Co-Impact Sourcing: Blue Lotus

<<5>> When I was first introduced to the world of essential oils

<<8>> in 1998, blue lotus was one of my first introductions.

<<13>> As I started to look at the history of blue lotus to understand

<<17>> how the Egyptians used it to rise up to a higher state of consciousness,

<<22>> I wanted to learn more about blue lotus.

<<27>> The blue lotus I had smelled

<<29>> was completely synthesised in a laboratory, and I was devastated

<<33>> to know that it wasn't pure and everything in the market is synthetic.

<<39>> Nothing has been pure.

<<41>> I just came to the conclusion that there was no pure blue lotus on the planet.

<<46>> Our sourcing team searched the world over,

<<49>> and guess where they found it?

<<51>> So we're here in Guangdong Province

<<53>> in China, one of the areas where we source

<<56>> our beautiful blue lotus flowers to produce the amazing extract.

<<61>> This place is very special because there was nothing on this land

<<65>> before, but we actually digged ponds and bringing water from the mountain.

<<70>> We were able to then grow those beautiful flowers

<<73>> and create a lot of jobs for the farming community.

<<76>> We're here with two ladies from the farming community.

<<81>> Hello.

<<84>> And they're working here in the blue lotus ponds.

<<86>> So they’re explaining to us that they’re picking up those snails in the ponds,

<<91>> to make sure they don't eat the leaves.

<<93>> They're removing those little weeds in there.

<<95>> They're doing replanting.

<<97>> They're doing some harvesting as well.

<<99>> They're just very happy to be working with this kind of, doing this

<<102>> kind of work.

<<106>> Just seeing these beautiful blossoms coming up and out of these ponds,

<<110>> and to see the women out there harvesting these flowers.

<<114>> It was an emotional moment.

<<116>> They are very grateful for this new job opportunity here, because otherwise

<<121>> they'd be working in an animal factory or something like that.

<<124>> Whereas here they work with a beautiful flower that smells very nice.

<<128>> So for them, it makes them really, really happy.

<<131>> Many from this small community have left for big cities in search of employment and opportunities.

<<135>> Blue Lotus has given a much-needed boost to those who want to stay in their community and work in a safe environment.

<<144>> How long have she lived here?

<<149>> More than 50 years.

<<154>> With everyone’s collective effort, we’ve been able to bring this project to it’s current state.

<<160>> Even though we faced numerous challenges, with your support, we've succesfully resolved them.

<<169>> It's so great to invest in this area and to give jobs to the local farmers.

<<175>> When you need more we are ready to expand and provide even more flowers.

<<186>> There is a Chinese phrase.

<<190>> What it means is to be unsoiled, to be incorruptible, to be principled.

<<196>> So we think about the blue lotus flower.

<<198>> It is rooted in the muck and in the mud.

<<200>> But yet above rises this beautiful, beautiful, glorious blossom.