Helichrysum Helichrysum (AlbaniaFrance (Corsica))

Why Albania?

The scent of Albanian helichrysum is the golden whisper of the Mediterranean—earthy and honeyed, with warm herbal notes and a hint of sun-dried hay. It carries a subtle spice and a touch of licorice, evoking ancient hillsides and wild, untamed blooms kissed by coastal winds.

Nestled along the Adriatic, Albania boasts a temperate climate with ideal conditions for growing helichrysum. It flourishes in the rugged, fertile terrain surrounded by the towering Albanian Alps, near the shores of Lake Shkodra. With this ideal environment and generations of agricultural expertise, Albanians carries a strong sense of deserved pride in their long-standing history of cultivating high-quality herbs.

Harvest and Production Process

Helichrysum is a beautiful plant that packs a powerful punch in the wellness arena. Because of the traditional use of helichrysum for skincare, it’s often called the “Everlasting (or Immortal) Flower.” This small perennial herb is a member of the daisy family that’s characterized by its narrow silver leaves and clusters of gold-yellow, ball-shaped blossoms. The plant flourishes in rocky, well-drained soil and benefits from the warm Mediterranean environment.

The sourcing area boasts over 100 hectares of helichrysum, with nurseries containing over a million plants densely packed with 300–400 per square meter. Helichrysum is typically harvested in late summer or early fall when the flowers have fully matured. The harvest window is relatively small—only 10 days.

Helichrysum essential oil is steam-distilled, primarily from the flowers and green leaves that grow up to 60 centimeters high before harvest. The plant reaches its peak essential oil–producing potential at around five years old and remains optimal for up to seven years. The distillation process itself takes less than two hours, making it an efficient and rewarding endeavor for all involved.

Supporting Long-Term Partnerships

In northern Albania, the Bajzë (buy-zuh) distillery—equipped with 12 stills and nestled near the Albanian Alps—is a business and community. It supports a vast network of over 2,000 farmers, particularly during the helichrysum harvest. Helichrysum distillation process takes under two hours, and each step from seedling propagation to distillation is carefully managed to meet the highest standards for quality.

Our sourcing partner is deeply involved, personally training harvesters, overseeing distillations, and ensuring each plant is sustainably sourced. As part of the quality check, our partner supports local farmers in delivering weed-free raw materials for distillation, helping maintain both product standards and process efficiency.

During the summer harvest season, our sourcing partner (a family company) invites the whole family—children, siblings, cousins, and extended family—to make their annual migration to Bajzë and move in to be all hands on deck during the height of production.

Everyone in the family has a role in helping production succeed, contributing to the summer magic. There’s a true sense of a family-run operation that extends to their employees as well.

There are 10 apartments atop the distillery offices, where employees live with their loved ones, sharing meals in the cafeteria, playing games after long days of work, and tending communal gardens that grow their food. The facility has a basketball court, soccer field, and spirit of mutual respect. It’s not uncommon to see children laughing while the scent of freshly harvested helichrysum drifts from the distillation chambers.

Unannounced visits and rigorous soil testing ensure organic practices and high essential oil quality. Farmers sign five-year agreements that include a guaranteed minimum price based on a 1.2% oil yield, offering a consistently fair and transparent price, which ensures greater stability and security for the farmers amid volatile markets.

To further aid local farmers, our partner has dedicated, on-the-ground farmer supporters who visit and check in with individual farmers frequently, even sitting down with them and facilitating use of computers to apply for government farming subsidies that are only available online.

Social Impact

In 2018, doTERRA Healing Hands supported sourcing communities in Albania, starting with renovating five schools that were in critical need of repair. Major repairs, especially to the bathrooms, were completed to meet the proper bathroom ratios for students and teachers. Along with these repairs, the doTERRA Healing Hands Foundation funded the construction of a new school during the renovation process of the other schools.

When the devastating 2019 earthquake struck Albania—the strongest in over 40 years and the deadliest the country had seen in nearly a century—it left a profound impact on communities across the region. The disaster claimed 51 lives, injured around 3,000 people, and was the most fatal earthquake globally that year.

In response, doTERRA Healing Hands and our local partner mobilized quickly, working alongside community organizations to provide critical relief. Over 20 families received temporary housing, while over 120 were supported with emergency supplies such as food, medicine, and clothing. Additionally, more than 390 individuals received essential health services, including medical care and psychosocial support, helping to restore hope and stability in the aftermath of the crisis.

How We Source Helichrysum | Behind the Bottle