The India essential oils market is expected to reach an output of ~50,400 tons by the end of 2030. Startups are experimenting with coconut milk-based vegan flavors such as Mexican chocolate with cinnamon essential oils. Thus, the growing demand for natural and organic products is catalyzing innovations in food items. In order to meet these demands, startups are tying up with local co-ops to expand their distribution chains and grow on a national level.
India came to be known as a source of fine perfumes by centers like Kanauj, Jaunpur, Ghazipur and Lucknow which has acquired high reputations in this respect. Even in Vedas, which are some 3000 years old, cosmetics and perfumes, used in religious ceremonies, are referred to knowledgeably and in detail. Among the materials mentioned in such writings, from the earliest record times down to the period in which Kalidasa lived (470 AD), are the flowers of henna, jasmine, champak, lotus, mango, hycianth, rose, lily, sandal wood and vetiver roots (Rao and Bhattacharya, 1992).
Commenting upon the dificulty of obtaining reliable recipes for the ancient Hindu writings, Cola nevertheless asserts that the following are authentic and were highly successful in the Mogul epoch. The first was called as Abir and consisted of sandalwood, vetiver root, patchouli leaves and camphor. Traditional Indian medicine called “Ayur Veda” has a 3000-year history of incorporating essential oils into their healing treatments.
Vedic literature lists over 700 substances including cinnamon, ginger and sandal wood as effective for healing. During the outbreak of the Bubonic Plague, Ayur Veda was used successfully in replacing ineffective antibiotics. The purpose of aromatic plants and oils were not only for medicinal purposes, but were believed to be a Godly part of nature and played an integral role to the spiritual and philosophical outlook in Ayurvedic medicine.
India is one of the few countries in the world having varied agro climatic zones suitable for the cultivation of most of essential oil bearing plants. Due to increased awareness of health hazards associated with synthetic chemicals coupled with the increase cost of petroleum products, the use of essential oils have been gradually increasing.
The total consumpton of perfumery and flavorings material in India is about 56800 MT/annum valued at 155 billion US $. Food, dental, Pharmaceutical flavors share is around 22000 MT and the rest represents perfumery. The estimated production of perfumery raw material is around 57252 million tones/ annum valued at Rs. 175 billion US $.
A number of essential oils from palmarosa, citronella ginger grass, basil, mint, lemon grass, eucalyptus cedar wood, lavender oil, davana oil, celery seed oil, fennel and other oils have been widely used in a variety of products in India. Out of these the essenal oils currently being produced in India are oil of citronella, lemon grass, basil, mint, sandal wood, palmarosa, eucalyptus, cedar wood, vetiver and geranium Rose oil, lavender, davana oil, oil of khus.
During last forty year the importance of developing essential oil bearing plants is being increasingly realized. With the introduction of Japanese mint and subsequent improvement there upon, India produces 5000 tonnes of menthol values Rs. 1000 crores and is one of the leading Mint produced in India. Presently the areas under mint cultivation are estimated to the around 40000 hectares mainly in U.P., Punjab, Haryana and to some extent in Bihar and M.P.
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