Black Mastic-RARE!!-Pistacia Aetiopica

Description

Black Mastic! What an unusual aromatic and rare find!
I only have access to a small amount of this unusual material so get it while it is available.

Black mastic is a hidden African treasure. Even I had no idea it existed till a few short months ago!

It is used on its own as incense in East Africa and Arabia and blended with other aromatic materials when preparing Somali Uunsi and Arabian Bakhour.

Though in looks it is reminiscent of Black Frankincense Neglecta, its aroma is nothing like it!
Its fragrance is definitely that of the Pistacia family but what distinguishes it is an uplifting, crisp, vibrant green note with a hint of spice. This is a very unusual material!!

It will make a very interesting perfume tincture and incense material and smells like nothing else I have come across in the resin world. In fact, I have a perfume tincture macerating as I write this and I can’t wait for it to be ready for use!

Black Mastic is a natural exudate that is scraped off the trees in very small amounts. (Which may be a contributing factor to the bits of bark mixed in with the resin).

As semi-nomadic pastoralists herd their animals through the dry Savannah, they visit each tree for a few minutes and collect whatever resin they can find. They create lumps in the palm of their hand that slowly grow in size from tree to tree. The lumps are eventually added together and sold or traded in small village markets where they purchase or barter for food and supplies. I love seeing these egg-shaped lumps because each tells a story of the efforts and journey of the collectors.

Native to East Africa, the Black Mastic tree is not tapped or harmed to collect the resin. it is a natural exudate that forms in the dry season after the rains have stopped. This resin is very similar in consistency to Frankincense Neglecta and Kenyan Frankincense and is, as far as I can tell, a result of interactions between longhorn beetle larvae and the trees. This means the resin is not produced as a result of tapping or damaging the tree which makes it a sustainable product. (See my post-here-https://apothecarysgarden.com/2022/01/24/black-frankincense-a-sustainable-alternative-in-a-time-of-crisis/).
I am very pleased to add one more sustainably harvested resin to AG’s growing collection!

Black African Mastic, like the other members of the Mastic family, has very pleasing, sweet citrus top notes. its unique and distinguished aroma makes it valuable in both incense blends and perfume compositions.

When creating sacred space or cleansing an area, I have found there is nothing with as high a vibration and cleansing ability as a representative of the Mastic family on the coal.

Please note our ounces are 30 grams, not the 25 grams offered by many other sellers. To this generous ounce, we ALWAYS add a bit more and NEVER less to our packages. Something our customers have come to count on.

For recipes, instructions and more information about the different types of Frankincense, Myrrh and other oleoresins, please visit my blog at http://apothecarysgarden.com.

Dan