We have enjoyed the phenomenal scent of these popular essential oils for centuries, and now they need our help to ensure they're around for many years to come.
Our biggest commitment is to the planet, as well as our consumers who care for it. Most companies prefer not to address the elephant in the room, or simply overlook the facts when it comes to climate crises and the role individual businesses may play in it. Over the years, over-harvesting of some of our favourite plant species which provide beautiful essential oils has led to their decline, to the point where they are now on the brink of extinction.
So what can we do to help out these endangered plants? Increasing consumer awareness is the first step, and taking direct action is the next.
What oils have we chosen to protect by eliminating them from our products?
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri, B. sacra, B. frereana and multiple other Boswellia species)
Rosewood (Aniba rosaeodora, multiple Ocotea species, and multiple Dalbergia species)
Sandalwood (Santalum album, S. spicatum, S. austrocaledonicum, and multiple other Santalum species along with Osyris lanceolata and Pterocarpus santalinus)
Spikenard (Aralia racemosa, A. californica and other Aralia species along with Nardostachys grandiflora and N. jatamansi)
Agarwood (Aquilaria crassna and all Aquilaria species along with all Gyrinops species)
Cedarwood Atlas (Cedrus atlantica, other Cedrus species, many Juniperus species, and Widdringtonia whytei Rendle)
These scents have made many beautiful products over the years, and we are genuinely sad to exclude them as they have many valuable healing properties - and lets face it, they smell divine. Some of our formulations include substitutes for these precious oils with more abundantly-growing and non-endangered plant species, which contain similar health properties and scent profiles.
Flourish Apothecary is committed to being a sustainable company, and that means actively staying informed about our ever-growing endangered species lists. We will always strive to provide you with the most effective, enjoyable, and eco-friendly products on the planet. The good news is that the more companies choosing to step in to sacrifice the use of these precious oils in their products, the less demand will be placed on these plants; which in turn will make it far more likely for these species to repopulate and have a chance at survival so that we may utilize their plant medicine again in the future.
Flourish Apothecary of Victoria, BC is a woman-owned online herbal shop specializing in organic and wild-crafted natural health products. Each product is hand-crafted from freshly harvested medicinal herbs on Vancouver Island. We believe in planet before profit, and emphasize sustainable business practices to ensure we can deliver the highest-quality goods without having a negative affect on the planet.
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