MyrtleZap

We have been making the standard Aromazap since the Spring of 2001. Aromazap was inspired by a similar product that quickly became more expensive and difficult to get as interest in convection type vaporizers grew. The ideal wood for such a product would be a dense hardwood. We have always used a softwood for the standard Aromazap because the wood was readily available and we could use recycled wood. Softwood is easier to fabricate into the finished product than any hardwood would be. Softwood does have the disadvantage of breaking down quicker than hardwood. Aromazap produces heat and wood, especially softwood, does not like heat. The heatport assembly will become loose in the softwood enclosure and begin rattling after some time. This process can take a couple years to 4-5 years. We cannot rebuild Aromazaps so a new one must be purchased eventually if one is to have a fully functional softwood Aromazap.

In the fall of 2007 an old customer living in Oregon asked us if we would build a custom Aromazap made from Myrtlewood, a very dense and colorful hardwood that is only commercially available in the coastal areas of Oregon. He supplied the wood and we made one for him and another to try ourselves. We were so impressed with the beauty of the wood and the incredible hardness of Myrtlewood that we tried a few more on an experimental basis with much success. Now we are offering them to the public as an upscale version of the standard Aromazap. All MyrtleZaps have ONLY a hand rubbed natural flaxseed oil finish. We do not use any wood stains or petrochemical products when finishing MyrtleZaps. All also have a blue led 'on' light. They will last much longer than the standard softwood Aromazap.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYRTLEWOOD

Myrtlewood : It is the sole species in the genus Umbellularia. It ranges near the coast from Douglas County, Oregon south through California to San Diego County. It is also found in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It occurs at altitudes from sea level up to 1600 m. It is an evergreen tree growing to 30 m tall with a trunk up to 80 cm thick. The flowers are small, yellow or yellowish-green, produced in a small umbel (hence the scientific name Umbellularia, "little umbel"). The wood is very hard and fine, prized for it's variety of colors and grain patterns.

A FEW FINAL THOUGHTS ABOUT MYRTLEWOOD AROMAZAPS

Since Myrtlewood is a very dense hardwood, there is more time involved in the construction of MyrtleZaps compared to the standard softwood Aromazap. We finish the hand sanding process with a much finer grit sandpaper which makes for a glass like finish after several coats of natural flaxseed oil are applied. The look and feel of MyrtleZaps are in a different class than the standard softwood Aromazap. They are heavier, costing more to ship than the standard Zap. We ask for a PREFERENCE from the customer of dark, light or driftwood (as some of the wood is grey) but we cannot guarantee you will get your preference as our supply of Myrtlewood varies as to color and grain characteristics. We also anticipate popular colors will be available in limited supply. We will of course do our best to get our customers what they want. We offer the complete MyrtleZap kit, delivered via priority mail with delivery confirmation for $155 total. We anticipate every MyrtleZap will last many many years because the wood is so dense compared to the standard Aromazap softwood.

See limited time special on order page!