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BEAUTY IN BALANCE
The Story of Cistus from Andalucia, Spain
Cistus ladaniferus, jara in Spanish, is a plant of survival, renewal and rebirth. For more than 150 years, it has been the foundation of Andalucia's landscape, and the unlikely resource upon which local wildlife, farming and vegetation live in balance. Cistus plants are considered by some to be a "wild weed," and "rockrose." Untamed, they grow wildly from rocky, dry ground on sunny plains dotted with oak trees, or, encinas. In fact, cistus thrives in the most rocky, arid soil, growing more fiercely and wildly in Andalucía than any other part of the world. Arid conditions encourage the cistus plant to produce more resin—a key ingredient Aveda uses in its aromas and as a powerful moisturizing agent in its Green Science firming skincare.
The cistus plant flowers once a year, opening a wrinkled, white, five-petaled blossom to the late winter sun for a few short days. In hot summer months, the plant exudes a sticky resin along its leaves and branches and a rich, restorative aroma from its blooms. Once cut, the cistus plant automatically regenerates fresh branches for the following summer.
For almost 100 years, the local people of Andalucía have harvested wild cistus and sold it to European perfumeries and distilleries to produce into oil. In 1989, Biolandes, a French company specializing in essential oil extraction, traveled to the small rural village of Puebla de Guzman, in Andalucía. Recognizing the high quality of the region's native cistus, Biolandes set up a distillation factory and trained local workers to harvest and process cistus organically using Earth-sensitive processes. Employing those who are most deeply connected to the needs and nuances of their environment, Biolandes brought the business of cistus production back to its home, inspiring new jobs for its communities. These jobs enable families to stay in their native villages, rather than leave the region in search for work. Thus, the sustainable harvest and production of cistus oil stimulates growth, livelihood and harmony.
The process by which cistus is transformed from wildly growing shrub to an essential oil begins each summer in Puebla de Guzman, where hundreds of local workers collect the organically-grown cistus twigs. With the dry ground crunching under their feet and crickets singing in rhythmic waves, workers cut two-foot long cistus twigs, hand harvesting up to 400 kilograms per day—per person. Using a moon-shaped cutting tool called a hoz, the men pick only the young, ripened, fragrant upper twigs of the cistus plant, leaving a six inch stem to generate new growth the following year. This coppicing method perpetuates the cistus plants' natural cycle of growth.
Once the cistus has been cut, the twigs are packed into 15 kilogram bundles and transported by truck to the local distillery, where a group of 20 local workers process the cistus into gum or oil. In an effort to conserve resources and minimize waste, left-over cistus stems are placed into the wood-burning furnaces to create the steam needed for distillation. As a result of these efforts, there is no petroleum-based energy in the distillation factory. Then, bundles of freshly-picked cistus are steam-distilled for 24 hours. The 400 kilograms of cistus branches workers collect each day produce approximately 300 grams of the golden, fragrant oil—used in Aveda aromas for its powerful, long-lasting, sweet and spicy notes.
Aveda's search for the highest quality organic cistus essential oil brought the company to Puebla de Guzman in 2002. At the time, neither the distillery nor the cistus oil was organic; Aveda initiated a conversion, partnering with Biolandes and the local community to help foster a smooth transition in the challenging path from conventional farming and manufacturing processes—to organic. The result is a transparent business model for organic conversion, strengthened by partnership. Since 2005, the cistus oil from Puebla de Guzman has been organically certified by ECOCERT, a third party auditing company specializing in organic standards. Today, the cistus oil Aveda receives from Andalucia is certified organic. As a result, Aveda has doubled its purchase of certified organic cistus oil from Puebla de Guzman in the last five years also increasing business profits for the local communities and allowing more families to live on their native land. Aveda also purchases 90% of Biolandes' certified organic cistus oil produced in Andalucia.
Puebla de Guzman's sustainable business in partnership with Biolandes and Aveda continues to thrive, as does the wild cistus plant. The partnership also assures a high integrity organic cistus essential oil for Aveda professionals and guests—completing the cycle of sustainability. With cistus at its heart, Puebla de Guzman is a small-scale ecosystem tuned into community and Earth with harmony. As renewable and traceable as the self-perpetuating growth of wild cistus, the cycle from harvest to oil, from Soil to Bottle™--is beauty in balance.
"Cistus is my life; it is my family's life, my children's lives, my heritage."
- Roman, Community member, Puebla de Guzman, Andalucia
Cistus Ingredient Benefits
The resin from which cistus essential oil is produced protects the plant from environmental stressors of excess heat and dry conditions. This, in turn, makes cistus oil an excellent moisturizing and skin firming ingredient in Aveda products such as Green Science skincare. Cistus oil is also used in many Aveda aromas for its powerful and very long lasting sweet, spicy, resinous note.
The Story of Cistus from Andalucia, Spain
Cistus ladaniferus, jara in Spanish, is a plant of survival, renewal and rebirth. For more than 150 years, it has been the foundation of Andalucia's landscape, and the unlikely resource upon which local wildlife, farming and vegetation live in balance. Cistus plants are considered by some to be a "wild weed," and "rockrose." Untamed, they grow wildly from rocky, dry ground on sunny plains dotted with oak trees, or, encinas. In fact, cistus thrives in the most rocky, arid soil, growing more fiercely and wildly in Andalucía than any other part of the world. Arid conditions encourage the cistus plant to produce more resin—a key ingredient Aveda uses in its aromas and as a powerful moisturizing agent in its Green Science firming skincare.
The cistus plant flowers once a year, opening a wrinkled, white, five-petaled blossom to the late winter sun for a few short days. In hot summer months, the plant exudes a sticky resin along its leaves and branches and a rich, restorative aroma from its blooms. Once cut, the cistus plant automatically regenerates fresh branches for the following summer.
For almost 100 years, the local people of Andalucía have harvested wild cistus and sold it to European perfumeries and distilleries to produce into oil. In 1989, Biolandes, a French company specializing in essential oil extraction, traveled to the small rural village of Puebla de Guzman, in Andalucía. Recognizing the high quality of the region's native cistus, Biolandes set up a distillation factory and trained local workers to harvest and process cistus organically using Earth-sensitive processes. Employing those who are most deeply connected to the needs and nuances of their environment, Biolandes brought the business of cistus production back to its home, inspiring new jobs for its communities. These jobs enable families to stay in their native villages, rather than leave the region in search for work. Thus, the sustainable harvest and production of cistus oil stimulates growth, livelihood and harmony.
The process by which cistus is transformed from wildly growing shrub to an essential oil begins each summer in Puebla de Guzman, where hundreds of local workers collect the organically-grown cistus twigs. With the dry ground crunching under their feet and crickets singing in rhythmic waves, workers cut two-foot long cistus twigs, hand harvesting up to 400 kilograms per day—per person. Using a moon-shaped cutting tool called a hoz, the men pick only the young, ripened, fragrant upper twigs of the cistus plant, leaving a six inch stem to generate new growth the following year. This coppicing method perpetuates the cistus plants' natural cycle of growth.
Once the cistus has been cut, the twigs are packed into 15 kilogram bundles and transported by truck to the local distillery, where a group of 20 local workers process the cistus into gum or oil. In an effort to conserve resources and minimize waste, left-over cistus stems are placed into the wood-burning furnaces to create the steam needed for distillation. As a result of these efforts, there is no petroleum-based energy in the distillation factory. Then, bundles of freshly-picked cistus are steam-distilled for 24 hours. The 400 kilograms of cistus branches workers collect each day produce approximately 300 grams of the golden, fragrant oil—used in Aveda aromas for its powerful, long-lasting, sweet and spicy notes.
Aveda's search for the highest quality organic cistus essential oil brought the company to Puebla de Guzman in 2002. At the time, neither the distillery nor the cistus oil was organic; Aveda initiated a conversion, partnering with Biolandes and the local community to help foster a smooth transition in the challenging path from conventional farming and manufacturing processes—to organic. The result is a transparent business model for organic conversion, strengthened by partnership. Since 2005, the cistus oil from Puebla de Guzman has been organically certified by ECOCERT, a third party auditing company specializing in organic standards. Today, the cistus oil Aveda receives from Andalucia is certified organic. As a result, Aveda has doubled its purchase of certified organic cistus oil from Puebla de Guzman in the last five years also increasing business profits for the local communities and allowing more families to live on their native land. Aveda also purchases 90% of Biolandes' certified organic cistus oil produced in Andalucia.
Puebla de Guzman's sustainable business in partnership with Biolandes and Aveda continues to thrive, as does the wild cistus plant. The partnership also assures a high integrity organic cistus essential oil for Aveda professionals and guests—completing the cycle of sustainability. With cistus at its heart, Puebla de Guzman is a small-scale ecosystem tuned into community and Earth with harmony. As renewable and traceable as the self-perpetuating growth of wild cistus, the cycle from harvest to oil, from Soil to Bottle™--is beauty in balance.
"Cistus is my life; it is my family's life, my children's lives, my heritage."
- Roman, Community member, Puebla de Guzman, Andalucia
Cistus Ingredient Benefits
The resin from which cistus essential oil is produced protects the plant from environmental stressors of excess heat and dry conditions. This, in turn, makes cistus oil an excellent moisturizing and skin firming ingredient in Aveda products such as Green Science skincare. Cistus oil is also used in many Aveda aromas for its powerful and very long lasting sweet, spicy, resinous note.