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For the Love of Frankincense with Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo

Incense Explorer: A Deep Dive into Incense History, Culture, Ritual and Lore

Release Date: 07/03/2024

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Summary
 
Anjanette discusses her background and how she became interested in frankincense. She talks about her work as an environmental activist and her transition into working with companies on corporate social responsibility. Anjanette explains why she chose to focus on Somalia and Somaliland and the challenges and issues in the region's frankincense supply chain. She emphasizes the importance of transparency, traceability, and sustainability in the industry. Anjanette also discusses the impact of the essential oil industry on the demand for frankincense and the need for consumer awareness and regulation to improve ethical practices. The conversation explores the passion and love that communities have for protecting frankincense trees, as well as the challenges they face due to climate change and deforestation. It highlights the vulnerability of these communities to outside companies taking advantage of their situation. The discussion also touches on the issue of greenwashing in the wellness industry and the need for more transparency and ethical practices. The conversation concludes with a focus on the work of Save Frankincense, which aims to create a traceable and ethical supply chain through the use of blockchain technology.
 
 
Takeaways
  • Anjanette's love for trees and her background in environmental sciences led her to become interested in frankincense.
  • She transitioned from being an environmental activist to working with companies on corporate social responsibility.
  • Anjanette chose to focus on Somalia and Somaliland due to the overlooked African contribution to the frankincense supply chain and the endemic species that grow in the region.
  • The frankincense supply chain faces challenges such as lack of transparency, traceability, and sustainability.
  • The essential oil industry has increased the demand for frankincense, leading to overtapping and social disruption in communities.
  • Improving ethical practices in the frankincense supply chain requires a combination of consumer awareness, regulation, and certifications. Communities have a deep passion and love for protecting frankincense trees, which are a cultural heritage for them.
  • Climate change and deforestation have disrupted the traditional lifestyles of these communities and made them more vulnerable.
  • The wellness industry is plagued by greenwashing, and there is a need for more transparency and ethical practices.
  • Save Frankincense is working on creating a traceable and ethical supply chain for frankincense through the use of blockchain technology.
 
Sound Bites
  • "I developed a very strong love of trees."
  • "I was hooked. The gentlemen were talking to me about frankincense trees."
  • "There's so much frankincense in here. That's pretty much all you smell once you come into my office."
  • "They absolutely have tons of passion to protect frankincense. They love their trees. They're such a cultural heritage that they own in their hearts for frankincense."
  • "The global community is pretty tired of being lied to. Greenwashing is a serious problem."
  • "Everything is traceable unless you don't want it to be. It's really a matter of will."

Links

Save Frankincense
VICE NEWS - Inside the Wellness Industry's Controversial Supply Chains
instagram.com/incenseexplorer
Incense Explorer

 
Chapters
 
00:00Introduction and Background
02:18Becoming Interested in Frankincense
06:02The Overwhelming Scent of Frankincense
09:20Transparency and Consumer Awareness
12:41The Importance of Traceability and Sustainability
27:17Passion and Love for Protecting Frankincense
29:34Challenges Faced by Communities
32:24Greenwashing in the Wellness Industry
45:12Creating a Traceable and Ethical Supply Chain