Edens Garden's Essential Oil Sourcing Standards

Our journey from a small aromatherapy company offering a tight selection of oils to one of the largest essential oil companies in the world can be attributed to many things. How did we get to where we are today? We set uncompromising standards for our essential oils and natural products and sought out to source from the best. 

Who and where do we source from? What standards must they meet and how do we ensure our oils are of the highest purity and quality after they leave the farm and distillery? In this short guide, we will answer all of these questions and more. Read on to get an inside look at our sourcing standards.

The Edens Garden Standard

Our products are a reflection of the farmers and distillers we partner with, which is why each of our partners must meet our strict list of requirements. These requirements can be broken down into four main areas.

Expertise 

When sourcing our oils, we consider factors that make for optimal crops and therefore, premium oils. These factors include the altitude at which plants are grown, pH and nutrients of the soil, rainfall and water quality, whether the oil is native to the country it’s grown in and more. We ensure that those we partner with are experts in these areas and we are grateful to have learned so much from them over the years about the healing botanicals from which our oils are made. Many of our partners have been farming for generations and their wisdom precedes them. 

People Over Profit

All of our essential oils must come from farms that value human life over profit. This means that workers must be adults, paid fairly based on the jurisdiction of their local government and have safe, healthy working conditions. We ensure these requirements are met through careful vetting, by visiting farms and by creating contracts stating we will only continue to partner with a farm so long as they meet these requirements. In our experience, farms that value their workers produce the highest quality crops and we believe you can’t have one without the other.

Sustainability

Our farming partners must also prioritize the environment and sustainability. A sustainable farm is one whose crops are not being over-exhausted, but rather new crops are grown at a rate that is able to meet the demand. We also ensure that farms we choose to work with are not pressured to rush harvesting or sacrifice the quality of crops at any point, allowing farmers time to catch up and maintain the viability of their crops. This is also one of the primary reasons why we may occasionally ‘out of stock’ an oil for a season–we are allowing ample time for farmers to catch up.

Consistent Quality

Last but not least, we require that our partners provide consistently high-quality products. We ensure this by measuring the quality and purity of our products through a series of tests. These include organoleptic, refractive index, specific gravity and GC/MS testing through a third-party, independent lab. After these tests are performed, they are then analyzed by expert essential oil chemists and our in-house aromatherapists. It’s through these analyses that we’re able to put farms and distilleries to the test, ensuring that their product is of the highest quality available and that no additives such as synthetics, fillers, isolates, pesticides and preservatives have been added. 

Who And Where We Source From

From Lavender fields in France and citrus groves in Italy to the plains of Africa and jungles in India, our oils are sourced from around the globe, in regions where plants are indigenous and thrive. Here are some of the stories from our partner farms.

India

One of the richest sources of biodiversity in the world, India is home to a myriad of different plant species. They are a country that emphasizes natural medicine and the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) – a research institution that studies the healing benefits of herbal medicines and essential oils – reflects this.  

The coalition began with the farmer of our Sandalwood- East Indian essential oil. Since our partnership began, what was once a small family operation has expanded considerably in the past year, growing approximately 2,000 new Sandalwood trees. This accomplishment came after hiring many new employees, in turn creating a sustainable income for dozens of families. 

Because of their success, our partner farm decided to give back and partner with other farmers by mentoring them, providing education on farming techniques, support and even resources like crops and stills. The Sandalwood farm has since partnered with 53 other farms, including the growers of our Lemongrass, Indian Peppermint, Palmarosa and Vetiver oils. In fact, it’s through our Sandalwood partner farm that we became acquainted with these additional farms. 

We are grateful to partner with farms that create excellent essential oils and give back to their communities.

Bulgaria

As one of the oldest countries in Europe, Bulgaria has a rich history of agriculture and farming. Bulgaria’s temperate-continental climate makes it ideal for cultivating plants that produce essential oils. 

Our Bulgarian partner farm started small. The farm’s first production of Melissa was planted, sowed, watered and cut all by hand on just two acres of fertile land. After producing a healthy and thriving yield of Melissa, the family farm expanded the size of their crop and bought a tractor the following year. 

As demand grew for the farm’s vibrant plants, our farming partner began planting vast quantities of Chamomile, Yarrow and Lavender. In 2015, the family built its own distillery to have full control of the essential oil yield from the seedling stage to oil production. 

Many things inspire us about these farmers, but it’s their constant striving for excellence at every stage in the process and passion for essential oils that make us feel blessed to partner with them.

South Africa

Renowned for its stunning natural landscape, South Africa’s temperate climate makes it optimal for growing robust plants and vegetation, and our South African partner farm has spent years cultivating a strong production of Eucalyptus- Radiata. In fact, the yield is one of the most vibrant in the entire world. 

The farm seasonally “cuts” the Eucalyptus in small batches. The smaller cuts are less stressful on plants than larger, mass harvests which protect the healing properties of the plant. The distillery’s steam production also runs on recycled plant material which produces a cleaner output than coal. Additionally, the farm has developed a system to turn waste leaf material into compost. Instead of using toxic herbicides, the farmworkers use more natural methods to protect the plants from infestation. Twelve workers on the farm regularly use brush cutters to interrupt weed growth. 

A cornerstone of the community, our South African farming partner supports more than 50 families throughout the year. Every worker is trained in safety, first aid and encouraged to seek internal promotions and growth. 

Along with producing one of our most beloved essential oils, our partner farm in South Africa exceeds our expectations in sustainable farming and distilling and we value them immensely for this.

It Doesn’t Stop There

Our passion has always been to provide our family of customers with the highest quality oils and natural products, but it’s also to create a synergistic relationship with farmers and distillers. After all, it’s who we partner with that makes what we do possible. To learn more about our sourcing standards and partner farms, click here.