Smudge bowl Native Soul tribal, in happy colors placed on graceful legs.

The most popular herbs used for smudging are white sage, sweet grass, cedar, and lavender. To perform smudging, people usually use a plate or bowl during the ceremony. This is necessary to trap hot embers and prevent damage to your altar or floors. The bowl is also where you put your half-used sweeping stick. At first glance, you might think any type of bowl will do. If you value safety while smudging, I want you to know that there are different levels of safety for smudging bowls depending on the type of material. Remember that you burn, so choosing a material with incredible heat properties is the right way to go about this. Abalone shells are a very popular material to use as a smudging bowl. But be careful not to grab the shell halfway as the heat will also transfer to the shell. Abalone shells, because they are shells, are not bowls, so they sometimes have holes in them. Many people also hold off on using shells as the shell symbolically represents the element of water and fire and water don't mix well. A soapstone bowl is probably the best choice for stains. Soapstone is a popular material of choice for countertops because it is designed to withstand rough handling and is heat resistant. So there you have it. Now you can make an informed buying decision. Remember that when you are done with your ceremony, you will need to push out the burning herbs. A smudge bundle can burn for hours!