Tags: Beauty and Hygiene, Physical Wellness
By KC Santos
SARIAYA, QUEZON – Lilia Pelayo seeks to reshape consumers’ perception of aromatherapy and organic cleansing through innovations with lemongrass.
Gold in Grass Corporation (GIGC) is a family corporation which Lilia runs with her siblings. Through the company, they aim to bring back the dignified image of the lemongrass, locally known as tanglad.
“For such a beneficial type of grass, it’s a shame that consumers don’t value its worth. I can’t blame them given the tainted misrepresentation some people associate it with,” she says.
After three years of research and development, their company was incorporated in 2001 and the brand Essencia was born. Lilia knew she had to prepare for something more significant than simply a business venture.
“We thought it best to have a business that doesn’t not only benefit us but the community,” says Lilia who, along with her brother, explored an eco-friendly way to make lemongrass by-products.
Together, they designed a modular distilling equipment used to process lemongrass organically grown in their family farm in Sariaya, Quezon.
More than properly planting and harvesting a very sensitive plant, she says they also give equal importance to treating the land right after the harvest to keep its organic condition.
Prior to the solution they came up with, Lilia says it takes a considerable level of environmental damage to fill just one small tube of costly food-grade lemongrass.
The machine, through a “tri-steam” modulation system, allows faster accumulation of the by-product without causing damage to the environment and natural landscape.
Most manufacturers market synthetic lemongrass oils, which modifies the supposed benefits of lemongrass.
“It also has a lot to do with people being content with what’s readily available. Some of them are too lazy to think of ways for their products to have real benefits for the consumers,” she says.
She adds that the problem with improper distillation and unfair distributorship burden those who strive for quality.
“The competition really is on the pricing. In the correct distillation of essential oils, it takes one ton of lemongrass to produce 2.2 liters of pure essential oil. This low yield explains why it sells for P6,000 to P8,000 per liter.”
“The lack of factual information leaves consumers confused and they are often misled to going for the cheaper yet harmful kinds,” she adds.
She also explains that non-synthetic oils smell pleasant unlike synthetic-based oils that cause headaches as a side effect. The therapeutic properties of authentic lemongrass essential oils also reduces when put in plastic or any form of low-grade steel.
“That’s why it’s called aroma therapy because it should heal the senses, not worsen one’s ailments with its side effects,” she says.
Lilia offers a wide range of Essencia Lemon Grass products, which include face and body soaps, tea concentrates, essential oils, and other lemongrass- based personal hygiene products.
For their innovative take on organic lemongrass oil production, her company has won awards from the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology and the Asia Innovation Awards in Singapore.
The company recently expanded into citronella-based products.
Lilia says they are looking to make their products affordable to more people by offering lemongrass hydrosols for only P150. It’s basically the potable component derived of the extraction process. which acts as a powerful diuretic when mixed with drinks.
Lilia hopes more people will become aware of the long-term benefits of lemongrass. “We really aim for more people to afford and experience the feeling of being healthy through organic lemongrass products,” she says.
Get more information about Gold in Grass Corporation
Related Stories:
‘Formosa’ pineapple products provide livelihood for this Camarines Norte community
Isabela entrepreneur promotes sugar cane delicacies
Local banana farmers must innovate and go organic, says expert
Entrepreneurship program targets Mangyans in Mindoro
Rice farmers to benefit from new crop management system
Beauty and Hygiene Child Health and Growth Clothing Consumer Electronics Consumer Goods and Concerns Family Family Health Concerns Fashion Footwear Furniture Games and Hobbies Health issues Home Appliances Household Care and Cleanliness Household Products Internet Mobile Lifestyle Parenting Personal Finance Pets Physical Wellness Religion Spa and Massage Special Occasions Spiritual Wellness Technology Industry Toys
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
