Ethically sourced, organic palmarosa from Uganda

We source our organic palmarosa essential oil from a small distillery near Tororo, in eastern Uganda, where this lush grass grows wild.

Helping communities

We’ve worked with a young farmer called Joel to set up a distillery, where he makes organic palmarosa essential oil with crops from local farms, creating valuable employment. We also buy our cleansing organic lemongrass and refreshing organic citronella oil from Joel. The oils are distilled in a plant designed to minimise environmental impact. The dry grass remnants from the distillation process are pressed into briquettes to fuel the boiler, while solar panels provide electricity. By contributing to the cost of organic certification as well as funding a water well, we are actively promoting sustainable practices and supporting local communities.

“Getting a fair and reliable price for our lemongrass essential oil has provided a much needed cash income for many families in our community.”

- Joel, Distillation owner

Sourcing Fairtrade, organic honey from Mexico

We source honey from Chiapas, in southern Mexico, where the versatile flora gives this honey its beautifully delicate aroma.

Helping communities

Indigenous farming communities in hard-to-access villages sell their honey through an ethical cooperative, ensuring fair trading conditions. It also founded an independent women’s group, to help the women of the native Tzeltal Tzozil people with smallholdings so they can earn their own income.

Hives at the cooperative

“Fair honey trading is very important as it means they are no longer solely reliant on coffee farming. As the honey is certified organic it means that the farmers and the bees are living on land not exposed to synthetic chemicals and so are as healthy as possible, an important part of our campaign to Help Save the Bees.”

- Susan Curtis, Senior Brand Ambassador & Ingredients Pioneer at Neal's Yard Remedies

Frankincense from Oman

We source our pure essential oil from the Dhofar region Oman, the cultural home of the finest frankincense.

Helping communities

During harvesting season, around 20 experienced collectors make small cuts in the bark of Boswellia sacra trees using traditional tools. A milky liquid oozes out and is left to harden in the sun. After about 14 days, the collectors return and slice off the resin. These ‘pearls’ are taken to a local distillery where they’re steamed to extract the precious oil.

“There’s a growing sustainability movement in Oman, working to combat unsustainable practices that mean that many frankincense trees are in danger of dying out. We’re proud to only use the most sustainably sourced frankincense while supporting local collectors at the same time.”

- Susan Curtis, Senior Brand Ambassador & Ingredients Pioneer at Neal's Yard Remedies

Sourcing sustainable Sandalwood from Australia

Renowned for its high quality and wellbeing properties, we source Sandalwood (Santalum album) from Australia. Here, the luxurious essential oil is extracted from trees grown in sustainably managed plantations.

Protecting vulnerable species

Due to its high value and demand, in the past Sandalwood has been exploited to the verge of extinction. After years of searching for a sustainable source, we’re delighted to have secured a sustainable supply of Australian Sandalwood.

Over 10 million trees have been planted at tree nurseries so far.

“Taking 15 years or more to reach maturity, Sandalwood is a hemiparasitic tree, meaning that it needs to attach to another plant as a ‘host’ to get the minerals it needs to survive. This, in addition to the traditional value of the tree, has contributed to its rarity. For this reason, we only wanted to stock Australian Sandalwood when we were absolutely sure we’d found a carefully managed plantation source that actually makes a positive contribution to sustainability.”

- Susan Curtis, Senior Brand Ambassador & Ingredients Pioneer at Neal's Yard Remedies