The Story Behind El Santo

When I first set out to make home fragrance in 2017, El Santo was the second scent I created. At the time, it was simply called No. 79. Its inspiration came from the ritual of burning Palo Santo, a practice of setting intentions, inviting clarity, and creating a space for spiritual cleansing and meditation.

From the first spark of the wick, bright orange and petitgrain rise like the sun at dawn. Radiant, cleansing, alive. Soon, the heart reveals itself: Palo Santo and vetiver, earthy and restorative, recalling the way smoke curls in quiet rooms, carrying both memory and renewal. Finally, the base, cedarwood and amyris, settles into a warm, resinous embrace, leaving behind a sense of sanctuary.

Hand-poured in Los Angeles, El Santo is more than a candle. It’s an invitation to pause, to breathe, and to reconnect. Crafted with soy wax, cotton wick, and pure botanical oils, it’s clean, vegan, and free from synthetic fragrance, offering sustainable beauty for the soul and for the earth.

As the season shifts, I return often to El Santo. Lighting it is my own reminder to slow down, set my intention, and honor the moment.

With gratitude,
Dillon Peña
Founder, Leland Francis