What's So Special About Black Spruce?

December 14, 2023

by Sarah Villafranco, MD

INGREDIENT:

Black Spruce Essential Oil

WHAT IS THE FANCY LATIN NAME?

Picea mariana

WHY DO WE LOVE BLACK SPRUCE?

Aromatherapy, aromatherapy, aromatherapy. Say it three times fast and it’ll summon a vial of black spruce essential oil for cozy winter days.

WHERE DOES BLACK SPRUCE COME FROM?

The black spruce tree is native to the Northern United States and Canada. The species name, mariana, means “of Maryland” in Latin. Which is a bit odd considering that the species does not naturally grow there. The man who named the species, Philip Miller, believed that Maryland epitomized North America and designated the species’ Latin name to reflect that. The tree is also known as "swamp spruce" or "bog spruce," and in French, as “epinette noire” because its needles can appear black from a distance. We use organic and wild-grown Canadian black spruce essential oil in our products.

Wildfires and controlled burns can actually aid black spruce trees in their life cycle. The cones usually open gradually when left to their own devices, but will rapidly disperse their seeds when exposed to extreme heat. The arrangement of the tree’s branches promotes ignition while also protecting its cones. Black spruce is the most prominent plant life to regenerate in an area after a fire, putting down roots after devastation and thriving.

FUN FACTS ABOUT BLACK SPRUCE:

The Smithsonian notes that Northern Native American cultures chewed spruce tree resin as a form of chewing gum.
In 1949 the black spruce became the provincial tree of Newfoundland and was shown on the flag of Labrador.
In 1971 a black spruce tree was used as the official White House Christmas tree from the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire.

With love and black spruce resiliency from us to you,

The information contained in this post is for educational interest only and is not intended to represent claims for actions of black spruce. This information is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any physical or mental illness or disease.

REFRENCES:

https://www.aoc.gov/nations-stage/capitol-christmas-tree

https://www.conifers.org/pi/Picea_mariana.php

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_pima.pdf

https://aromaticstudies.com/black-spruce-essential-oil/

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/society/arms-seals-and-emblems.php

https://beerconnoisseur.com/articles/history-spruce-beer

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/a-brief-history-of-chewing-gum-61020195/

https://www.northernontario.travel/sunset-country/facts-about-black-spruce

OUR WELLNESS + SKINCARE EXPERT

Sarah Villafranco, MD

Dr. Sarah Villafranco attended Georgetown University Medical School, and went on to complete her residency in emergency medicine at George Washington University. She moved to Colorado, where she practiced as a board-certified emergency medicine physician at Aspen Valley Hospital, Snowmass Clinic, and Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, CO. After losing her mother to pancreatic cancer, she took a local soap making class, and fell in love with the chemistry and artistry of making soap. Sarah went into research mode and was alarmed to learn how many potentially harmful ingredients were in most skincare products on the market. She knew she could make better, safer products that were as effective (if not more so) than conventional products. After a few years of research and development, Sarah stepped away from the emergency room to launch Osmia Skincare in April of 2012. She remains a licensed physician in Colorado, and now helps people find healthier, happier skin as CEO of the brand.

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