Colchester, Vermont (WCAX) – Did you know that most frankincense is distilled in France? But a Colchester company has proven to be an exception to the rule. Elissa Boden details a local incense distiller whose products are made in Vermont.
Despite living and working in Vermont, Madi Ibrahim feels close to her northern Somali roots.
“When I started my business, I came to Montreal as a refugee, and I always wanted to leave everyone behind and help find a business I could help,” Ibrahim said. Told.
To that end, Ibrahim turned to frankincense and myrrh. Two of his were exported from Somaliland, an autonomous region in northern Somalia.
“This came from a dream. I approached my wife and asked, ‘What do you think about importing frankincense into the United States?'” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim and his wife, Jamie Garvey, started their business in the incense industry, but soon decided to go their separate ways. “When he discovered it had oil in it, he taught himself how to distill using a small tabletop still,” Garvey said.
That is the beginning of Boz Wellness. The couple are now finding success in a small, niche essential oil market, but it didn’t happen overnight. “Newcomers don’t just trust you because everyone knows. It took seven years because you really have to build that trust,” he says.
Despite the long timeline, they say Boswellness is the first of its kind in the country. “We are the only company that distills frankincense in the entire United States,” said Ibrahim.
Most frankincense distillation is done in France. But Homefield’s advantage has helped it wholesale to businesses in Vermont and beyond, starting with Colchester.
“There are two types of frankincense, one is called Boswellia carteri and Boswellia frereana, and a completely different scent, myrrh, is Commiphora myrrh,” explained Ibrahim.
According to Boswellness, both frankincense and myrrh are good for oral health, skin care, and more. You can buy organic oils, resins, extracts, and hydrosol waters online. is to be reduced to In addition, they worked to increase the availability of water in the village so that Ibrahim could sleep well at night. “We are a very sustainable business, trying to make a big difference in my home country, where I am from, and we have really increased the value of raw materials across the country,” he said. said.
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