One of the best known types of frankincense, authentic B. carteri oil comes only from Somaliland and Puntland, in northern Somalia. These trees grow from sea level up to almost 1,400 meters, and are known for growing straight out of limestone or volcanic rocks. Somali harvesters call the resin, “beeyo,” and liken the trees and their cloudy white resin to camels and the milk they produce.

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Where it

       comes from

Our resin is sourced from moderate to high altitude farms in the Erigavo District, Sanaag Region, Somaliland. In Somaliland and Somalia, resin sales are often brokered by middlemen who take a large amount of the money for themselves. As a result, harvesters often make very little money for their labor. To subvert this system, we partner directly with harvesting communities, purchasing from the landowners and harvesters directly so we know the money is going to them. This also allows us to monitor the trees that produce our resin to make sure they’re healthy and regenerating; to this end, we are implementing three key initiatives:

1. Documenting and monitoring individual trees using a blockchain-based traceability app.

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2. Establishing a nursery to support and bolster natural regeneration.

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3. Supporting an alternative income initiative to give the community additional options such as agriculture, honey, etc.

Essential Oil

         Breakdown