South African Essential Oils

Floracopeia is pleased to present a large selection of extraordinary essential oils and aromatic treasures produced in the southern Africa region.

The countries of the southern African region are blessed with an abundance of aromatic and medicinal plants growing in unique ecosystems not found in other parts of the world. At the same time the suffering of poverty, AIDS, and social disturbances is widespread throughout this region. Stimulated by a growing global market in herbs and aromatic products, a new essential oil industry is developing in South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and other countries that is utilizing the botanical resources and ethnobotanical knowledge available in the region for local economic development and plant-based healthcare.

At present there are about thirty-three distilleries in the southern Africa region distilling a variety of cultivated and wild harvested aromatic plants. Floracopeia is currently working with one of the primary organizers and distributors for those distilleries, to offer common and well-established aromatic products as well as to develop new ones.

Most of the cultivated essential oils are either certified organic through international certifying agencies such as Eco-Cert, or non-certified organic, meaning that they are organically produced but have yet to receive full documentation; the remainder of the oils are ethically wild-crafted from healthy ecosystems. All these essential oil projects are linked directly to poverty alleviation programs established for the dual purpose of caretaking local environments while producing sustainable economic benefits.

The Floracopeia line of southern Africa oils includes citruses, medicinals, florals, carrier oils, and floral-infused carrier oils.

Our citrus oils include sweet orange, Clementine orange, lime, lemon, grapefruit, and mandarin. These oils are cold pressed; most are certified organic. Aromatically, they all have extraordinary freshness and a full range of bright and rich citrus notes that surpass typical commercial oils found on the market. Many of these oils are produced in Zimbabwe as a means of bringing agricultural prosperity to this war-torn country.

Our medicinal oils include a full selection of well-known oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree, as well as less known and relatively new oils derived from traditional ethnobotanical knowledge.

Our eucalyptus collection includes a unique rose-scented eucalyptus (E. mccarthurii), peppermint-scented eucalyptus (E. dives), lemon-scented eucalyptus (E.citriodara), and the more medicinal species of Eucalyptus radiata, and smithii. The unique floral-scented oils are produced by the trees themselves and are not the result of mixing other fragrances into the eucalyptus oils.

The newer oils from indigenous ethnobotanical sources include blue mountain sage (Salvia stenophella), lemon bush (Lippia javanica), three types of Helichrysum oils (H. bractiferum, H. spledidum, H. gymnocephalum), and the aromatic grasses lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and African blue grass (Cymbopogon validus).

Our medicinal collection from Africa also includes a high-quality tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and its close relative from Madagascar, niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia). We also offer neem oil pressed from the seeds of trees grown in western Africa.

Besides being sold as individual notes, many of these medicinal African oils are also used in our Community Immunity diffuser blends, as they possess powerful antimicrobial and immune-enhancing effects.

Our African floral oils include several oils that are indigenous to the region, as well as oils that have traditionally been cultivated and distilled in Europe and India but are now being produced in countries such as South Africa.

Floracopeia’s Ylang Ylang oil comes from the rainforest of Madagascar, where it is ecologically harvested as a sustainable agro-forestry crop; the grade that we offer is “complete,” meaning that the oil coming from various stages of distillation is combined together rather than being sold as different grades. The wild-harvested Cape chamomile (Ericephalus punctulatus) is not a true chamomile, but is now recognized as being chemically, aromatically, and therapeutically very similar to a European high azuline blue chamomile.  The clary sage (Salvia sclarea), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and rose geranium (Pelargonium roseum) oils are all either certified or non-certified organic.

Floracopeia’s line of floral oils is crowned by a collection of some of the finest exotic oils available on the market.  Our mellissa oil is distilled from certified organic flowers of Mellissa officinalis and rivals any oil produced in the European market. The rose otto is hydrodistilled from the fresh petals of Rosa damascena and possesses a depth and breadth that makes this a true aromatic treasure. Our neroli oil is distilled from certified organic orange blossoms; it is a world-class perfume essence with incomparable olfactory and therapeutic characteristics.

Floracopeia also offers unique exotic floral co-distillations. The Geranium Sur Fleur Rose (“roses on geranium”) is produced by simultaneously distilling rose geranium leaves and petals of the Damascus rose. The Neroli-Petitgrain oil is a co-distillation of orange blossoms and orange leaves. The Violet-Orris oil is a co-distillation of violet leaves and flowers with iris roots. These co-distillations are unique alchemical creations that blend two oils together during the distillation process; the result is an oil which possesses the aromatic characteristics and therapeutic properties of both species while being significantly less expensive than the pure floral note.

From the southern Africa region also comes Floracopeia’s line of carrier oils and floral-infused carrier oils. Rosehip seed oil (Rosa rubiginosa) is a highly effective emollient and nutritive oil with nourishing and anti-inflammatory properties; combined with four species of Helichrysum essential oil, it is used as the base of our Flower of the Sun blend, which is used for a variety of skin conditions, muscle tension, and would healing.  Marula oil is a fine therapeutic-grade oil prepared from the cold pressed nuts of the African marula tree (Scelerocarya birrea), ecologically harvested by women in village collectives. Marula has little fragrance, so it is an excellent carrier for essential oils. It is light and non-greasy on the skin, non-allergenic, and has a long shelf life. Rich in antioxidants and oleic acids, it is excellent for therapeutic and cosmetic use.  Floracopeia offers a line of luscious floral-infused marula oils, including jasmine, neroli, vanilla, and rose.

Finally, we are pleased to offer a delicious food-grade concentrate of organic vanilla grown in Madagascar. Vanilla beans are the pods of a jungle orchid, which are carefully aged to bring out their full flavor and fragrance. They are then soaked in organic alcohol to make a strong tincture, which is then evaporated to a thick paste; this ambrosial essence can be used for cooking, flavoring, and perfumery purposes.