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The Reset Retreat: Yucca Valley
Bring the unforgettable scent of New Mexico home.
For more than two decades, guests entering Hyatt Regency Tamaya were welcomed by the unmistakable aroma of Clear Light Cedar incense—an earthy blend of New Mexico cedar and piñon that became part of the resort experience.
Following a remodel, the resort no longer burns our incense. But the original Clear Light Cedar incense remembered by longtime guests is still handcrafted in New Mexico.
If you have been searching for the incense from Tamaya, you have found it.
❋ The Scent Guests Remember
For years, visitors walked into the Tamaya lobby and asked the same question:
“What is that incredible smell?”
It was Clear Light Cedar.
Our Cedar & Piñon Spirit Sticks were created to release a deep, atmospheric fragrance into large spaces. The aroma of cedar, piñon and rising smoke became closely associated with the feeling of arriving at Tamaya—and with the landscape of New Mexico itself.
Woody, earthy and unmistakably Southwestern, it is a scent many guests still remember long after returning home.
❋ The Original Incense, Still Made in New Mexico
Clear Light Cedar has been creating distinctive cedar products in Placitas, New Mexico, since 1971.
Our incense begins with real New Mexico cedar rather than a fragrance designed merely to imitate it. Each batch is crafted with care to preserve the layered, natural aroma that has defined Clear Light for more than five decades.
We have not tried to make it sweeter, trendier or more conventional.
We still want it to smell like New Mexico.
❋ Cedar & Piñon Spirit Sticks
The incense once burned at Tamaya
Our substantial incense logs create a long, atmospheric burn suited to patios, fireplaces, ceremonial moments and larger spaces.
This is the format longtime Tamaya guests are most likely to remember.
❋ Cedar & Piñon Incense Cones
The remembered aroma in a smaller format
Enjoy the characteristic fragrance of cedar and piñon in convenient cones made for everyday use at home.
Light one when you want to settle the room, welcome guests or reconnect with the scent of New Mexico.
A New Mexico Tradition Since 1971
Clear Light began in 1971, when founder Josh Peine started sharing his small-batch, wild-harvested cedar products at the Placitas Farmers’ Market.
Over the decades, the company’s cedar essence, incense and home fragrance became part of the sensory landscape of New Mexico—including more than two decades at Hyatt Regency Tamaya.
After Clear Light had closed, Keith Allen West revived the company in 2010, preserving the products longtime customers remembered while carrying its original spirit into a new generation.
Today, Clear Light Cedar continues to make incense, candles, home fragrance and body care in small batches in Placitas.
More Than a Fragrance. A Memory of Place.
“We lived in Albuquerque for many years, and your cedar products are wonderful reminders of New Mexico.”
“The elegant fragrance is as good as mountain air.”
“Your cedar products are great reminders of New Mexico.”
For some people, cedar and piñon recall a favorite journey.
For others, they bring back the feeling of walking into Tamaya.
And for those who have left New Mexico, the aroma can feel a little like coming home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the incense that was burned at Hyatt Regency Tamaya?
Yes. Clear Light Cedar supplied the Cedar & Piñon Spirit Sticks burned at the resort for more than two decades. The resort no longer burns our incense following a remodel, but the original incense remains available directly from Clear Light Cedar.
Which product should I choose?
Choose Cedar & Piñon Spirit Sticks if you remember the long-burning incense logs used to fragrance the resort’s large lobby.
Choose Cedar & Piñon Incense Cones if you want the characteristic cedar-and-piñon aroma in a smaller, convenient format for everyday use.
Are the products still made in New Mexico?
Yes. Clear Light Cedar has been based in Placitas, New Mexico, since 1971. Our incense and other cedar products are still crafted in small batches here.
How should Spirit Sticks be burned?
Place a Spirit Stick in a fire-safe incense bowl filled with sand or another heat-resistant material. Light the end, allow it to catch briefly and gently extinguish the flame so the stick smolders. Never leave burning incense unattended.
Does Tamaya still burn this incense?
No. Hyatt Regency Tamaya stopped burning our incense following a remodel. Clear Light Cedar is not currently affiliated with or endorsed by Hyatt Regency Tamaya.
Bring the Remembered Scent Home
The original cedar-and-piñon incense once burned at Tamaya is still handcrafted in New Mexico.
Light it. Let the fragrance rise. Remember the feeling of being here.
Our Part of the Story“Some scents stay with us long after we leave a place. Light the incense, let the fragrance rise and find your way back to New Mexico.”
Clear Light Cedar is not currently affiliated with or endorsed by Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa or Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “Hyatt” and “Tamaya” are used solely to identify the historical location where Clear Light Cedar incense was burned.