FRANKINCENSE + SUSTAINABILITY
why Frankincense is no longer sustainable
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THE PROBLEM OF OVER HARVESTING
Frankincense is one of the most popular essential oils in the world, and for good reason. One sniff of Its aromatic blend of pine, citrus + spice is enough to tell you why.
But the oils popularity has recently soared. Previously confined to use in religious ceremonies and more ‘niche’ aromatherapy practices, frankincense can now be found in all sorts of skin care, soaps and perfumes.
The demand has come in part from a return to more natural ingredients. From skin care to house hold cleaning products, many of us are saying no to artificial colours, fragrances + preservatives.
And while this is a positive change, with more people being concerned about what they’re consuming and what waste they make, the practical consequences of this sudden surge can sometimes be detrimental to communities and the natural ingredient itself
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Frankincense is sourced from the Boswellia tree, which needs to grow for around 25 years before it is matured enough to be ‘tapped’ - the process by which the trunk is cut, causing the frankincense resin to be emitted. Premature and overzealous tapping can lead to unhealthy saplings and a declining elderly population.
As we can see in this article on Frankincense Trees from National Geographic
‘the trees aren’t regenerating: In more than half the populations they assessed, they didn’t find a single young tree. The culprits are cattle grazing on saplings, uncontrolled fires, and overtapping—cutting a tree too many times. “There’s a very high mortality rate in the old trees,” he says, which leads to weaker trees that produce fewer and lower-quality seeds.’
‘Boswellia species are threatened by habitat loss and overexploitation. Boswellia are found almost exclusively in regions with a harsh, arid climate that are plagued by conflict and poverty, and selling the resin may be the only source of income for many people in these areas, leading to overtapping, Bongers says. “Local people want to make a living. When I talk to people, they think that there is no problem because the trees are there, and if they tap, they get it, so who cares? It’s about short-term—taking care of your family.”’
Unsustainable farming practices, over farming + the pressure of large companies demanding lower prices for goods are all part of the reason that we have chosen to discontinue the use of Frankincense essential oils in our products.
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THE SOLUTION
Of course, it is possible to purchase sustainably sourced Frankincense, and it is arguably the best solution to tackle the problems of poverty in the regions that the Boswelli tree is grown. But ethically sourced ingredients such as these are pricey, and it’s not always clear just ‘how’ sustainable the farming is.
The reality is that most people don’t want to pay upwards of £25 for a bar of soap. And so, aside from for personal use, it seems the only practical solution is to slowly discontinue the use of Frankincense in our products.
We have a reasonable amount of the essential oil left, as we also use it in our Frankincense + shea balm and the Oil Cleanser for dry skin. So for now we’re just looking to change the recipe of our Frankincense + Orange bar, and will be researching an alternative for the others soon.
We know that the bar is a long time favourite of some of yours, and so we want to replace it with something just as relaxing and soothing. So we’d love to hear your opinion on what to replace it with.
All of us at HQ have our own personal favourites, but right now we are torn between
Orange + Geranium
Orange, Patchouli + Lavender
What do you prefer? Or can you think of another oil blend you’d like to try? Let us know in the comments!
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