Spark vs Aura - What's The Difference?

Every day offers us two invitations: to awaken and to unwind.

At Kanna Garden, we created Spark and Aura to honor both.

Both are Kanna extracts derived from Sceletium tortuosum, the sacred South African plant revered for centuries for its heart-opening and mood-balancing effects. Yet each formula expresses a distinct facet of kanna’s wisdom—one to lift you into presence and possibility, the other to guide you gently home to calm and connection.

This guide will help you understand the difference between Spark and Aura so you can choose (or combine) them intentionally throughout your day.

Understanding Kanna’s Two Sides: The Serotonin Spectrum

Kanna contains several key alkaloids—most notably mesembrine and mesembrenone—that interact with the body’s serotonin system in subtly different ways.

• Mesembrine primarily acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, gently elevating mood and promoting clarity and focus.

• Mesembrenone and its isomers (like Δ⁷-mesembrenone) support calm, emotional regulation, and smooth relaxation.

By adjusting the ratio between these compounds, we can guide kanna’s effects toward stimulation and focus or grounding and softness. Spark and Aura embody these complementary poles of presence.

Introduction To Spark

Stimulate Presence. Awaken Possibility.

Spark was designed for creators, thinkers, and ritualists seeking clarity and aliveness. With a high mesembrine concentration (≈ 75% of actives, totaling ~4% of the full extract), this formula amplifies focus and energy without jitter or crash.

Energetic Profile

• Uplifted, alert mood

• Enhanced creativity and sustained focus

• Light euphoria and social ease

• Gentle stimulation that feels clean and natural

Ideal for:

• Morning rituals and journaling

• Creative brainstorming or studio sessions

• Deep-work productivity without overstimulation

• Intentional social connection

How to Use Spark
Start with a micro-serving—about 25–50 mg—placed under the tongue or stirred into warm water, cacao, or tea. Take a few breaths to anchor your intention, then move into your creative or contemplative flow. Many users describe a soft “switch-on” effect within 20–30 minutes, characterized by mental brightness and an open, curious heart.

Alkaloid Breakdown

• ~5.3% Total Alkaloids

• ~4% Mesembrine (≥ 75% of actives)

• Extracted via solvent method for full solubility

• Lab-tested for potency and purity
  
  

Introduction To Aura

Soften the Edges. Deepen the Moment.

If Spark kindles the flame, Aura is the soft glow that follows. With a more balanced alkaloid spectrum (~3% mesembrine, 20–25% mesembrenone and Δ⁷-mesembrenone), Aura supports relaxation, emotional openness, and integration.

Embodied Profile

• Calm, grounded awareness

• Emotional ease and compassion

• Decreased mental chatter

• Deepening of breath and body awareness

Ideal for:

• Evening rituals, meditation, and yoga

• Breathwork or body-based integration

• Soothing overstimulation or digital fatigue

• Social connection and emotional intimacy

How to Use Aura
Begin with 25–50mg under the tongue or stirred into warm tea or simply water. Take slowly and intentionally—perfect before breathwork, yoga, or evening journaling. Within minutes, the nervous system begins to unwind, inviting quiet reflection and a deep sense of presence. It is important to note that Aura is still stimulating so you do not want to take right before bed, especially if you are sensitive.

Alkaloid Breakdown

• ~5.4% Total Alkaloids

• ~3% Mesembrine (~50% of actives)

• 20–25% Mesembrenone & Δ⁷-Mesembrenone

• Fully soluble, standardized, and lab-tested
  
  

A Comparison at a Glance

How Spark and Aura Differ From Typical Stimulants or Relaxants

Unlike caffeine, which can overstimulate, or alcohol, which dulls awareness, kanna harmonizes rather than hijacks the nervous system.

• Spark lifts without strain. It heightens focus through serotonin modulation, not adrenaline.

• Aura relaxes without sedation. It restores balance through parasympathetic regulation, not suppression.

Both extracts are non-addictive, non-hallucinogenic, and designed for micro-serving—so you can work with them as part of a mindful, sustainable practice.

Choosing the Right Kanna for You

Ask yourself:

• Do you desire increased energy, focus and more stimulation? Choose Spark.

• Do you desire calm, grounding or integration? Choose Aura.
  
  

Kanna teaches that true vitality isn’t found in constant stimulation or endless relaxation—it’s found in the dance between the two.