Connect with nature

Through interviews with Dutch people who use smudge sticks, Pombo Geertsma discovered that almost none of the users go out to harvest plants themselves. Pombo Geertsma: “I think these people want to connect with nature, but they buy items that come from the other side of the world. » Some interviewees also mentioned that they thought American plants simply worked better or had a nicer scent.

“Does not exist in the Netherlands”

According to researchers, the Dutch generally have limited knowledge of native plants and their traditional uses. Adopting exotic rituals can fill this gap. Pombo Geertsma: “It is often claimed that these kinds of traditions do not exist in the Netherlands, but they do. In the southern Netherlands, dried and blessed plants were burned to protect against lightning and thunder. Older people said in interviews that they had to get up at night during these storms. Their parents then threw pieces of boots that were hanging near the front door into the fire. The smoke would fill the house and escape up the chimney, protecting the house.

Alternatives

In fact, there are suitable alternatives to North American factories in the Netherlands. In some of the packages examined, researchers identified plants native to the Netherlands, such as common mugwort, common sage and chamomile. Pombo Geertsma: “You can use all kinds of wild and garden plants to burn. Just think lavender, rosemary, tansy and rose. These plants have recognizable scents and evoke specific associations for many people.