GREEK MASTIHA ESSENTIAL OIL

Essential OilBotanical:  Pistacia lentiscusHarvest:  Organically grown and cultivatedPlant Part:  Oleo gum resinSource:  GreeceExtraction:  Steam distillation, Stainless steel A luxury of antiquity whispers a scented breeze across millennia. Pistacia lentiscus is a botanical wonder that grows wild throughout the Mediterranean. However, it is only on one Greek island that these trees are known to produce resin from their bark, where they can be found growing alongside flowery meadows and fragrant orange groves. Growers attribute this phenomenon to the healthy symbiotic relationship that has been cultivated for over 2,500 years between the trees, humankind, and the island’s special microclimate. Each year the Mastiha harvest takes place and great care is required to obtain its precious resin. Small incisions made in the bark of the tree, giving way to crystal clear tears of ambrosial balsam that dry and set with contact to air. Provided that there is no rainfall, the fallen pieces of resin are collected, sorted, and cleaned piece by piece. Traditional songs in Greek rhythmically accompany the sorting of these precious tears, and a small distillation of essential oil can take place. Mastiha essential oil is savory and sweet, redolent with the softness of pine and cedar and the opulence of vanilla. It is balsamic, green and fresh. Weather dependent, we can expect the same production next year. Our Greek Mastiha essential oil is identified as a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) product. UsageThe first recorded promotion of greek Mastiha was by Dioscorides, a physician and botanist who lived in the first century AD. In his classical treatise on herbal medicine De Materia Medica, he recommends it to soothe coughing and stomach ailments, to sweeten the breath, and for facial masks. It has also been said to aid in the inflammation of the stomach, intestines, and liver.Bio Alchemy Olfactive Mastiha is recommended for use in balms and salves or in a diffuser. It can also be diluted in a carrier oil for beauty treatments or in water for oral care. Shop the pure resin of Mastiha here 5ml