Perfumes from trees, shrubs & other foliage

There are perfumes–and many more–in those trees, shrubs and other foliage in backyards, on the hills, and in the forests.

Take patchouli, also called kablin.

The leaves of this erect aromatic undershrub (height: 1-1.2 meters), when crushed along with "gugo" and lemongrass, serve as shampoo of old folk and even modern ladies. The oil from dried patchouli leaves is considered one of the most important oils of the perfume industry.

"Because of its unique quality, it is used as fixative in a large number of high-grade perfumes," pointed out the Department of Environment and Natural Resource-Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (DENR-ERDB). (A fixative is a substance added to a perfume to prevent rapid evaporation.)

Los Baños-based ERDB, headed by Director Celso P. Diaz, noted that essential oils from trees and shrubs for the manufacture of perfumes, confectioners, liquors, and beverages are now difficult to obtain because the raw materials are diminishing in many parts of the country.

Diaz said manufacturers and producers are now being encouraged to establish and develop their own plantations to generate enough supply of volatile oils and to limit the importation of raw materials.

ERDB has also produced a publication titled "Plant species with essential oil for perfume production."

Among the species with essential oil are lemon grass, aroma, pili, Mindanao cinnamon, sandalwood, vetiver grass, lemon-scented gum, pandan-mabango, champaka, ilang-ilang, cedarwood, and nutmeg.

Lemongrass has been found to have oil used in making soap, detergent, and other preparations. It has also medicinal properties.

The bark of Mindanao cinnamon is good for soap scenting and perfumery.

Sandalwood oil is widely used in the manufacture of soap, face cream, and toilet powders. It is likewise used for medicinal purposes.

The oil of vetiver grass is mainly used as fixative in perfumery and for blending in cosmetics and soap industry. The oil of champaka and ilang-ilang is used for perfume and medicines. – Rudy A. Fernandez