The use of incense dates back thousands of years. It can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where they were burned in religious ceremonies and to cast out demons and gratify the presence of the gods. It is mentioned on an inscribed tablet that was placed on the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt, around 1530 BC.

'Smudging' is the common name given to the "Sacred Smoke Bowl Blessing", the sacred blessing bowl ceremony, a powerful purification technique of the Native American tradition. It is a ritual way to cleanse a person, place or object from negative energies or influences. The theory behind it is that smoke sticks to negative energy and when it unravels it takes it with it. Salvia apiana is burned in ceremonies to ward off evil spirits, negative thoughts and feelings, and to keep Gan'n (negative entities) away from the ceremonial areas. In the Plains Sweatlodge, the floor of the facility is sprinkled with sage leaves for participants to rub against their bodies. Sage is also used to keep sacred items such as pipes, chopsticks or Peyote safe from negative influences. In the Sioux nation, the Sacred Pipe is held in a bundle of sage branches.

Smudges are very effective when you are feeling depressed, angry, resentful or sick, or after having a fight with someone. In addition, on several of these plants, there are scientific researches, which confirm many properties especially the antimicrobial ones effective in cleaning the air in the rooms, almost disinfecting it, obviously they must be inhabited after ventilation.