Product Overview
The exceptionally large Cistaceae family is a rather wild one – wildly successful at colonizing vast acres of eroded soils after fires and heavy grazing, that is. Rock Roses are a biologically important species that create a ripe environment for the underground symbiotic web of mycorrhizae so essential to soil health. In Corsica, tiny birds have been observed lining their nests with a symphony of aromatic herbs, including Cistus. What a great idea from avian aromatherapists!
Pénoël and Franchomme suggest that the complex sesquiterpenes in Cistus are effective for skincare, verifying hundreds of years of traditional use. In a more poetic vein, Fischer-Rizzi opines that Cistus essential oil ". . . conveys a deep warmth that helps melt an icy feeling.”[2] But surely the most historically interesting revelation about Cistus is that of ancient folks combing the sticky Labdanum resin from the beards and thighs of browsing goats! [3] Later, those 'combs' – more like small rakes – were made of leather, which were then scraped of the resin for distillation. One wonders if the 'leather notes' in historical descriptions of the Cistus/Labdanum aroma is a relic of that early practice.
For a delightfully informative read, please see our blog article regarding our Italian team's Trip to Spain, land of Cistus!
1 Rose, Jeanne. 375 Essential Oils and Hydrosols, 1999, p. 97.
2 Fischer-Rizzi, Suzanne. Complete Aromatherapy Handbook , 1990, p. 151.
3 Rhind, William. A History of the Vegetable Kingdom, 1868, p. 560.
4 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 169.
5 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 70.
6 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 250.
