Soapstone Smudge Bowl

Smudging is most often done by burning herbs like white sage or other types in stick form. Holding a smoldering bundle of white sage can be difficult and even sometimes dangerous, making it useful to have a place to put your smudge for a moment. This is where a smudging bowl comes in - a rugged little bowl that can be used to place your white sage smudging stick in for a moment while you pause or continue your smudging ritual.

Our smudge bowls, meant to be used with white sage or any other incenses, are carved in India from naturally-occurring soapstone. They come in a number of different hues depending on the stone, and variations include browns, terra cotta tones, and even green hues, all of which are naturally occurring. Soapstone has been a popular carving stone for thousands of years thanks to its high talc content, which makes it relatively easy to shape and gives it a texture not unlike a bar of soap (hence its name). Soapstone also has high levels of heat resistance and durability, which makes it ideal for being used in heating and cooking equipment or wherever it’s exposed to high heat and flame. In fact, in some ancient homes, soapstone was used for heat insulation!

It’s these same heat-resistant characteristics that make a soapstone smudge bowl such a perennially popular choice for white sage smudging. Perfect for holding the burning embers of white sage or any other type of incense stick used while smudging, a soapstone smudge bowl can withstand the heat and live to tell about it over and over again. This makes soapstone products widely sought after as bowls for burning herbs or sticks of incense such as white sage.

We feel it’s crucial to support indigenous artisans and craftspeople whenever possible here at Shamans Market. We’ve been striving to serve our community consciously for over 20 years with integrity and passion. That’s why, as with all the things we sell here, we strive to source our handmade smudging bowl products ethically in fair trade agreements whenever possible. This way, we can continue to support the artisans that make each smudging bowl, their families, and indigenous ways.