MICHAEL FENSTERSTOCK • Founder
Aromaflage • New York, New York
“Aromaflage is hand-mixed by a
group of women from Southeast
Asia called Thai Yai—a subset of
the Shan culture.”
be. This makes Kneipp unique but we
have been completely devoted to plant
ingredients for more than 120 years. Our
research facility tests each plant for
mutations, other matter that makes its
way into the plant via air and water
pollution, etc. The plant must meet a
standard to be used in formulation,”
says Mary Leber, CEO of Kneipp in New
York.
James, on the other hand, looks for
small-scale artisanal growers and distillers,
wherever possible. “When we started the
company, we noticed a pattern
emerged—the best oils almost always
seemed to come from small farms. As
“Our research
facility tests each
plant for mutations,
other matter that
makes its way into
the plant via air and
water pollution.”
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March/April 2016
time went on, we realized that this is no
accident. Artisanal distillers are more
invested in the well-being of the land they
work on and also take a more considered
approach to the process of extracting the
oils from the plant material.”
Aromaflage is also conscious not only
in sourcing essential oils regulated by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as
natural insect repelling oils, but also how
it develops its blend. “Aromaflage is handmixed by a group of women from
Southeast Asia called Thai Yai—a subset
of the Shan culture. These Thai Yai
women are ethnic minorities who have no
country and most of them live along the
Thai Burma border, in the jungle, and are
treated inhumanely,” says Fensterstock.
This partnership began when, while
on a trip in Southeast Asia, Fensterstock
discovered a local aromatherapy blend and
was so impressed by it that he decided to
find out the people behind the product.
This led him to his Southeast Asian
partner who is committed to uplifting the
lives of ethnic minority women.
“Our partner in Southeast Asia has set
up a safe village in the hills where these
MARY LEBER • CEO
Kneipp • Kingston, New York
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 52)