Fresh cut Balsam and Fraser Fir (Abies balsamea & Abies fraseri)Filling the 5-liter distillation bubble
Firs are strongly aromatic, with a complex chemical profile in the stems and needles. Essential oils of several fir species have been extensively researched for their medicinal properties. Some representative studies can be found here and here. Needless to say, distilling the plant material fills the house with the most sublime, uplifting aromatherapy one could ask for.
This round of distillations yielded record amounts of essential oils:
Fir essential oil accumulating in the separator
Some of the essential oils we get from the ongoing distillations will be used in a new batch of our Winter Woods Salve. The hydrosols and the remainder of the essential oils are the main ingredients of a brand new room spray that I am currently formulating. Both products will be sold at Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm this season, and as always we will be selling Winter Woods Salve along with many other unique products at the upcoming Winter markets.
This is Dalzielii Frankincense resin extract, after the tears have been hydro distilled for their essential oil, and after the water soluble gum has been removed. The aroma is pure and regenerative, just what I need right now! This is a resin extract dissolved into oil and the result is full of aroma and the healing properties of Boswellic acids.
Frankincense resin dissolving in hot oil.
After about 1/2 hour, it’s dissolved and there are a few bits and pieces of bark floating about. I filter out about one tablespoon and this goes on the wood stove, where as it warms it continues to fill the house with wonderful aroma.
Dissolved resin of frankincense with bits of barkBark and resin bits
Now I have a 1:3 ratio of pure oil to use as-is, as a base for salves, or in other new creative ways I might find to share with others. This is another amazing gift provided to us by nature.
We use only the finest fair-trade frankincense resins, sourced directly from Dan Riegler at fairtradefrankincense.com. Dan deals directly with local harvesters in Africa, ensuring that the local communities, whose people are the true caretakers of these botanical treasures, are fairly compensated for their work.
I encourage you to read Dan’s posts to learn more:
Special Holiday Gifts: Lotion Bars, Frankincense, and Diffuser blends
In addition to our regular stock, I have created really nice gift packs, sets of diffuser blends, and a new luxurious lotion bar with Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, and Palmarosa essential oil that is great for dry skin and excellent for cuticles!
I love working with the resins of evergreens and yesterday we hand-harvested our own Spruce resin and combined this dissolved traditional remedy with some of our own steam distilled essential oils, along with sustainably harvested fir and cedar oils to create our Winter Woods Salve, a favourite among our customers, family, and friends!
Ancient Gifts Salve: Frankincense, Myrrh, and Cinnamon Bark
The resin of Frankincense has been a special remedy and joy for me and this year I have some extra special infusions just for the holiday markets! Ancient Gifts oil and salve are each their own unique aromatic treasure. No need for potpourri as these are rich, warming holiday treats!
Cheerfully Made Saves Christmas
Two weeks later, on December 21st and 22nd, we are very excited to participate in the Cheerfully Made Saves Christmas market at the Bell Sensplex!! Tickets for the night market on the 21st must be purchased in advance, and can be bought here. We (and many other vendors) will be offering some specials for that night only, and everyone who attends the night market will receive a tote bag and two raffle tickets.
Frankincense, Myrrh, and Cinnamon barkAlmonte Farmers Harvest Market, November 10, 2018
Our neighbourhood is called Cedar Hill, and there are many Eastern White Cedars (Thuja occidentalis) all around us. Also there are Eastern white pine, spruce, and balsam fir, and we are fortunate to be able to sustainably harvest and distill needles and greenery from the various evergreen species.
Cedar essential oil and hydrosol
My Winter Woods Salve is made using Canadian spruce resin dissolved in safflower oil, with added essential oils, many of which are from our own distillations, in a base of beeswax. Apply it to the neck and chest area for a cooling decongestant effect.
Winter Woods Salves – just poured and now cooling!
Winter Woods Salve is one of my most popular products at markets, and this holiday season we are happy to say that it will be for sale at the Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm. The farm is a wonderful local business and the perfect place to find a Christmas tree, but it also features a great sledding hill, horse-drawn sleigh rides, and Cafe Claus, which always features a warm fire and delicious homemade food. Run by the Martin family, the farm is an ideal place for a day of winter fun.
We are excited to share with you some really special new products that we have been preparing for upcoming markets! I will have diffuser blend sets, gift sets and small batch infusions. As always, everything is handcrafted using our own herbs, roots, and essential oils whenever possible.
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