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Botanical illustration of Sweetgrass
AromaticSourced entry

Sweetgrass

Hierochloe odorata

A sweet-smelling northern grass, braided and burned by Native Americans in smudging and used as a perfume by the Sámi.

Safety at a glance

  • PregnancyNothing recorded
  • BreastfeedingNothing recorded
  • MedicinesNothing recorded
  • Who should avoid itNothing recorded
  • AllergiesNothing recorded
  • ToxicityNothing recorded

Tap a box to read the safety notes below. “Nothing recorded” means our sources don't cover it, not that it's safe.

What is Sweetgrass?

Plant family
Poaceae, the grass family
Parts used
The fragrant leaves, often braided
Where it grows
Northern North America, Europe and Asia
Genus
Hierochloe
Species
odorata

Also called

Vanilla Grass, Holy Grass

Traditionally used for

  • Smudging
  • Perfume

Traditionally described as

  • Rich in coumarin

Traditions that use it

Natural compounds

Coumarin

What does the research say?

Traditional use

These are traditional uses, not proven treatments.

  • Sweetgrass is one of the plants Native Americans burn in smudging ceremonies.[1]Study

  • In northern Norway, especially among the Sámi, sweetgrass is rich in sweet-smelling coumarin and is still gathered as a perfume and stored with clothes. Only its leaves are suitable for the traditional braids.[2]Study

In short

No safety studies were found.

Sources

  1. [1] Commercialized "Smudge Sticks" Used as Incense in the Netherlands: An Inventory of Plants and Trends Behind a New Age Fashion · DOI: 10.3390/plants13213003Peer-reviewed study
  2. [2] Scented grasses in Norway—identity and uses · DOI: 10.1186/s13002-015-0070-yPeer-reviewed study

This information is educational and traditional in nature, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Unfamiliar word? See what these words mean.