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Too waxy to burn for firewood – and no longer used for fence-building – the cade that is cleared from the forests of the Ardèche each year is rescued by L'Occitane. This is because we know the secret, that the essential oil from this wood is truly precious. It is an oil that we have to work for – not only does cade take a long time to grow, but its wood needs to be dried for two years before it can be ground down and distilled.
It is said that cade has one thousand and one virtues. This may be a slight exaggeration, but its essential oil is a true all-rounder. Once used by Provençal farmers to treat skin conditions, its antiseptic properties are well-known in Mediterranean France. As well as being anti-septic, it also works as an exfoliator – and can help to reduce dandruff by sloughing away flakes. Its cleansing nature leaves hair and skin squeaky-clean limiting excess sebum. Another benefit of cade is its own distinct, masculine aroma – earthy, woody and warm.
Our cade wood is traditionally harvested in the wild, in a 50-hectare area south of the Ardèche – which is certified 100% organic.
Cade is harvested as part of the bush clearing efforts in the forests of Provence, and our harvester Michaël Comte has committed to our Sustainable Picking Charter.
Our patented blend of cade and rosemary essential oil is magic. Anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory, it helps to soothe skin.
"As a child, I used to help my father cut cade to make vine stakes. My grandfather had also used cade to make pens for his ewes. We used to walk through the forest collecting it." "When I started helping the local Forestry Commission maintain their tracks, I came to cut cade wood. My cousin, who knew the world of cosmetics, reminded me of the antiseptic and soothing properties of cade essential oil and gave me the idea: maybe I could distil it. At the time, there wasn't a market for this essential oil, but I wanted to promote the wood so typical of my region."