Wildcrafted
Swiss Pine Oil

These wild Swiss pines grow in the untouched nature of Tyrol, Austria at an altitude of over 2000m. This high alpine landscape has an ideal stimulating climate with seasonal temperature fluctuations, winds and dryness, which leads to a particularly concentrated and rich developement of valuable compounds and aromas in the trees, such as alpha- and beta-pinene.

The material, mostly damaged wood, is collected in the high altitudes by experienced farmers and brought to their own distillery in the valley. The branches with needles and the wood are used to produce the essential oil and distilled in a small stainless steel tank using the gentle process of steam distillation.

The Swiss pine (Pinus cembra) is a very unusual species in the pine family (Pinaceae). It grows at elevations between 1600m and 2400m. This conifer can grow up to 40m tall and reach an astonishing age of up to 1000 years. Its many dark green, soft needles do not grow in pairs but in clusters of five slightly twisted needles with a length of 5-12cm. The Swiss pine forms small upright cones that are purple to brown in colour. Due to the harsh living conditions in the alpine heights, where it is exposed to temperatures as low as -40 degrees, strong storms and enormous snow loads, the swiss pine grows slowly and persistently. On particularly hot summer days, a fascinating natural phenomenon known as blue haze can be observed in dense Swiss pine forests: to protect themselves from intense UV radiation and heat, Swiss pines release large amounts of essential oils, mainly monoterpenes, which are then visible as blue light above the treetops.