The mighty seed that works like a MANTO [pron. mahn.toh; trans. covering]
We were in the eastern part of the Brazilian Amazon, cruising along the river with our guide—a local who knew the waters by heart—in the wooden boat his father had built by hand. His family, also in the boat, had just prepared and shared with us a traditional meal: fish fresh from the river, manioc farofa, and açaí. The real açaí.
After lunch, their nephews led the way, jumping into the river with ease. They made it look simple to stay afloat—comforting proof that worries about piranhas and other lurking dangers of the deep were nowhere on their minds.
Back in the boat, we headed toward Ilha do Combú, a small island known for its Amazonian cacau. I instantly fell in love with it and, for a moment, questioned whether I should be making chocolate bars instead of lotion bars.
It was also the first time we were visiting the ribeirinhos—the riverside communities—to experience their way of life. Just as exciting, it marked our first walk into the forest, a moment I had long anticipated. As we stepped in, learning first about some of the trees that grow our ingredients, I began to notice flies and mosquitoes landing on my skin. That’s when I realized my first naive mistake: I had not brought any repellent.
Up to date on immunization, thankfully—but I hadn’t planned to become a feast for insects. Our guide gave me a reassuring smile—how comforting it is to feel covered, even in the wilderness. He pulled out a small glass bottle and said with a soft nod, “This is our repellent. We don’t use anything else here.” Inside was andiroba oil, in its purest form. The mighty seeds I later held in my hands.
No more tapping, no more itching. I was intrigued.
Whether I’m walking through deep forest trails, hiking with my family in Minnesota, or sitting around a bonfire with friends, I’ve come to believe that outdoor time is always well-spent time. This season, I wanted to share something that supports that—being out in nature, yet feeling covered.
Drawing from what I learned from rainforest natives and their ancient wisdom, I created MANTO [pron. mahn.toh; trans. covering]. Packaged in liquid form and easy to dispense, it’s robust enough to feel like a protective layer. It blends andiroba, nourishing babassu and pracaxi oils with anti-inflammatory, grounding copaíba and breu branco—a resin known as the Brazilian frankincense for its protective and aromatic properties. Something that protects, nourishes, and calms the skin and senses.
Essentially, a botanical shield for your skin.
It’s time to go adventure! Here’s to happy discoveries.
SHOP MANTO