When Seychelles patchouli was the best in the world...
Back in 2003, patchouli could be found alongside roads and paths everywhere in the Seychelles. Few people know that until the early 1980's, the Seychelles was a major exporter of patchouli dried leaves (approx. 6 tons) and essential oil (460 tons) together with vanilla, The Seychelles patchouli used to be considered one of the best in the world because of its high content of patchouli alcohol (patchoulol) and the terpene Seychellene which has therapeutic and insect-repellent properties.
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The Globarom patchouli nursery humble beginnings
So imagine our shock when during a recent perfume workshop and olfactory field trip organised by our school - The Perfumery Art School - the hunt for patchouli on 3 of the main Seychelles islands left us empty handed! The tourism boom took place to the detriment of the patchouli plant, considered by the locals like a weed and therefore destroyed on every plot of land allocated for development!
But a dedicated and passionate man, Mustafa Bristol, owner of Globarom (site under construction), the only distiller in the Seychelles. is so aware of the importance and the quality of the Seychelles patchouli that he has undertaken to revive it and place it back on the world map of precious botanical plants. Started in January 2014 with 10 plants 'rescued' from the forest, the nursery now boasts 100 plants and counting.
The Perfumery Art School wants to help Mustafa 'save the Seychelles patchouli' and is working in close liaison with Andrea Butje, founder of Aromahead Institute in the USA and renowned supporter of distillers in the world. We are aiming to raise $20000 to provide the first plants to the targeted families/farmers, expand the patchouli nursery and run the first patchouli distillation tests.
The Perfume Foundation International as the most active advocate for the rehabilitation of perfume plants worldwide is also supporting our common efforts in this exciting plant revival project.
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Mustafa Bristol, owner and distiller, Globarom Seychelles
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Some of the essential oils already distilled by Globarom
June 2014 update
Look at how the patchouli nursery looks like now, one month after the launch of this campaign! Thanks to our generous contributors and supporters, the number of plants has now reached over 200!
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The Globarom patchouli nursery 1 month after the launch of the campaign
Some facts about patchouli
Wherever you are in this world, you will probably have heard of patchouli! Apart from its ever association as THE perfume of the hippy movement, here are some interesting facts about its many virtues.
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Why we need your contribution?
The patchouli revival project not only involves regrowing the disappearing patchouli in the Seychelles. It is also aiming at creating new jobs in a more diversified economy, placing an emphasis on agriculture rather than on tourism only. Private individuals will be encouraged to grow patchouli in their gardens too.
We are initially targeting 100 Seychelles families/farmers. Each farmer will receive 10 plants at a cost of $74 spent on preparing and providing the patchouli plants to each family/farmer. Our time frame to secure a regular production for the essential oil distillation is 1 to 2 years depending on how soon the nursery is ready.
The following is a detailed breakdown on where your contributions will go. With the exception of the fees identified in the chart, all funds will go directly towards the project. The Test & Certificates fees concern the testing of the patchouli oil and its certification (Ecocert, Organic) to be able to sell it internationally but will also contribute to the development of Globarom website.
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How can you help?
In an ever more populated world, we need to focus on agricultural development but also to protect the plants of our Earth if they are to be sustained and benefit future generations.
While our personal interest is to ensure the survival of a plant that is a major ingredient in most of the perfumes we wear, Research on the virtues of patchouli also shows that patchouli is important for its phytochemical and pharmalogical properties. Any attempt to create a synthetic version of patchouli has so far failed due to the complexity of its molecules.
Your contribution - even small -will help save and protect the Heritage of a symbolic plant and give a new impulse to this small archipelago in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles.
Our perks and their good vibes are sent to you with love, directly from the Seychelles to thank you for your generous support.
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What if we don't raise the total amount?
In the patchouli revival project, any contribution is welcomed and will be used towards the expansion of the nursery. We would reduce the number of farmers we are planning to support to kick start the project and keep the momentum!
Patchouli grows quickly but its distillation requires drying the leaves for at least 24 hours in order to produce a quality essential oil.
Your contributions will also help us run the first distillation tests and have the oil quality tested.
The Team activists
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Isabelle Gellé is the Founder of the Perfumery Art School, the first online vocational school in the Art of Perfumery offering certified course programs in traditional perfumery. She is also owner and perfumer of her own perfumery, Les Parfums d'Isabelle and since February 2014, the Chairperson of the Perfume Foundation for the Indian Ocean islands and Southern Africa, an international consumer organisation with a mission to protect the Heritage of perfumery and the sustainability of perfume plants.
Andrea Butje is the owner of Aromahead Institute, an an internationally recognized online Aromatherapy school. Andrea is changing the online educational paradigm through her inspired approach to teaching and creating community. She travels the world developing relationships with organic artisan distillers and developed the Distiller Database to connect distillers with essential oil companies.
Other Ways You Can Help
Patchouli not your thing! We understand you might not be able to contribute or might not be interested in patchouli, but you may be able to help by letting your friends know.
We ask the all supporters of our campaign to spread the ‘Help us revive the Seychelles patchouli’ message!
Please help us ensure that the once best patchouli in the world makes its way back to the world map of essential oil production.
Thank you from Sesel (Seychelles in Creole)!
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