Description
Dragon’s blood extract is the deep red sap of Croton lechleri, a fast-growing tree of the upper Amazon in Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. In Peru the tree is called sangre de grado and in Ecuador sangre de drago, dragon’s blood, because a dark red latex seeps out like blood when the smooth grey bark is cut. This bottle holds that sap, filtered: a thin, deep red liquid with a faint earthy smell that turns a pale pinkish cream when rubbed between the fingers and dries to a thin film.
Details
| Botanical name | Croton lechleri (sangre de grado) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Upper Amazon, Peru |
| Part used | Bark latex (sap) |
| Extraction | Tapped from the bark, filtered |
| Texture | Thin, deep red liquid |
| Size | 3.4oz (100ml) |
Not the same as resin dragon’s blood: the same name is used for a red resin from Southeast Asian rattan palms used in incense. This product is the Amazonian tree sap.
How dragon’s blood extract is collected
Sangre de grado grows 3 to 25 metres tall in the wet lowlands and foothills of the western Amazon, from about 100 to 1,800 metres above sea level. It is a short-lived pioneer tree that often comes up on riverbanks and cleared ground. Local collectors cut grooves into the bark of mature trees, let the sap drip into containers, then carry it out by boat or road to be filtered and bottled. Young trees give a thin, runny sap and older trees a thicker one.
What dragon’s blood extract contains
The red colour comes from proanthocyanidins, a family of plant tannins that can make up as much as 90 percent of the dried sap. The sap also contains the alkaloid taspine, measured at anywhere from about 1 to 20 percent of dry weight depending on the tree, along with smaller amounts of other plant phenols. These figures are from a review of Croton lechleri in the journal Planta Medica. Tannins give the sap its dry, slightly tightening feel as it sets on the skin.
How to use
- Serums and masks: add a few drops to a serum, mask or cream.
- On skin: rub 1 to 2 drops between the fingertips until it turns creamy, then smooth over the skin.
- Storage: keep the cap closed, as the sap thickens when exposed to air.
For external use only. Patch test on the inner arm before first use. Keep away from the eyes and out of reach of children. The deep red colour can stain fabric.
FAQs
What is dragon’s blood extract?
It is the filtered sap of the sangre de grado tree, Croton lechleri. Nothing is distilled or pressed. The sap is tapped from the bark and bottled.
Is dragon’s blood extract the same as dragon’s blood oil?
No. This extract is a water-based tree sap and contains no oil. Products sold as dragon’s blood oil are typically a fragrance oil or a carrier oil with the resin added.
Why does it turn white on the skin?
The latex changes from red to a pale pinkish cream when rubbed in, then dries to a thin film. This is normal.
Where does it come from?
It is tapped from wild and semi-wild sangre de grado trees in the Peruvian Amazon.
How much should I use?
A little goes a long way. A few drops are enough for a serum or mask.
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