Africa - Katafray

Katafray is a shrub found across Madagascar, and its elegant silhouette is a common sight in the arid forests of the south and west of The Big Island. Its light-coloured wood is as resistant as ebony and widely used in local building. In traditional Madagascan medicine, a drink prepared from the bark is reputed to have tonic and febrifuge benefits, while its essential oil is known for its fortifying and soothing actions.

In cosmetics, katafray extract helps improve the skin’s natural hydration mechanisms. The extract used by Clarins Laboratories – developed exclusively for the brand – is obtained through a process that preserves the biodiversity of the tropical forests, as part of a fair trade program.