A smudge stick is a bundle of dried herbs, most commonly white sage (Salvia apiana). Often other herbs or plants are added, and the leaves are usually bound with string in a small bundle and dried. Additional herbs and spices that are often used in contemporary practices include cilantro, cedar, lavender, and mugwort. All have a strong, pleasant aroma when burnt.

The English word smudge stick was first applied to describe a specific tool used in North American Native traditions, particularly those that include shamanism. The binding of smudge sticks for many traditions was a sacred intentional process in and of itself. Using scent and scented smoke in rites of purification, whether through smudging (the process of using a smudge stick) or burning incense, is common in many traditional cultures around the world, as noted in ethnographic literature.