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December 2008 Update
Look! the massy trunks
Are cased in the pure crystal; each light spray,
Nodding and tinkling in the breath of heaven,
Is studded with its trembling water-drops,
That glimmer with an amethystine light.
--from "A Winter Piece"
by William Cullen Bryant
Dear Friends- Kind greetings for December!
This month's update includes information about:
*Sustainable harvest, high-quality sandalwood,
*A pre-order special for organic
Neroli Bigarade,
*December sale items and,
*New arrivals.
Sustainable Harvest High-Quality Sandalwood Oil
As mentioned in the last newsletter I have been in pursuit of a high quality renewable resource sandalwood (Santalum spicatum) from Australia. For several years I have corresponded with an artisan distiller in Australia who has devoted himself to sandalwood distillation and has designed his own distillation units to produce a fine steam distilled essential oil. The distiller has also devoted himself to locating the best sources of sandalwood heartwood within the country. In recent months he has located a high alpha-santalol bearing heartwood which produces a smooth deep, rich, sweet-balsamic, precious woods heartnote with very good tenacity. It has none of the bitter , dry or sawdust odor that is commonly associated with Australian sandalwood. Of equal importance-it is a renewable resource sandalwood. Here is the note I received from him-
"Two grades of oil are distilled, namely a standard grade with alpha santalol of >15%, and a High Grade, with alpha santalol >25%. The latter oil is able to be produced through the distillation of premium wood purchased from the Kutkubabba Indigenous community.
Most Australian Sandalwood is harvested from Crown Land by the Forest Products Commission (FPC) using contracted sandalwood 'Lifters', who are required to work in accordance with a sustainable management plan implemented by the FPC. The FPC then sells this wood, usually at market prices. We have a contract for supply of sandalwood from the FPC, but as well privately sources its best quality sandalwood from the Kutkubabba community. This community has authority from the West Australian Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) to harvest and sell their wood privately, which means that whilst they are still required to submit to a sustainability management programme administered by DEC, they are able to sell their wood at the full market price, which is considerably more than the normal FPC contract price.
In recognition of the variable but generally high oil yielding nature of Kutkubabba Community wood, we pay a premium on the 'market price' for purchase of this wood, and in addition pay an 'Oil Bonus', which is calculated by assessing the oil yield of each distillation. The structure of these payments enables an equitable sharing in the benefits of this high grade wood, and promotes the existence of a significant and much needed local industry and boost to the inflow of funds to the Kutkubabba community. Also, in recognition of the quality of oil which is able to be produced from this wood, which enables the production of the High Grade >25% alpha santalol oil, we proposes that if appropriate benchmarks can be put in place, additional 'per kg of High Grade oil sold' payments will be made to the Kutkubabba community, over and above the initial payment for the wood, and the Oil Bonus."
I have ordered 2 liters of the high grade sandalwood and it should arrive next week. Normally it will be available for $60 and ounce but we for those of you who are interested in this lovely oil, we will have a special of $50 per ounce and $185 per 4 ounces through the end of November. A sample is $4.00.
The sandalwood should arrive in 1 week.
For those of you interested in liter qualities I will be placing a larger order in December or January. At that time there will be a preorder special of $1150 per liter. I would suggest procuring a smaller quantity first before considering a larger purchase.
Organic Neroli/Morocco
It has been several years since I could get the organic Neroli Bigarade eo from Morocco due to poor weather conditions during the harvest etc. I just received word from the distiller the a few liters of the this excellent neroli is available. I have to meet a 32 ounce minimum which is more than I can personally invest in but if enough of you are interested than I will go ahead and place the order.
1 ounce-$200 and 4 ounces-$700
Please inform me of your interest in the organic Neroli by December 7th at the latest.
Special December Prices
Nice consignments of Lavender/Kashmir(India) organic, Lavender/Bulgaria organic, Fir Balsam/Canada wild harvested, Patchouli/Indonesia organic and Bergamot(bergaptene free)/Italy non-sprayed have arrived and are in stock.
The following prices are 15% off their normal 8 ounce price
Lavender/Kashmir organic-$69-8 ounces
Lavender/Bulgaria organic-$64-8 ounces
Fir Balsam/Canada wild harvest-$47-8 ounces
Patchouli/Indonesia organic-$64-8 ounces
Bergamot(bergaptene free)/Italy non-sprayed-$87-8 ounces
New arrivals
Essential oils (Prices posted on the internet)
Rosa odorata/Tea Rosa-China- non-sprayed with herbicides or pesticides
Rosa rugosa/China- non-sprayed with herbicides or pesticides
Neroli/Tunisia/Morocco-Tunisa
Rose Otto/Ruh Gulab/Himalayas, India-organic
Spruce, Black/Canada wild harvest
Calamus/Nepal wild harvest
Thyme CT linalol/France
Spruce, Blue Hemlock/Canada wild harvest
Camphor, White/China wild harvest
Absolutes
Orange Blossom Absolute/Egypt(French extracted)
Tonka Bean Absolute/South America(French extracted)
Cassie Absolute/Egypt
Pine Needle Absolute/France(French extracted)
Oakmoss Absolute/Yugoslavia(French extracted)
CO2 extracts
White Champa Flower select extract/China
With best wishes for a Peaceful Holiday Season
Suzanne and Christopher