Sweetgrass
Hierochloe odorata
Also known as Holy Grass, Manna Grass, Mary’s Grass, Seneca Grass or Vanilla Grass
$3.00 per Braid
History: Sweetgrass is an aromatic herb native to northern Europe, Asia, and North America. It gets its distinctive sweet scent from the presence of a vanilla scented compound found in many plants. Sweetgrass was widely used by North American Natives. It is considered to be one of the four sacred medicines, the other four being cedar, sage, and tobacco. In Native American Mythology, Sweetgrass is the sacred hair of Mother Earth; its sweet aroma reminded the native people of the gentleness, love, and kindness Mother Earth has for them.
Uses: Sweetgrass has traditionally been used by various Native American tribes as an incense (for purification, driving out negativity, and as an offering to spirits and ancestors), as a perfume, as a stuffing for pillows and mattresses, and as an insect repellent. Many non-Native Americans have grown fond of sweet grass for its soothing, somewhat hypnotic vanilla-like fragrance, which can be an aid to meditative practices.
Active Ingredients: Sweet grass contains over 160 volatile compounds, of which coumarin is the majority.