The Damask rose derives its name from the areas around Damascus, Syria, where its use in perfumery and skincare originated in the 7th Century CE. This flower was central to Islamic perfumery traditions, and the practice of distilling rose water emerged as a sophisticated art form during this era. This is the plant from which Rose essential oil (Rose Otto) and Rose Absolute are produced, featuring over 400 aromatic compounds that remain elusive to chemists seeking to replicate its scent in the lab. Its aromatic properties promote relaxation and emotional well-being, while its constituents offer many skin benefits such as gentle astringency for regulating sebum production, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualites to calm irritated skin and its hydrating properties when used as a hydrosol.

Beloved for millennia, the Sandalwood tree is an exquisitely fragrant, generous giant, offering humankind its sweet, warm, woody and rich aroma for spiritual rituals, cosmetics and perfumery. The tree requires a specific eco-system and a minimum of 15 years to mature and develop the heartwood containing its renowned healing oil. Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine practices employ Sandalwood oil to treat conditions from mood imbalances to respiratory and skin conditions. Studies have identified Santalum album’s antioxidant, anti-microbial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making this fragrant ingredient highly desirable for body and skin care.

This tree is a cautionary tale in loving our botanical favorites to death. Due to decades of over-harvesting and mismanagement, driven by lucrative global demand, Sandalwood is nearly extinct in its native India. Efforts were made to cultivate this species and other Sandalwood varieties in other parts of the world, using more sustainable practices, helping to alleviate market pressure on this precious botanical. The Sandalwood hydrosol used in our Wild Heart Mist is made from cultivated Sandalwood trees in Australia.