Rarities

Rare Because of their Authenticity

In Provence there are still many smaller farmers and distillers who produce wild Thyme, Spike, Fine Lavender and other. The oils are hand harvested and produced in corresponding small quantities, often as little as 5 to 20 litres per season. In our opinion these oils represent the spirit of aromatherapy through their unabridged authenticity arising from the plants specific interaction with its specific environment. Because of their small production quantities they are immediately rare.

The Rare Wood Oils

Not all Rarities are prohibitively expensive. A good example is Borneo Camphor, which is practically unavailable, yet is still quite affordable. On the other hand there are the rare woods. Agarwood oils often are stunningly expensive. Those on offer on our site are among the less expansive Agarwoods.

Rare Because They are no Longer Available

As the markets fluctuate some 'in demand' oils all of a sudden are no longer available. When scarcity supports high prices farmers have an incentive to grow more of the over harvested plant. In the last decades we have seen scarcity situations with Ravintsara, Moroccan and Cape Chamomile. Interestingly those oils, as they reappear, often have a different composition than those before the scarcity episode? And then there are those oils which are simply gone and all there is, is what some collectors may have saved. Examples that we are aware of are the Vetiver from El salvador or Sandalwood from Sri Lanka