Luxurious Rare & Precious Ingredients
Explore the origins and healing properties of 10 of our rare and precious ingredients. Ajne works with small, elite growers from around the world to obtain the finest oils from sustainable harvests to create safe products of unequaled quality. Check back as we reveal new rare distilled oils.
We honor the therapeutic values of rare and precious pure plant oils by including only the finest organic and wild-crafted components. For a complete list, call (831) 624-2100 x200 or visit our store or email info@ajne.com.
Aquillaria agallocha - Agarwood, Aloeswood, Oudh
Agar, also known as Oudh, is an ancient and sacred oil, sometimes referred to as 'liquid gold'. It is mentioned in the Bible, the Koran, Upanishads and stories of the Buddha and said to carry one's prayers to the heavens. The wood of Agar smells quite ordinary. Its provocative scent emerges only when the tree emits a healing sap in response to the attack of fungus causing the bark to turn a brownish-black color. When this occurs, the distilled wood becomes intensely rich and fragrant. The darker the wood, the more it is prized.
Therapeutic benefits: One of the most powerful aphrodisiacs. Enhances meditation. Grounding.
Family: Thymelaeaceae
Place of origin: India, Vietnam
Distillation method: Steam, hydro, absolute or CO2 distillation of the wood
Properties: A pale yellow, brownish yellow or dark amber liquid with rich, ancient, smokey and sweet balsamic notes.
Cost: $2,400 per ounce
Boronia megastigma - Boronia
Boronia is a brownish pink, bell-shaped flower obtained from a small shrub that grows in the southern parts of Australia and Tasmania. This richly fragrant flower is related to the citrus family. It is highly prized due to its sophisticated fragrant properties that are incredibly complex and cannot be accurately mimicked by synthetic chemistry.
Therapeutic benefits: Uplifting. Calming to the nervous system.
Family: Rutaceae
Place of origin: Australia
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2 or Absolute Extraction of the flower
Properties: A dark green liquid with fresh, fruity, sweet, green tea-like and spicy notes with an undertone of warm, sweet wood.
Cost: $1500 per ounce
Dianthus caryophyllus - Carnation
Originally cultivated on the French Riviera, the precious scent of carnation is obtained by distilling the flowers. Because it takes so many flowers to yield even a small quantity, most products today use synthetic renditions. However, the original is much more complex and sophisticated, adding a spicy note with deep green tones and a hint of sweet almonds.
Therapeutic benefits: Anti-infectious. Anti-spasmotic. Mosquito repellant. Assists digestion.
Family: Caryophyllaceae
Place of origin: Egypt, France, Holland, India
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2 or Absolute Extraction of the flower
Properties: Somewhat herbaceous and slightly green floral with a sweet almond-like note.
Cost: $1,000 per ounce.
Hibiscus abelmoschus - Ambrette Seed
Ambrette comes from the seeds of a woody shrub related to Okra. It is a powerful natural substitute for musk and amber which makes it a very important perfuming ingredient. Its name in Sanskrit is the combination of two words that mean musk and lady's fingers, which describes the scent of the seeds and shape of the seed pods. The name in Arabic means 'father or source of musk'. It is used in Egypt to sweeten the breath and in Arabia to spice coffee.
Therapeutic benefits: Adrenal stimulant. Antiseptic properties. Stomach tonic and digestive. Aphrodisiac. Helps detoxify the body from ill-affects of steroid drugs.
Family: Malvaceae
Place of origin: India, Seychelles, Africa, Madagascar
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2, Steam or Absolute Extraction of the seed
Properties: A rich, deep, musky-amber scent with notes of nut, wood and spice.
Cost: $700 per ounce
Jasminum grandiflorum - Jasmine (other varieties include Jasminum sambac, Jasminum aurantifolia)
Many sacred texts contain accounts of the powerful effects of Jasmine. Cleopatra was said to have regularly drenched herself in the fragrant oil which made her irresistible. Jasmine has been used in perfumery for thousands of years and has graced nearly every scent ever created. Today nearly all perfumes contain synthetic versions due to the tens of thousands of flowers it takes to yield a single ounce. Yet, the original is still far superior to its synthetic counterparts.
Therapeutic benefits: Balm for dry and sensitive skin. Powerful aphrodisiac. Moisturizing properties that are beneficial for scarring. Superb hormonal balancer. Benefits for respiratory system including helping to deepen breathing. Acts as an anti-spasmodic. Valuable for severe depression. Helps with lack of confidence. Helps to restore energy. Stimulates creative flow.
Family: Oleaceae
Place of origin: Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, France, India
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2 or Absolute Extraction of the flower
Properties: A dark orange liquid which becomes reddish-brown as it ages. It exhibits an intensely floral, rich, warm or green odor with waxy-herbaceous, oily-fruity and tea-like undertones.
Cost: $650 per ounce
Liquid Amber orientalis - Liquid Amber
First used by Native Americans in the 14th century, the fragrance of liquid amber is obtained by distilling the resin. The scent is rich and almond-like, but not overly sweet and with an undertone of vanilla. It is deep and complex and adds a warming note to many fragrances.
Therapeutic properties: Helps to close wounds. Pulmonary antiseptic. Good for acne, eczema, psoriasis and frostbite. Also reputed to help break down cellulite and fatty deposits.
Family: Hamamelidaceae
Place of origin: USA, Himalayas and Turkey
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2 or steam distillation
Properties: Sharp, sweet honey and almond-like with warm, leathery notes.
Cost: $750 per ounce
Michelia champaca - Champaca
A fragrant yellow, pink or white flower from a tropical tree related to the magnolia. Stories abound of women in India wearing this fragrant flower in their hair for weddings and other celebrations. As they talk and dance, their body heat gently coaxes the flowers to open, releasing the intoxicating fragrance. Hindus dedicate this oil to the Lord Vishnu and consider it sacred for ceremonies of reverence.
Therapeutic benefits: Stimulant. Expectorant. Astringent. Anti-microbial. Anti-inflammatory. Has a cooling affect to the body to reduce body temperature.
Family: Magnoliaceae
Place of origin: India, Madagascar
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2 or Absolute Extraction of the flower
Properties: A dark yellow or brownish orange viscous liquid with a delicate dry floral top reminiscent of green tea with very subtle sweet clove. It is tropical, lightly fruity and soft.
Cost: $750 per ounce
Pandanus odoratissimus - Kewda
This luscious oil is distilled from the flowers of the Kewda tree. In writings from 1525, it was described as a 'moist musk'. A mature tree produces only 30 to 40 of these fragrant cream-colored flowers. They are large and spiky, ranging from 10 to 20 inches in diameter and weighing an incredible 5 to 6 ounces each. Their scent is rich and hyacinth-like with very mysterious, heady properties reminiscent of the tropics.
Therapeutic benefits: Assists digestion. Assists in the birthing process. Helps to alleviate headaches and earaches.
Family: Pandanaceae
Distillation method: Steam distilled
Place of origin: Hawaii and India
Properties: Fresh, tropical floral with very sweet notes reminiscent of honeysuckle.
Cost: $2,000 per ounce
Polianthus tuberosa - Tuberose
Tuberose exudes the romance of a tropical island. Many people believe this intoxicating flower was originally found in Mexico where the Aztecs prized its powerful, sensuous and exotic scent. The finest growers distill only the flowers which yield a rich, spicy sweet scent with subtle green notes.
Therapeutic properties: Powerful aphrodisiac. Induces relaxation. Helps strengthen personal boundaries.
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Place of origin: France, Morocco, Egypt and India
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2, Absolute Extraction of the flower
Properties: Heavy, very sweet floral with notes of spice and balsam.
Cost: $1,400 per ounce
Rosa damescena - Pink Damask Rose (other varieties include Rosa borboniana, Rosa centifolia and Rosa gallica)
Every culture has had a love affair with the rose and some equate its delicate scent to the breath of angels. First used as a perfume ingredient over 7,000 years ago, only very specific types of roses are used for perfume. The finest come from Bulgaria, Turkey and Morocco where they have been harvested and distilled for centuries. Many synthetic rose fragrances have been created, but the original is far more complex and interesting. It takes nearly 20,000 petals to create a small vial of pure fragrant oil.
Therapeutic benefits: Tremendous moisturizing properties for dry skin. Stimulates the release of dopamine (the happy hormone). Heart tonic which assists circulation. Stimulates the liver to purge toxins. Soothes emotions such as depression, grief, jealousy and resentment. Potent aphrodisiac. Thought to boost self-esteem. Good for meditation.
Family: Rosaceae
Place of origin: Bulgaria, Turkey, France, Morocco
Distillation method: Hydro, CO2, Steam or Absolute Extraction of flower
Properties: An orange-yellow or orange-red fluid with powerfully warm, spicy floral and deep rose scent with a rich honey-like undertone.
Cost: $800 per ounce