Nevertheless, the term “smudging” (mid 20th century to 21st century) has been used widely to refer to the smudging ceremonies of USA indigenous peoples, in which sacred herbs and medicines are burned as part of a ritual, or for cleansing or health purposes. Apparently various Native Americans were using smoke from herbs like White Sage, Sweetgrass, Juniper, Cedarwood, Pine/Pinion needles to help cleanse spiritually in purification ceremonies l-o-o-ong before any of the Europeans sailed to North America.
Americans of non-indigenous heritage could instead use the terms suffumigate and suffumigation.
suffumigate verb (used with object), suffumigated, suffumigating. to fumigate from below; apply fumes or smoke to.
suffumigation. noun, 1: to burn herbs as a cleansing ritual (plural suffumigations); 2: the burning of substances to produce fumes/smoke as part of some magical rituals; 3: the act or process of suffumigating (as in magic rites or in treatment); 4: a fume, smoke, or vapor used in suffumigating.
The use of smoke from fragrant herbs and resins was part of classical Roman and Greek culture, and presumably many other cultures throughout Eurpope and the British Isles.
Since many Native American tribes have radically different languages, the term "smudging" has been adopted as a common Pan-Native American term for the use of purifying smoke within their indigenous rituals.
Personally, this white chick prefers to use the word "suffumigate" rather than smudging. Actually, I just say I am "burning incense."
Myth Woodling, August 1, 2020