FAIR TRADE

Fair trade is a trade approach aimed at promoting fair prices, better working conditions and sustainable development for producers in developing countries. The goal is to create a more equitable and transparent trading system, where the rights of workers and farmers are respected and their communities benefit from fair remuneration for their products.

Alchemia strives to integrate these principles of fair trade into all its activities. By working with producers who meet fair trade standards, Alchemia aims to contribute to a more sustainable world while ensuring the quality of its products. With a focus on ethical choices and community involvement, Alchemia helps consumers make more conscious choices and understand the impact of their purchases. Together, we are building a future where everyone has equal opportunities.

White Sage:

White sage (Salvia Apiana) belongs to the Lamiaceae family and originates in Southern California and Mexico. We work with a regular supplier from California who has the same mission as Alchemia! White sage grows on an evergreen, aromatic shrub. Harvesting is done manually, and the leaves are dried alone without further treatment. We strive to produce high quality, pure sage.

The use of white sage dates back to a distant past. Some Native American tribes consider white sage sacred and burn the leaves as incense during purification ceremonies. The Chumash people use white sage as a ritual and medicinal plant.

White Sage can be used effectively to treat sore throats, coughs, colds and upper respiratory infections. In addition, white sage is also used as a sedative.

Palo Santo:

Palo Santo is the name of a powerful aromatic wood found in the coastal areas of Peru, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. This wood comes from the Bursera graveolens. This gnarled tree is the Boswellia family which also includes myrrh, frankincense and copal, well-known and strongly fragrant resins. We use both the resin and the wood in our products.

The use of Palo santo (Bursera graveolens) is not something just of our time. The Incas in South America already used Palo santo to purify and remove negative energy. Palo santo was also used for good luck. At that time, Palo santo wood was lit by a priest and the Incas used it in various religious and ritual ceremonies. They therefore treated this wood with great respect, meaning that they used only the wood for these purposes that they found on the ground. The name comes away from the Spanish colonists and priests who therefore called the wood Palo Santo, which means sacred wood.

Today the Palo santo tree is protected. Therefore, only branches and twigs may be taken from the ground and no trees are cut down. In Peru and Ecuador, the government regulates these practices. All this is to avoid depleting nature and avoiding unnecessary logging. Sacred wood from the Andes region is extracted locally with respect for nature and with the principles of Fair Trade. For every kilo of wood sold, a new tree is planted.

The wood does not have its familiar, sweet smell right away. It takes at least four to 10 years before the magical scent is released.

Palo Santo has a pleasant and soothing scent. This scent has the ability to improve the mood of people with dejected feelings and is useful in meditation and spiritual activities. Palo Santo can also be beneficial for colds, flu, stress, rheumatism anxiety and inflammation. You only need to burn a small piece of wood to bring a peaceful, warm atmosphere into your home.

Palo Santo is also used instead of white sage because its scent is sweeter, softer and warmer than the penetrating scent of white sage.

Palo Santo wood is processed in several ways:

First, the "plain" wood, which is picked up and left to mature for several years, so that the fragrance comes into its own. Using this goes like this: Light the wood and let it burn for a while. Blow against it so that the wood glows. The wood glows for a while, but that's enough for the nice smell. 
Are you done using the palo santo? Extinguish the stick in sand so that the Palo Santo stays dry.

Incense sticks are made from it. Jiri&Friends' incense is made entirely from plant material (without charcoal) and is also Fair trade. In the incense sticks Palo Santo, there is actually pulped Palo Santo wood. So these incense sticks are 100% natural. The advantage of Palo Santo incense over Palo Santo sticks is the softer smell. It is easy to use and even reusable. 1 stick does not have to be used up at once and can burn several times.

Essential oil is also extracted from it by steam distillation of the fallen twigs. It is a clear to pale yellow oil with a sweet, woody scent with a fresh undertone of mint. This oil is widely used for meditation, for rest, relaxation and concentration. In addition, the active ingredients stabilize your emotions and have a very calming effect.
Add a few drops to a diffuser to spread this wonderful scent in your living room, office or waiting room.

This oil is also effective on the skin. Just never do this purely. Use a base oil and add 1-3% essential Palo Santo oil. This oil has very good absorption properties and is used during massage therapy to relieve pain and inflammation of muscles and joints. In addition, it is a nourishing as well as cleansing oil for the skin.

Do not use this oil during pregnancy and lactation.

The aromatherapy spray Palo Santo from Jiri&Friends incorporates the essential oil of the Palo Santo. This spray is ready-made to refresh, purify and scent rooms.