It’s true, I am having a love affair with my citrus oils.  They are uplifting and support our immune system. We can use them for cleaning and diffusing into the air. The aromas are familiar and bright. They are inexpensive. Need I go on?

Those of you who study Aromatherapy know that some citrus oils are phototoxic (a chemically induced skin irritation requiring light). Did you know that some citrus oils are not phototoxic? If you’ve been avoiding all citrus oils out of concerns over phototoxicity I have good news.  You can still use a few citrus oils without worrying about potential phototoxic skin reactions. Read More

This is a picture from when I was pouring bulk orange, bergamot and pink grapefruit. Can you imagine the aroma?

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It is rare for a distiller to sell retail. Generally to buy directly from a distiller we have to buy larger quantities (at least a few kilos). Alain, the distiller and owner of Florihana Distillery in the south of France, is happy to sell small and large sizes of essential oils. Here is a blog post I wrote about Florihana.

We recently received this story via email from one of our South African distillers and would love to share it with you:

We have a very poor community in Bela Bela who have quite a lot of land available to them because of the size of their tribal boundaries. ( Bela Bela is about 4 hours drive from Johannesburg where our offices are)

About one year ago, the community, represented by Mr Lelaka, decided to allocate some of the land to growing essential oil crops. Mr Lelaka contacted us last year to ask for funding and education on farming essential oils.

They received a small donation from a private bank investment which allowed them to build a small nursery, clear natural land and put basic irrigation on the land from a river which flows through their land. We were able to fund Organic geranium plants to help them get started.

We also have joined with them to try to find more funding to expand. We have met with them on numerous occasions (at our offices and on their land) to give advice and educate them on how the grow geraniums successfully. We prepared a 21 page presentation for them to allow them to use the presentation as a marketing tool to try get funding.

They are wanting to expand to alternate crops and to clear more land.

Last week, out of the blue, I got a call from a lady named Desiree who was in a panic. Her story is that she had been growing wild lemongrass in her little farm in Bela Bela for a while and cultivating it.  The lemongrass plants were healthy and covered almost three quarters of a hectare.  Desiree had recently sold her farm and had just heard that the new owner was going to pull out all her lemongrass to plant strawberries – that same week!

This upset Desiree because she felt that all her effort and time had gone into growing each lemongrass plant and now they were going to be thrown out for compost. Desiree contacted me at the last minute in desperation to try to find out if we can do something with the lemongrass plants (even distill them to at least get some oil from her hard work).

So I contacted Mr Laleka who has been waiting for funding since October last year and asked him if he had a way to move the plants. Unfortunately, a large truck would be needed to collect all the plants and there was no one who could help out immediately. I spoke to Mr Lelaka to explain that if he could collect the lemongrass, it could be used as a natural insect repellent for the geranium crop. We discussed planting the lemongrass among the geranium or around it and also the yield which lemongrass has for the amount of oil it can produce (a very high yield). Mr Lelaka found a friend in the area who had a small pick-up and a trailer. They immediately drove to the lemongrass farm (while the strawberry tractors were waiting to plough the ground) and pulled out as many plants as possible and packed the pickup and trailer as full as possible.

It turns out that the lemongrass will be sufficient to be planted on the perimeter of the geranium field and will act as an insect repellent for the geranium crops. The lemongrass will also yield oil which we can purchase from Mr Lelaka.

So all in all, it was a great success: Most of Desiree’s plants were saved and Mr Lelaka and the community received many lemongrass plants at no cost. We are now going to wait for the new crop to settle down in its new environment and then we will harvest and distill the lemongrass to see the quality of the oil and then we can plan how much should be propagated for future oil sales.

Lubanchem Limited was named after their pioneer product “Luban” – the Somali word for frankincense or the Boswellia species. The company is registered and has its factory operations in Nairobi, Kenya. From their humble beginnings in 2002, the company now has its own facilities with 12,500 square feet of production area. Due to the ability to change proactively, the company has progressed and expanded rapidly. This success has been achieved through Lubanchem’s commitment to research, development and application of the latest technologies.

Lubanchem works with communities and women’s groups in the war torn regions of Somalia as well as in the arid /semi-arid regions of North Eastern Kenya to create regular sources of income. The long, drawn-out civil war and unrest in Somalia has had a profound effect on the nation as a whole. The men are fighting the war leaving the women to fend for themselves and the children. Due to the lack of a stable infrastructure, work is difficult to find, especially for the uneducated; therefore collection and sale of the gum resin is the primary and only source of income for many of the families in the region.

Quality is an issue that Lubanchem considers essential, not only for its products but also for its management, policy making, protection of the environment and social presence. The company aims to be a competitive global supplier in promoting the holistic benefits of wild-crafted organic essential oils. They are proud of their flexibility, attention to customer wishes and result-orientated approach.

Essential Oils distilled and sold by Lubanchem:

Frankincense species

• Boswellia carterii
• Boswellia Frereana
• Boswellia Sacra
• Boswellia Neglecta
• Boswellia rivea

• Myrrh Essential Oil- Commiphora Myrrh
• Opopanax Essential Oil – Commiphora Guidotti
• Cinnamon bark and leaf Essential Oil – Cinnamon zeylanicum
• African wild sage- Tarchonanthus Camphoratus

Lubanchem accepts wire transfer for essential oil payments, as they have no credit card system set up.  You can email them through their website if you wish to order oils.  (Note, ordering from this company is best if you’re looking to import a large quality of oil.)

Click on each picture below for a larger image.

Guroo Farms Distillery is a group of certified organic farmers and distillers, with 550 acres of certified organic farm area. They are located in the Tarai area of Uttranchal, which is one of the most fertile belts in India in the foothills of Himalayas.

After three generations of farming in Tarai, Guroo Farms officially began in 2005 for cultivation of lemongrass and production of lemongrass oil.

Guroo Farm’s essential oils are certified organic, and their philosophy is to undertake agriculture in an environmentally-friendly way. Their products have been produced without the use of any harmful chemicals. The farm and the processing facilities are certified for NNOP, NOP and EEC standards.

The main essential oils produced by this farm are lemongrass, peppermint and citronella. Their two chemotypes of lemongrass are derived by steam distillation of cymbopogon citratus. The peppermint is derived from steam distillation of Mentha Arvensis, and the Citronella is steam distillation of Cymbopogon nardus grass. They also work with other local farmers to distribute vetiver and other spice oils such as basil and rosemary.

One of Guroo farm’s research projects has led to the development of a variety of lemongrass, which is rich in geraniol and citronellol (collectively called “rhodinol”).  The aroma is similar geranium, with a rosy note.  This new lemongrass chemotype has become a favorite for many Aromatherapists.

Guroo farm is concerned with quality control and can provide the GC reports for each batch of oil from their local university. If you are interested in importing essential oils, these distillers are great to work with. They have a USA office that allows door to door delivery without customs hassles. Please let them know you read about them on Aromahead Institute’s blog.

To contact Guroo Farms Distillery:

Distiller: Gurpreet Singh
Email: info@guroofarms.com
Website: Guroo Farms

Mark, an essential oil distiller in South Africa, has sent me two kilos of his Frankincense essential oil, distilled from the resins he acquired on his trip. Here is Mark’s story, in his words:

Mark has always been deeply interested in Frankincense from Arabia and Somaliland.  Arabia and Somalialand are the homes of the highest quality Frankincense gums found on the most ancient plantations. He decided to travel into that world to network in the frankincense and myrrh industries, and he immersed himself in a fascinating place rooted in antiquity.

After a six-hour journey over the Ogaden desert in a 12-seater Beech craft plane, he arrived in Somaliland. No commercial airline tickets are available and one can only be offered a seat on this service if affiliated with one of the many non-governmental organizations that have interests in these remote parts of Africa.

Somaliland lies in the north of the Horn of Africa with its coastline running east to west along the Gulf of Aden. Its coast runs north to south along the Indian Ocean. It is only officially recognized as an independent land by itself and Somalia. This remote land has an age-old frankincense and myrrh industry where tribal owners and the co-operatives manage the resin. Traditional Arabia encompassed both sides of the Gulf, from Yemen to Somaliland, and the highest quality gums come from these very plantations in Somaliland.

After a safe landing at Hargeisa airport, Mark set off for Erigavo in the Sanaag province – the town is situated on a coastal escarpment at over 2300m above sea level. He was greeted warmly, in surprisingly perfect English.

The following morning, they were off in the Land Cruiser headed for the Dhallo valley, heart of frankincense country. They carved their way through the outskirts of town and twenty minutes later, they were standing on the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Gulf coastline and the ancient groves of frankincense trees, Boswellia carteri.

After they ascended the pass, Mark entered into the ancient groves of frankincense trees that had been owned and harvested tribally for millennium. There he saw thousands of Frankincense trees, with their bulbous-based trunks and their flaking and thick stems.  Mark remembers thinking that not only was he standing in a perfumed garden of delights, but that it was probably the very garden that yielded the gum that became a gift for the baby Jesus.

After some time they set off for a village called Gudmo Baria. The local children were extremely intrigued by him and tugged, laughed and stroked him. It was here that Mark encountered an even rarer tree, Boswelia frereana. This tree is endemic to this area and the gum is locally known as maydi. This gum is highly sought-after by the Yemeni who use it, among other things, for dental hygiene. Boswelia frereana is rarer than the Boswelia carteri locally known as beyo, and is sold at a higher price.

The gum is induced to flow by shallowly injuring the bark of the trees with a tool known as a mengaaf. The milky sap immediately begins to appear. After a period of six weeks, twice as long with the maydi, the harvester returns to find air-hardened extrusions known as tears. These are then scraped off with the mengaaf into a special basket. The tears are taken and stored in aerated lean-tos with palm fronds where they are cleaned and graded according to size and color.

After much bartering and an interesting lunch, farewells were made and they departed with a few kilograms of the world’s finest frankincense resin. The next morning they made their way to the port of Maid. According to locals, most Central African people, including the Rwanda and Burundese, had their origins here. The next port of call was the town of Berbera where the myrrh gums, locally known as Malmal and Haddi respectively, are harvested in the same fashion as frankincense.  However there are more species involved: Commiphora myrrha commonly known as myrrh and commiphora guidotti known as opoponax. The harvesters on the ground in their plantations and the owners of the co-op have set the stage to begin the export of the gums down to Mark’s distillation plant in South Africa.

Mark’s visit to this wonderfully unspoiled country was a spiritual experience for him. Flying back to Nairobi airport, he was greeted with a wonderful sight – Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro through the same window at the same time. He completed his journey and returned successfully from a mystic, ancient land.

Sent to Andrea by Mark, South African Farmer and Essential Oil Distiller

The Nepalese distiller of these two oils has formed a farmer’s cooperative where local and indigenous people participate in cultivation and production of medicinal and aromatic plants. These people have significantly raised their socio-economic status as the cooperative is providing employment and promoting cultivation in community forest and private land owned by the farmers. All the Nepalese oils are beautiful oils with a deep connection to the culture and history of this amazing country.

Xanthoxylum- Zanthoxylum armatum

Himalayan healers use Xanthoxylum essential oil mainly in treatment of respiratory diseases and digestive stress. They also say that its regular use improves the voice quality! The aroma is beautiful and uplifting.

Xanthoxylum is high in a component called Linalol. Linalol high oils offer us profound healing for infections, pain, swelling, spasms, allergies and injury. The oil is also deeply calming for the nervous system. It can be used daily and is a wonderful tonics for health.

Xanthoxylum is wonderful for an upset stomach, menstrual cramps, pain and muscle spasms. It is also very healing for allergies, colds and flu, especially if the person is experiencing aches and pains, coughing and difficulty sleeping.

• Antidepressant/uplifting
• Anti-spasmodic
  
• Analgesic
• Anti-inflammatory – reduce inflammation
• Antiseptic – assists in fighting germs/infections
• Anti-bacterial – destructive to bacteria
• Cooling
• Digestive
  
• Immune stimulant – stimulates functioning of immune system
• Sedative
• Tonic - strengthens and restores vitality
• Nourishing for the skin

Allergy Support Recipe

10 drops Xanthoxylum
5 drops Black Spruce
5 drops Niaouli

Blend these oils without any carrier, making a “stock bottle.” Add drops to a cream, oil, bath or candle diffuser. Put a drop in your shampoo or add to an unscented liquid soap.

Rhododendron- Rhododendron anthopogon

The rhododendron that grows all throughout the USA and Europe is actually native to Nepal! The plant has many traditional medicinal uses such as using the leaves and flowers to make a tea for a sore throat, a cold or to relieve a headache. The plant also has spiritual uses.

The essential oil is calming and grounding. It is used in skin care and added to shampoos for healthy hair. It is wonderful to diffuse, or to add to unscented lotions and bath salts.

The oil is a good decongestant, and is antispasmodic for the respiratory system. It also is known to help reduce inflammation and is a nice tonic for the adrenal glands.

There is research that suggests Rhododendron essential oil may support liver function (hepatic metabolism)

• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-bacterial
• Decongestant
• Nervous system tonic, sedative
• Grounding

Liquid Soap Recipe
20 drops Rhododendron
20 drop Lavender
20 drops Orange

Blend into 4 oz of castile soap and use for washing your hands. We keep ours by the sink in the kitchen and bathroom.

In the fall of 2007, I returned from an inspiring trip to Corsica and France. In Corsica I was visiting a distiller, Michele, who I have been buying essential oils from this year. It was Helichrysum season, and I had the amazing opportunity to go into the mountains with Michele and her crew and learn to harvest Helichrysum. Corsica is full of Helichrysum, growing wild in the mountains, on the beach, and being planted in the fields. It is such a beautiful plant and offers us so many therapeutic properties (skin, scar and wound healing, anti-inflammatory, emotional healing from trauma, great for headaches and pain).

There is nothing quite like the experience of meeting the distillers of these precious essential oils. All of the distillers I have met are people who love to grow plants organically, who respect and love the plant world, and who are dedicating themselves to the art and science of distilling essential oils. It is hard physical labor and they are delighted to know how much we enjoy their oils, and how deeply healing the oils are for so many people.

In France I saw an amazing field of Cornflowers! What a vibrant blue! This plant is distilled just for the hydrosol. The hydrosol is used for keeping the skin healthy and for swollen or painful eyes. It can be used as an eye drop for tired sore eyes, or as a spray for keeping the skin beautiful. As soon as I saw the plant and that amazing blue, I understood how healing this hydrosol would be.

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