Products

Conventional or organic available The Avocado Tree is an evergreen native to Mexico and Central America but now grown worldwide. The fruit is a berry, consisting of a single large seed, surrounded by a buttery pulp. Avocado oil is obtained from the cold press of the fruit pulp, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, nutrients and fatty acids. The oil is usually a dark green color with a thick feeling texture. It has quite a strong fresh, sweet and nutty aroma. A highly moisturizing oil, Avocado oil has been embraced by the cosmetic industry and is a very popular product with a variety of uses.

Conventional or organic available The coconut tree (Cocos nucifera) is a member of the palm family .It is often referred to as 'The tree of lifeas it can be used in so many wonderful and versatile ways. Coconut oil used in cosmetics or natural products is often referred to as Fractionated or MCT Coconut Oil. The word Fractionated stands for the process that separates the different types of fat in virgin coconut oil and MCT stands for “Medium Chain Triglycerides”. With MCT/Fractioned Coconut Oil, the Lauric Acid is removed using Hydrolysis and Steam Distillation, leaving only the medium-chain fatty acids, specifically capric and caprylic fatty acids. These 2 medium-chain fatty acids (capric and caprylic fatty acids) are what make up the MCT/Fractionated Coconut Oil in its final state. Virgin Oils always have a strong and distinct smell, richer color and may have a slightly thicker viscosity, whereas MCT oil has no odor and is a very light oil. When making cosmetics or natural products, sometimes virgin coconut oil creates some limitations regarding the formulation of certain products, like lotions, creams, lip balm and soap. This is due to the long-chain fatty acids going solid at a certain temperature. Fractionated Coconut oil also has great stability and longer shelf life than its counterpart Virgin coconut oil. Fractionated Coconut oil is a light, absorbent and colorless oil with a variety of uses. High in Vitamin E and antioxidants, it blends easily with other oils and ingredients. In skin care it is valued as it is soothing for the skin and an emollient which helps provide a soothing barrier. It is great in body care products, hair care and massage blends.

Conventional or organic available The tiny seeds of the cranberry are a powerhouse packed with vitamins and fatty acids. The seeds are a left over by product of the food industry and the production of cranberry juice and products. The seeds are then cold pressed and the oil extracted. But with such tiny seeds, the yield rate is low and a large amount of seeds are required for the oil production. Cranberry Oil is an exceptional, nutrient rich carrier oil with a pleasant, berry aroma. It is super nourishing and full of Vitamin A, C, E and K, and has a balanced ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. It is full of antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidants fight free radicals and repair cellular damage caused by pollutants. Cranberry Seed Oil is a valued ingredient in skin care and hair care products. Cranberry seed oil provides a unique potent combination of up to 95% Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), antioxidants and phospholipids. and provides 70% EFA profile which is one of the highest, most potent on the market.

In ancient Indian culture, Sesame oil has been used to treat different health and skin conditions for thousands of years. The oil is pressed from the seeds of the sesame plant, an annual originally found in Africa and India, but now grown widely around the world. It was known to the ancient Egyptians, Chinese and the Romans. Sesame seed oil can be used as a general-purpose oil and it suits most cosmetic applications; Creams, lotions, body butter; sun care; massage products; soap; bath oils. Sesame oil is high in zinc which helps produce collagen in the skin. The oil contains an antioxidant called sesamol.

Australian Blue Cypress is native to Australia and grows in the Northern Territory (including Melville & Bathurst Islands), northern Western Australia, Cape York and northeast Queensland. It is a medium to large sized tree, from 15 to 45 meters in height. The timber is very aromatic, resistant to termites and splits quite readily into fine chips or kindling for lighting cooking fires. Australian Blue Cypress essential oil is extracted via steam distillation of the stem and branches. The trees are harvested and are then steam distilled for around 48 hours. The harvesting of quite big trees requires heavy machinery and a long distillation process which both add significantly to the cost of the oil. Resinous compounds in the bark react during distillation with other aromatic compounds to create guaiazulene, an anti-inflammatory compound similar to chamazulene that gives the essential oil its dark blue color.

Conventional or organic available Blue Tansy oil is steam distilled from the yellow flowers buds and aerial parts of the Tanacetum Annuum, a herb native to the Mediterranean. The oil has a high content of chamazulene which gives it its rich blue color. This oil belongs to the same family as the chamomiles and is sometimes referred to as Moroccan Blue Chamomile. Such was its popularity, it was almost harvested out of existence, but has been revived and is being grown in places such as Morocco where it is now thriving. It is a calming oil, with antifungal, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Conventional or organic available Lavender has been used and cherished for centuries for its unmistakable aroma and myriad of benefits. It is often considered a must-have oil to keep on hand at all times due to its versatile uses. Lavandula (common name lavender) is a genus of 39 known species of flowering plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to the Old World and is found from Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, southern Europe across to northern and eastern Africa, the Mediterranean, southwest Asia to southeast India. Many members of the genus are cultivated extensively in temperate climates as ornamental plants for garden and landscape,culinary herbs, and also commercially for the extraction of essential oils. The most widely cultivated species, Lavandula angustifolia is often referred to as lavender, and there is a ‘color’ named for the shade of the flowers of this species. Lavender oil is extracted mostly from the flowers of the lavender plant, primarily through steam distillation. The flowers of lavender are fragrant in nature and have been used for making potpourri for centuries. Traditionally, lavender essential oil has also been used in making perfumes. The oil is very useful in aromatherapy and many aromatic preparations and combinations are made using lavender oil.

Conventional or organic available Peppermint Mentha piperita, is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint. The plant, indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, is now widespread in cultivation in many regions of the world. It is found wild occasionally with its parent species. Peppermint was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus from specimens that had been collected in England he treated it as a species, but it is now universally agreed to be a hybrid. It is a herbaceous rhizomatous perennial plant growing to 30–90 cm tall, with smooth stems, square in cross section. The rhizomes are wide-spreading, fleshy, and bare fibrous roots. The leaves are from 4–9 cm long and 1.5–4 cm broad, dark green with reddish veins, and with an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves and stems are usually slightly fuzzy. The flowers are purple, 6–8 mm long, with a four-lobed corolla about 5 mm diameter they are produced in whorls (verticillasters) around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering is from mid to late summer. Peppermint is a fast-growing plant once it sprouts, it spreads very quickly.

Conventional or certified organic available The Foeniculum vulgare is a flowering plant species in the carrot family. It is a hardy perennial herb that grows up to 2m in height with yellow flowers and fine, feathery leaves. It is a highly aromatic herb. Foeniculum vulgare is indigenous to Mediterranean countries, like Italy, Greece and France but is now grown in northern Europe, Australia and North America. Fennel Sweet has been used in traditional medicine for an array of different ailments. The plant was in fact cultivated by the ancient Romans so they could harvest is aromatic fruits and edible shoots. It was again used in Spanish agriculture dating A.D. 961 and was also used in ancient China and also by the Egyptians. Fennel Sweet oil is a sweet, yet slightly spicy smelling oil. It is uplifting and energizing and a beautiful addition to a myriad of cosmetic and fragrance products.

Eucalyptus citriodora is a tall tree, growing up to 40 meters in height (but sometimes taller), from temperate and tropical north eastern Australia. It is one of the most popular eucalyptus trees grown throughout Melbourne in Australia, which is its native country. This species is believed to have originated from a restricted area of Queensland on the Tropic of Capricorn, and is now found growing throughout the world’s tropical climates. It is also known as lemon-scented gum, blue spotted gum, lemon eucalyptus. It has smooth, pale, uniform or slightly mottled bark, white to coppery in summer, and a conspicuously narrow-leaved crown which smells strongly of lemons. Pear-shaped buds are borne in clusters of three, formed in the corner of leaf and stem junctions, whilst fruit (capsules) are urn-shaped. The bark is smooth for the entire height of the tree, often powdery shedding in thin curling flakes. It prefers lighter, slightly acidic loamy soils and occurs in dry sclerophyll forest and woodlands in hilly country. All species of eucalyptus leaves have been used in traditional Aboriginal bush medicine for thousands of years. Infusions made of E. citriodora leaves were taken internally to reduce fevers and ease gastric conditions, and applied externally as a wash for the analgesic, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Aborigines would make leaves into a poultice and apply them to ease joint pain and speed up the healing of cuts, skin conditions, wounds and infections. Respiratory infections, colds and sinus congestion were treated by inhaling the vapors of steamed leaves, and to treat rheumatism the leaves were made into beds or used in steam pits heated by fire. The therapeutic qualities of the leaves and its essential oil were eventually introduced and integrated into many traditional medicine systems, including Chinese, Indian Ayurvedic and Greco-European. Find out more about our 8 other species of Eucalyptus in the video below and discover the different uses of their essential oils in our Essence of Eucalyptus blog post.

Conventional or certified organic available Shea oil is a pure lightweight oil extracted from the nut of the shea tree (Karite tree) It is naturally high in fatty acids making it an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening dry hair and as an all-over moisturizer for the skin. Shea oil is a lighter alternative to Shea butter. The process of making Shea Nut Oil is similar to the production process of other fractionated carrier oils. The raw Shea Butter pressed from the Shea nut undergoes a process known as fractionation, which allows its liquid oil (olein) to separate from the heavier components (stearin). The resulting Shea fraction contains higher proportions of the liquid Oleic Acid and lower proportions of solid Stearic Acid, may be liquid or semi-liquid at room temperature, and is considerably less waxy in its consistency. The product may undergo refining, deodorization, and filtering to further improve its sensory profile.

This Refined Rosehip oil has a light yellow color and is very lightly scented, almost odorless. Refined oils have been filtered to remove color and odor and are often referred to as Cosmetic grade as they are favored in the making of cosmetic products as the color and smell of Virgin oils can interfere with other ingredients. Some say refined oils have impurities removed, this is true in a sense as they typically have longer shelf life than Virgin oils. Rosehip oil has been cold-pressed from the crushed fruit and seeds of a certain variety of wild rose plant, specifically rosa canina, endemic to Chile. After the rose petals have dropped the distinctive red fruit is harvested. The fruit is also called the hip, hence the name Rosehip. Rosehip oil is high in vitamins such as vitamin C and A, a rich source of antioxidants and essential fatty acids. These vitamins can help reduce signs of skin aging and may help prevent fine lines. This oil also contains antioxidants like tocopherol and carotenoids that have been known to protect the skin and is also rich in anti-inflammatory acids that may help soothe redness and irritation.

Australia has around six species of sandalwood, however only Santalum lanceolatum (also called Northern Sandalwood is widespread in Western Australia’s Kimberley region and the Pilbara region through most of the Northern Territory, through to the west and north of Queensland, western New South Wales, there are also occurrences of the tree in northern South Australia and north west Victoria.) and Santalum spicatum are sold commercially. The Northern Sandalwood shrub is found mainly on sandy soils or sandplains and grows up to 7m tall. It produces a small, edible fruit that is purplish black in color. Sandalwood trees are a partially parasitic species in the same family as mistletoe. Considered more ecologically responsible than traditional Indian Sandalwood, Sandalwood Santalum lanceolatum is quickly becoming a popular choice among aromatherapists and perfumers alike. There is documented evidence of traditional use of Northern Sandalwood in Australia, the fruit was eaten by indigenous people, the leaves were placed on a bed to assist in rheumatic conditions, the timber may have also been use by new mothers who would crouch over the aromatic smoke of Sandalwood leaves and wood chips for a period of time. Leaves and twigs were burnt to repel insects. Northern Sandalwood plays a different role to traditional sandalwood oils due to its unique floral aromas. When applied directly to the skin as a perfume, it offers several different floral layers, exhibiting potential in skincare formulations and for calming notes in aromatherapy.

Conventional or organic available Borage oil is a pale yellow to golden oil obtained from the cold pressing of the seeds of the Borago officinalis. The Borage plant is also known as Star Flower thanks to its striking blue star shaped flowers. This light but very hydrating oil is extremely high in the essential fatty acid – gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), which gives it its anti-inflammatory properties and is also excellent in skin care products for improving the skins essential protective barrier. Borage oil is an exhilarating tonic that stimulates and conditions the skin, and a valued ingredient in hair care, body care and skin care products. It is especially valued for products aimed at dry and problem skin.

Conventional or organic available The Apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca) is the most commonly cultivated apricot species. It is a small tree that grows up to 12 meters tall with a dense, spreading canopy. The fruits, which ripen to orange or yellowish orange, sometimes tinged with red, have soft flesh surrounding a hard, flattened stone, containing a kernel within. Apricot oil is pressed from the seed of the fruit. It has a clear light texture and is easily absorbed by the skin and full of nutrients and rich in essential fatty acids and is an excellent moisturizer.

Conventional or organic available Babassu Oil is a nutrient rich oil similar to coconut oil that comes from the cold pressing of the seed of the Babassu palm tree, but is a far more lightweight oil. The oil is a solid at room temperature. The tree is found in the Amazon region of South America. The high content of fatty acids with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties make it extremely moisturizing, soothing and hydrating great for wound healing and improving skin texture and great in hair products.

This rich oil infusion is full of soothing and healing benefits. Calendula flowers are macerated in Sunflower Oil in an approximate ratio of 1 to 10 to achieve this beautiful combination. Calendula infused in Sunflower Oil is versatile and useful, with soothing and softening qualities. Amongst its varied properties, it is anti-inflammatory, antifungal and anti-bacterial.