In October 2016, I took a 70-litre stainless steel pot,' 2 glass condensers, and a plethora of materials with me to Madagascar on a plane and met me with my friend Marco, who had flown in from Italy.

After four days of off-road, driving around the northern tip of the island we reached Sava County, otherwise known as Vanilla bean country. Also, Elemi country.

We scoured the markets of Sambava and Anthala for 2 days to collect enough Harami ( The local name for Elemi), for this distillation.
We pooled the distillation equipment we each brought from abroad, bought some firewood and set up the still to distill this unique Elemi.

It was a wildly improvised distillation which ended up being performed with the last 1 of 3 condensers after two broke during transport to the site. We only collected a relatively small amount of Madagascar Elemi essential oil, but the experience was priceless!!

Madagascar Elemi is harvested in the wild and used in the Malagasy culture for incense and skin care.

Madagascar Elemi essential oil is deeper, richer and more complex than Philippine Elemi and is reminiscent of Somali Frankincense Frereana essential oil.

It initially greets one's nose with sweet Lime and Lemon, then gives way to rich honey notes, a hint of Amber, vanilla and musk.

Currently, this essential oil can be found nowhere else in the world. It is unique and only a handful of people will get to experience it.

Dan

Materials: Madagascar Elemi essential oil, Canarium madagascariensis.