Essential Oil Spotlight: Bourbon Rose Geranium

This week, we're focusing on our incredible certified organic Madagascan bourbon rose geranium, used in our Astín range

Astín is part of our dýr range of exceptionally precious fragrances- but what does that even mean? Well, by using natural ingredients we are at the mercy of production cycles, weather and harvests. For more common oils that can be grown in many places in abundance, this isn't often a big issue. Astìn contains ingredients that can only be grown in very specific places, and are only found in very limited quantities worldwide.

In fact, we've just had to increase the price of the range as some of our essential oils have doubled in price since we last ordered!

We use the very finest rose geranium available. Certified organic, and only grown in small high altitude areas in Madagascar.

Sustainability doesn't always mean abundance however. With limited availability, supply often outstrips demand- and unlike synthetic replicas, the only thing to be done is wait for the next harvesting season and hope the weather is good.

Rose geranium is a fantastic plant for sustainability and contributing to livelihoods in poor communities. The plants are hardy shrubs and can be harvested more than once a year. They also grow well on poor quality land, so don't compete directly with food crops- adding value and allowing smallholders and community growers to earn an income from what would otherwise be wasteland.

Bourbon rose geranium is a highly complex scent that is much closer to rose than any other geranium, but is lighter and more herbaceous than true rose oil. It gives a beautifully wild scent- more expansive desert than English country garden. Rugged yet delicate if that makes sense.

Hopefully we will continue to be able to supply Astín in the coming months, but there's a real risk that supplies run out altogether. And that's ok. It's a reminder of how the real, natural world works. Sometimes it provides, sometimes it doesn't.

To me, that's the essence of true natural luxury.