When you follow a passion it will lead you to unexpected pathways. Love is blind”, does not just mean you cannot differentiate between the positive and negative, but also that you cannot foresee where it will lead you. You may fantasize where it will lead you, but it is almost guaranteed to be off the mark. In the heady mists of seduction you can not foresee where it will lead you.
All I wanted to do was to acquire some Omumbiri to experiment with in my perfumes. I have been dreaming for a long time to compose a perfume made from only African aromatics that will reflect the soul of Africa, and when I heard about Omumbiri, I felt it was just missing link I was looking for.
So naively I set about to source it and to find whether it was possible to acquire some. Before I knew it a chain reaction was set in motion from which I could not turn back from, regardless the costs. Yet, it opened it whole new world to me.
As most of you know I have been trying to get the Omumbiri distilled for a long time now. I was hoping one of the smaller distillers could distil it for me, however, I soon found out that due to its sticky nature it will require a dedicated still. Just like myrrh it is a very messy business. You can see at the link below what a sticky business myrrh distillation results in.
http://www.enfleurage.com/ad-myrrh.html
It sticks to the still like varnish and requires a specialized still and a special technique for cleaning. I experimented with it using the primitive stove-top technique to get a distillate, using a copper pot. That pot is now my Omumbiri pot only. The distillate has a beautiful smooth roundness which is almost a cross between Myrrh and Frankincense but with a distinct ethereal earthy note in it. It reminded me of the scent of wet soil after the first rains, but softer, with a hint of smokiness.
That particular note, I smelled in the oil before it was whisked away from me to lab for analysis. After many fruitless attempts to get the oil distilled I approached a big company. The distilled a small amount in their lab and took it to Europe in May to see what the response would be from the big players, as before they could go in production with it they had to see whether there would be enough demand to justify the outlay. They had to sell at least 100kg of oil to make it possible. Sadly due to the economic downturn, although there was a lot of interest no one wanted to invest in something new at this time.
I have however, received news that a still is being built in Namibia and as soon as they get electricity installed, they will go ahead with production – possibly in July. To assure the sustainability of the project it is vital to get the oil distilled.
What Karen Knott has done with the Omumbiri project is really remarkable, especially considering what odds she up against to create the infrastructure to be able to meet the requirements of big business. She is truly a remarkable and passionate lady.
In the mean time I have used the tinctures in two of my perfumes combined with the distillate and I love it. The tincture does require aging before it really matures into its true beauty.
glennjf says
June 25, 2010 at 5:44 amHi Sophia,
I find myself wondering about the non-botanic names given of the resins, Omumbiri for one.
Do you know from where this name originated? I’m assuming it’s long been called that by the Himba woman but my assumptions are not always correct.
Sophia says
June 25, 2010 at 1:06 pmHi Glenn
It is the names given to the trees by the Himba in Otjihimba a dialect of Herero. As is often the case with common names, some species of Commiphora have the same Otjihimba and Otjiherero names as others. Omumbungu for example means ‘the tree of the hyaena’ but is also a name given to several trees the Himba find unpleasant in scent. The Omumbungu that I have resin of, is Commiphora kraeuseliana, although Commiphora dinteri and Commiphora oblanceolata is also called Omumbungu
glennjf says
June 26, 2010 at 12:52 amThanks Sophia, wonderful layers of information 🙂
If you ever happen upon some audio or video of the Himba woman naming their resins I’d certainly love to hear how they pronoun the various names.
Maybe this is something which Karen Knott might feel is able to be accomplished by her sometime in the future?
Sophia says
June 26, 2010 at 12:08 pmI am sure Karen will have some recordings. She has documented the whole process carefully. I will ask her.
Mary Sullivan says
September 4, 2010 at 9:32 pmHello,
I just received a gift from a friend. She got it from a friend from Kenya. Shabina called it Om? Or that’s what my friend remembers her calling it. It is a deep dark brown, almost black, and chunky like rocks. And it has an oily residue that can be rubbed on the skin. It has the most amazing deep woody aroma i have ever smelled in my entire life. Do you think that this is Omumbiri? I could take a picture of it and send it to you if you like. I am trying to find a place here in the states to get more. So I don’t have to wait for Shabina’s travels back to Kenya.
Thanks for any info you might have.
Mary Sullivan
Sophia says
September 5, 2010 at 7:33 amHi Mary
It would not be Omumbiri. Omumbiri is only found in Namibia and it is sticky rather than oily. Kenya also has Commiphoras and over 46 Commiphora species are acclimatized in the northeastern province of Kenya, of which Commiphora holtziana (syn. erythraea) is best known. What you have there though must be something different though. I am so pleased that you brought that to my attention. The diversity of aromatics in Africa is incredible. Each country in Africa has a vast resource of aromatics that are still mostly unknown except in local use. This is why I started this blog to bring attention to the diversity. Perhaps your friend can find out what it is and you can share the information here. Sometimes it is hard to track down exactly what something is. Many aromatics can only be extracted on very small scale and is only available locally and is only used traditionally. I am sure each country’s aromatics and uses can fill several books. Please send the picture perhaps we can track down what exactly it is. Embassies are often very helpful too.
Sophia
Sophia says
September 12, 2010 at 6:32 amMary, I wonder whether perhaps what you have might be what is called “magic stone” in Nigeria. It is apparantly an amber that can be ground up and burnt like incense. Have you tried to burn it?
Sophia
Sophia says
October 17, 2010 at 2:41 pmHi Michel
This is wonderful news. I last spoke to Karen in July and wasn’t aware that you are distilling the Omumbiri.
I will be very interested. I have waited a very long time for this, and so has many other Africa Biodiversity and scents lovers !
Sophia
Michel Mane says
October 17, 2010 at 12:35 pmDear Africa Biodiversity and scents lovers,
Sophia, since you know Karen Knott well, she may have shared with you that a French company actually water distills Omumbiri (Commiphora wildii). Should you be interested in a sample of the corresponding essential oil, I’ll be happy to send you one.
Regards,
Michel Mane
Michel Mane says
October 17, 2010 at 8:36 pmSophia,
Thank you for your note and e-mail. A sample will be on its way shortly.
Karen’s study of the Namibian biodiversity and dedication to imporving the life of the Himbas is truly amazing. I wish I knew more NGOs like IRDCN and leaders like Karen to advance our conservation and sustainable use of bidodiversity. There is much more to do, with the communities prior informed consent and adequate benfit sharing schemes. Nothing’s easy, but French are persistent and sometimes stubborn in the right sense.
If you hear about similar work applied to South African biodiversity, please think of me!
Regards,
Michel.
Sophia says
October 18, 2010 at 1:29 pmHi Michel
What Karen is doing is truly unique. It is rare indeed to meet someone with so much dedication, as well as the practical skills to equal the Omumbiri project. It is not often that one finds a project that actually helps the community sustain their preferred life style. There are not many pastoral peoples left. The biodiversity of Southern Africa is truly wonderful. There is indeed much more to do. I will certainly let you know.
The French persistence and stubbornness are welcome here in Africa.(smile) I do look forward to receive the precious oil at last. Will you let us know about the availability of the oil?
Regards,
Sophia
Michel Mane says
October 18, 2010 at 4:29 pmSophia,
I asked France to send you a sample. The issue is the flash point, we can only send 5 grams…Do you have a phone number I can give our forwarder…
Thank you.
Michel
Sophia says
October 18, 2010 at 6:55 pmMichel
That will be great. My phone number is 27 21 856 1306
Thanks,
Sophia