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Aromatherapy, Aromatic resins, Botanical perfumery, Emotional Aromatherapy, In English, Materia Viva in English

Materia Viva n.11 – Kua Myrrh

Every issue of Materia Viva begins with an aromatic material and follows it the way one follows a trail: not only the scent, but the landscape, the history, the gestures, the images and the words that the material carries with it.

This time the thread leads to northern Kenya, where Samburu women gather kua myrrh, Commiphora kua, picking off with their fingers the drops that the tree lets out by itself. Here kua is never cut: what the plant offers is what is taken, and the tree stays whole. For a long time this resin ended up anonymous in sacks, mixed with more common myrrhs. Today it has begun to be recognized and gathered separately, and that small gesture of separation makes it identifiable and brings those who harvest it an income of their own.

On the nose it surprises anyone expecting myrrh: in place of the bitter, earthy base, sweet notes of wood and vanilla and a balsamic touch, almost velvety. It is a relative of Omumbiri from Namibia, another Commiphora that carries with it the gesture of the women who gather it.

Discover more about Materia Viva – and if you love resins, the previous issue is on Ramy, a resin from Madagascar.

The ezine is an editorial project supported by private funds, and you can receive a free PDF copy. For every detail on the project and on how to support it, write to us through the WhatsApp button on the site or by email: professionefelice@gmail.com

Aromatherapy, Aromatic resins, Botanical perfumery, Emotional Aromatherapy, In English

Finding your inner strength back – the Omumbiri resin

The Himba people live in north-west Namibia, in the Kunene region. In these places people and plants live alongside a great aridity. One of the local plants that gives a resin with a deep and interesting fragrance is Commiphora wildii, known as Omumbiri.

Local projects exist to collect and distill Omumbiri and other plants, yet the raw resin is the easiest form to find, and it is easily appreciated in fumigation.

Omumbiri is usually collected and used by women. The resin is mixed with animal fat and red ochre earth to form a paste that is applied to the skin. According to tradition, this preparation protects the skin, regenerates it and heals.

The resin has a pungent, fresh, almost intoxicating scent, joined by a deep, calming note that keeps us centred and grounded. It is an ideal scent for moments when we need an inspiring force and a fragrance that helps us be present in the here and now, restoring our breath and supporting us in finding our inner strength.

If you like aromatic resins and especially myrrhs, have a look at Materia viva, the aromatic ezine about Kua Myrrh.