleanse and purify the air.

Yerba santa leaf - Healing, protection, banishes negativity
Yerba santa is a member of the waterleaf family (Eriodictyon) and is also sometimes referred to as Mountain Balm, Tarweed and Gum Bush, amongst other names. It's an evergreen shrub and can be found growing naturally in clumps of six to 10 on dry hilly areas of Northern Mexico, Arizona and California.

The herb was widely used by Native Americans and was particularly famed for its ability to ward off negativity and provide an element of protection. The leaves were often carried by individuals to boost their spiritual strength and, in incense form; it's still used today in a healing capacity.

As such, it's an ideal incense to choose if you want to bring an air of healing, protection or increase positive vibes in an environment.

Mullen - Protection, masculine energy
Also known as mullein, the herb is formed from the dried leaves and flowers of the Verbascum thapsus plant - a biennial herb from the snapdragon family, which is characteristically tall, with yellow flower spikes and fuzzy leaves. It's native to Europe and Asia.

Mullen is regarded as being a protection herb and has been used in many situations where extra protection is required. It's also thought to have masculine energy and associations with fire - some traditions have used it when trying to invoke fire elementals - but it's equally helpful when used by men or women.

Along with other herbs, such as bearberry, it was burned whilst ceremonial offerings were made, and Mohegan and Penobscot Indians were renowned for using it therapeutically. For centuries, the herb was also used to make the wicks in candles.

Red willow bark - Clearing & calming
Willows are regarded by Native Americans as being relatives of the four winds, as the seeds are carried wildly by the wind in four directions. A secondary relation is to the water, as they're often found growing by streams. The spirit of the tree is thought of as versatile and mutable and, not surprisingly, the main way they used red willow bark in their life and ceremonies is in relation to air and water.

For example, Hopi and Navajo clans used willow to make prayer sticks and amulets, whilst others used the plant to make water carriers, arrow shafts or emblems of the four winds.

The bark works well in incense and was an important ingredient in sacred smoking ceremonies. It's calming and soothing, making it an ideal herb for use with clearing purposes and during quiet sessions of meditation.

Osha root - Luck, purification
The root of Osha (Ligusticum poteri) distinctively lies above the ground and is normally quite large, hairy and dark brown in colour. It's found growing in areas above 10,000 feet in altitude, often in rugged alpine clearings. It has acquired different names over the years, such as Porter's Lovage, Indian Parsley and Bear Medicine.

North Americans view the herb as having great power and luck, and as such it's often carried as a lucky talisman. When burnt, it produces a warm and slightly spicy aroma, which is believed to purify the air. Some Native American peoples carry the root of the osha plant (ligusticum poteri) because it is thought to protect against negative influences and negative thoughts. Osha is associated with dreaming and helps you to realise that there is magic in everything, including you. It helps to lift a veil between the conscious and unconscious worlds. Osha is a powerful, spicy-smelling root that may be sprinkled onto the rocks in a sweat lodge, or burnt directly. Traditionally, osha root was sometimes ingested to cause a sweat or fever that could release toxins from the body.

Native Scents -
Native Scents is a company centred in New Mexico, USA and is made up of a network of Native American wildcrafters from Canada to South America who collect plants in an ecological and respectful way. Wildcrafting is a term which means that the herbs and plants are collected in such a way that the source is sustainable. For example this means not pulling up root systems, harvesting just enough so that the plant will continue to thrive and generally caring for each plant source. Because of the scarcity of some of the traditional Native American herbs and plants we feel this attitude to be absolutely essential as some companies are actually damaging the environment because they are putting profit first.

We consistently find their herbs and smudge sticks to be of the highest and most exquisite quality.