Arbor Oils of Africa
Certified for: Frankincense (Bowellia neglecta), kenyan black frankincense (Commiphora myrrha)
Kenya
Arbor Oils of Africa specialises in distilling frankincense and myrrh essential oils from wild-harvested resins from the semi-desert areas of northern Kenya. The Kenyan black frankincense comes from Boswellia neglecta and Commiphora confusa. The myrrh essential oils from wild-harvested resins of Commiphora myrrha, Commiphora holtziana, Commiphora kataf and Commiphora kua.
The collection operation has been certified organic since 2007 and was previously FairWild certified in 2014 and 2015. Arbor Oils renewed its FairWild certification in 2022. This means that the products from the wild harvest collection are sustainably sourced, fair trade, traceable and free from contamination.
Certified Hectares:
60,550
WILD COLLECTORS:
1,700
FAIRWILD CERTIFIED SINCE:
2022
Empower women
The next premium fund spend is proposed to go towards buying goats to be owned by the collector groups. Traditionally, pastoralist women do not own livestock in the harvest communities. This project will empower the women to manage livestock communally, for the benefit of the individual members.
Tapping-free collection
Unlike traditional Frankincense harvesting, collectors utilise the natural impact of buprestid and cerambycid beetle larvae. By eating the resin-rich inner bark, they stimulate the trees to produce resin without the need for collectors to make incisions.
“Sustainable harvest not only saves the trees; it also benefits the collectors who harvest the frankincense resin. Having FairWild certification is an assurance to buyers that the claims by the company of these benefits to the collectors, from sustainable harvest, is authentic.”
get in touch
SALES CONTACT
Hilary Somerlatte
info@oilsafrica.com
P.O. Box 24, Naro Moru 10105, Kenya
certified ingredients
| Common name | Scientific name | Plant part | Other certifications | Quantity for sale in 2023 (tonnes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankincense | Boswellia neglecta | Gum resin | EU Organic, NOP Organic | Contact Arbor Oils of Africa for information |
| Kenyan black frankincense | Commiphora confusa | Gum resin | EU Organic, NOP Organic | Contact Arbor Oils of Africa for information |