Limited Edition Crystal Chaparral Incense. Southern California Chaparral-Coastal Oak Woodlands Incense. Incense blend of wild De Luz botanicals.

White sage (Salvia apiana) leaves, stems, flowers, seed pods;

Black sage (Salvia mellifera) leaves, stems, flowers, seed pods;

Laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) leaves, stems, flowers, seed pods, fragrant sap.

I wild harvest from our own property. The sage are a concern of many due to overharvesting. My technique is to pick the leaves that are about to fall off and cover the ground anyway (a known tinder material for California wildfires). This way I don't have to cure the leaves myself, as they are already sun-dried, but their aromatics are still intact. They have not started to desiccate or molder in the soil. Furthermore, I collect the seed pods and plant them on our property in decomposed granitic soil, which S. mellifera prefers, and volcanic as well as decomposed granitic soils which S. apiana thrives in both types. Although S. apiana and S. mellifera are self sowing, human planting of the seeds and conscious watering is far more productive and yields a germination rate that makes the natural cycle pale in comparison. These plants are wonderful for erosion as well as the colonies of native pollinators. Human intervention can both encourage their propagation as well as temper their contribution to wildfires, both destructive and rejuvenative. Sales of the Crystal Chaparral Incense will help me to continue this stewardship of these precious plants.