Bursera Graveolens / 100% Organic Sustainable Sourced Natural Incense Holy Wood Authentic Palo Santo has a citrusy and woody scent with a few sweet notes depending on how much oil / resin the wood is holding. You can make sure it is authentic Palo Santo by the way the wood starts burning or how the smoke tends to come out. Once you light a Palo Santo stick you should see red embers forming in the smoked parts of the wood that had contact with the fire. When it is lit, the fire starts to consume the tip of the stick and grows in time, until you turn it off and the smoke turns from black to light gray or white.