Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense has been a highly valued commodity for millennia, dating back to ancient civilizations like Babylon and Assyria. The precious resin is the oldest global supply chain. Babylonians and Assyrians would burn it in religious ceremonies and for contemplative meditation. The ancient Egyptians used it in perfumes and soothing skin salves. Oil from the resin has long been used in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese wellness practices.
Frankincense essential oil comes from the resin of the frankincense tree. Harvesters make shallow cuts in the bark, from which resin seeps out. The resin is left for two weeks to crystallize, then it’s scraped off the tree. This process repeats over multiple weeks throughout the harvesting season. Resin tears are carefully cleaned and organized by size and color by harvesters before distillation.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
Helichrysum essential oil is sourced in Albania and Corsica, France. It comes from Helichrysum italicum—the helichrysum species most valued for its oil.
Helichrysum is a mountain wildflower in the daisy family. It has slim leaves and yellow blossoms. Unlike many herbs, only the blossoms yield the fragrant essential oil. It takes nearly five pounds of helichrysum flowers to produce a 5 mL bottle of Helichrysum essential oil.
Lemongrass Essential Oil
Lemongrass essential oil is sourced from a tall, perennial plant that grows in stalks. Native to tropical regions, lemongrass is known for its herbal, citrusy aroma and is popular in various cuisines.
Lemongrass essential oil can tone and cleanse the skin and scalp when incorporated into a hair- or skincare routine. It’s also an ideal addition to a post-workout massage.
Spearmint Essential Oil
Spearmint essential oil is sourced from a perennial plant that grows 11–40 inches tall and flourishes in temperate climates. It’s widely used in gums, candies, and dental products for its minty taste and to promote fresh breath.
Spearmint essential oil is different from Peppermint oil, serving as a milder option to use topically with children and those with sensitive skin. Its sweet, refreshing aroma is uplifting, making it ideal for diffusion while working or studying.
Manuka Essential Oil
Manuka essential oil hails from New Zealand, the perfect environment for the manuka plant. It comes from the same family as tea tree and eucalyptus. Though it starts out as a shrub, manuka plants can sometimes grow into a tree reaching around 49 feet high.
Every part of the manuka plant has been used in traditional wellness practices by the Maori. You may recognize the word manuka because of manuka honey, which is from the hives of bees that pollinate the manuka tree’s flowers.
Shea Butter
Shea butter—a luxurious and creamy substance—is extracted from the nuts of the shea tree, which is native to West Africa. Renowned for its rich emollient properties, shea butter has been a staple of beauty and skincare routines for centuries. It’s exceptionally nourishing for the skin, providing deep moisturization thanks to its high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins A and E.
These nutrients help to soften skin and enhance its natural barrier, which makes shea butter an excellent ingredient for soothing dry skin, improving skin elasticity, and helping protect against environmental damage. Its natural properties also make it a popular choice in products aimed at smoothing and conditioning the skin, leaving it supple and hydrated.
Mongongo Oil
Mongongo oil is derived from the nuts of the mongongo tree, which mainly grows in the southern regions of Africa. It’s celebrated for remarkable skincare benefits.
This rare oil is rich in linoleic acid, vitamin E, and eleostearic acid, which provide nourishment and protection to the skin. The eleostearic acid reacts with UV light to form a protective layer on the skin, making it particularly valuable for those exposed to harsh sun conditions.
Mongongo oil is also highly emollient, effectively moisturizing and reconditioning the skin, as well as making it smoother and reducing the appearance of fine lines. This quality makes it an excellent choice for revitalizing and protecting the skin, maintaining its resilience and youthful glow.