A smoke cleansing for cleaning is one of the oldest and most accessible practices of Afro-Brazilian religions: the smoke from the right herbs is enough to renew the environment, ward off what is heavy, and prepare the house to receive good energy. Unlike a ritual bath, which cleans the body, smoke cleansing acts on the space on the walls, in the corners, and in the air you breathe every day.
This guide shows how to do smoke cleansing for energetic cleaning of the house from start to finish: which herbs to use for spiritual cleansing and attraction, and how to prepare the charcoal. It also shows in what order to go through the rooms, what to do with the ashes, and, most importantly, how to do all this safely.
What is smoke cleansing for cleaning
To smoke cleanse is to burn dry herbs and resins over embers so that the sacred smoke circulates through the environment. In Umbanda, the practice is a fundamental part of the preparation for any gira, and at home it serves the same function: to clean and harmonize. In Candomblé, the leaves belong to the domain of Ossain (orixá (orisha) of the leaves, in the ketu nation): without leaf there is no orixá, says the Yoruba precept. The ritual use of plants in terreiros is a subject of serious academic research. One example is the survey on medicinal and mystical plants used in Umbanda rituals, conducted in terreiros of São Borja and published by UERGS. Another is the study on plants used in Umbanda rituals published in the journal Ethnoscientia (UFPA).
There are two moments in the smoke cleansing for cleaning, and the order matters:
- Cleansing (descarrego) smoke is done first, with herbs of dense smoke that ward off heavy energy, envy, and the evil eye.
- Lustral smoke cleansing (or attraction) done afterwards, with soft herbs and resins that call peace, prosperity, and lightness to the already cleaned space.
Think of it this way: first you sweep, then you perfume. Doing only the spiritual cleansing leaves the house "empty"; doing only the lustral is perfuming over the dust.
Tip: smoke cleansing is not guaranteed result magic. It prepares and renews the energetic field of the environment; the rest is consistency, faith, and care for your own home.
Herbs and resins to smoke cleanse the house
Each herb has a function. This is the traditional base used in smoke cleansing for cleaning, separated by the two moments:
| Herb / Resin | Function | Moment |
|---|---|---|
| Arruda | Wards off envy, evil eye, and obsessive energy | Spiritual cleansing (descarrego) |
| Guiné | Cuts demands and cleanses a charged environment | Spiritual cleansing (descarrego) |
| Garlic skin | Heavy spiritual cleansing, wards off dense energies | Spiritual cleansing (descarrego) |
| Ground coffee | Breaking strong demands (occasional use) | Spiritual cleansing (descarrego) |
| Rosemary | Purifies and raises the vibration | Lustral |
| Lavender | Peace, balance and harmony | Lustral |
| Basil | Attracts good energies | Lustral |
| Benzoin (resin) | Perfumes and overcomes discouragement | Lustral |
| Incense and myrrh (resins) | Raise the vibration for spiritual connection | Lustral |
| Cinnamon and clove | They open paths and prosperity | Lustral |
You do not need all of them. A simple and powerful combination is arruda + guiné for spiritual cleansing (descarrego) and alecrim + alfazema or benjoim for lustral.
About white sage: the famous white sage "smudge" that circulates on the internet comes from North American indigenous traditions and is not our smoke cleansing (defumação). Afro-Brazilian religions have their own repertoire of herbs; use what belongs to the house, with respect to the origin of each plant.
What you will need
- Chosen dried herbs and/or resins (spiritual cleansing and lustral)
- 1 charcoal (incense or barbecue, in a small piece)
- 1 incense burner, thurible, or heat-resistant clay pot
- 1 tongs, metal spoon, or tweezers to hold the ember
- 1 glass with water and a plate or newspaper leaf near the exit door
- Match or lighter
In the terreiro, the thurible or a stick incense burner is used. At home, a clay incense burner or an old agate pot serve the purpose well; what matters is that the container can withstand heat and does not break.
How to do the smoke cleansing (defumação) step by step
This is the practical part. Do it calmly and with devotion, without rushing.
Preparation of the ember
- Light the charcoal and wait until it is glowing, with a layer of white ash on the outside. Never smoke with burning charcoal: the herb needs to smolder, not burn all at once.
- Open windows and curtains throughout the house. The smoke and energy need a path to exit.
- Sprinkle the spiritual cleansing (descarrego) herbs little by little over the ember, generating smoke. Add more as you go.
Order of the rooms
The traditional rule is to smoke from the back of the house toward the street door, as if pushing everything that is dense outside.
- Start with the innermost room (usually the back bedroom).
- In each room, go to the center, let the smoke act, and go through the four corners (some terreiros trace a cross from corner to corner).
- Follow room by room always toward the exit, without skipping environments.
- Finally, smoke the front door, pushing the smoke outward: it is the gesture that seals the cleansing.
Spiritual cleansing (descarrego) and then lustral
When you finish the round with the spiritual cleansing (descarrego) herbs, switch to the lustral herbs and resins (rosemary, lavender, benzoin, incense) and redo the same path, this time calling for peace, protection, and prosperity for the already cleaned space. If you wish, also smoke the people in the house and the objects of faith.
What to do with the ashes
At the end, pour the ember and the ash over the newspaper or plate near the door, extinguish everything with the water from the cup and discard outside the house (external trash). The ash from the descarrego carries what was removed, do not keep it inside the home.
“May all dense energy move away and peace take over this home. May this house be a port of axé, health, and harmony.”
This simple firmeza can be said while you walk with the defumação. Those who are from Umbanda usually sing the traditional defumação sung chant (“Defuma, ô gira, com arruda e guiné…”) use the prayer with which your faith feels at home.
Safety precautions for defumação
Smoke is sacred, but fire is fire. Before performing the defumação for cleansing, observe:
- Keep the ember always in a heat-resistant container and never leave it unsupervised.
- Ventilate the environment before and after, do not perform defumação with the whole house closed.
- Keep pregnant women, asthmatics, bronchitis patients, small children, and animals away from the room during the smoke: fine particles irritate the respiratory tract.
- Be careful with curtains, papers, and fabrics near the ember.
- Upon finishing, confirm that everything is extinguished before discarding.
Performing defumação responsibly is part of the respect for the ritual, a protected home begins with a safe practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to perform defumação?
By tradition, the morning (between 6am and 10am) favors renewal and the opening of paths, while the late afternoon calms the environment. There is no rigid rule: the most important thing is the intention and doing it at a quiet moment, without haste.
Can I do smoke cleansing (defumação) every day?
You can. Daily smoke cleansing (defumação) is light and helps keep the environment harmonized, especially with lustral herbs like rosemary and lavender. The stronger spiritual cleansing (descarrego) (rue, guinea hen weed, coffee) requires less frequency: once a week is enough for very heavy houses.
In what order should I smoke the rooms?
Always from the back of the house toward the street door, ending at the front door to push the dense energy out. In each room, take the smoke to the center and to the four corners before moving to the next environment.
What to do with the ashes from the smoke cleansing?
Extinguish the ember with water and discard the ashes outside the house, in the external trash. The ash from the spiritual cleansing (descarrego) carries the energy removed from the environment, so it should not be kept inside the home or reused.
Where to buy herbs and incense burners
At Joia Mística Laroyê, you will find everything for your smoke cleansing (defumação) for cleaning:
- Dried herbs for smoke cleansing (defumação) rue, guinea hen weed, rosemary, lavender and more, sold separately or in spiritual cleansing (descarrego) and lustral combos
- Resins and incense benzoin, myrrh, frankincense and natural incense
- Incense burners and thuribles made of clay, metal or with handles, to use safely
- Charcoal and accessories to light the ember the right way
- Ready-to-use powdered smoke cleansers (defumação) mixtures prepared by Gleyzane with intention and axé
Visit our shop in Extrema, Minas Gerais or talk to us via WhatsApp and we ship all over Brazil. Also, check out our sacred herbs section.
References
- UERGS Scientific Electronic Journal: Medicinal and mystical potential of plants used in Umbanda rituals, survey conducted in terreiros of São Borja (RS), 2022
- Ethnoscientia Journal, Federal University of Pará (UFPA): Plants used in Umbanda rituals
