An oil produced from the needles and small branches of silver, white or European silver fir (or even silver spruce or white spruce) originates from Abies alba Mill., a European tree that can grow to the height of 150ft (ca.46 m.) a dbh (diameter at breast height) of 20ft (ca. 6.0m.). It can be found in the mountainous regions of eastern, western, southern and central Europe from the Carpathians in the East to the Pyrenees and from the Balkan Peninsula to northern Greece. Over the centuries the species has been reduced due to over exploitation, deforestation and afforestation with faster growing exotic trees.
