White sage (Salvia Apiana) is from the coastal mountains of California and Baja California. This is a broad leaf sage which is prized for its strong aromatic properties. Sage is one of the most sacred herbs among indigenious North American peoples. The clean burning sage is used in the energy cleansing ritual known as smudging (or purification), which in theory means the smoke would attach itself to the negative energy of the area and cleanse it so that it becomes positive energy. Abalone shells are often used to burn the sage or to extinguish the smudge bundle after use.