GLOBAL VIEW: Palmarosa Cultivation in Nepal



Palmarosa seeds ready to be sowed

The essential oil from the leaves and flower tops of palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii var. motia) has a sweet, slightly citrus scent that calls to mind both geranium and rose. A native grass, palmarosa grows wild from the southern subtropical slopes of Nepal to the serene Himalaya Mountains. Nepal is where we find the farmer’s cooperative that produces our Palmarosa Essential Oil [Prima Fleur No. 208]. After the seeds are sowed, the fields are flooded. The resulting grasses are ready to harvest between October and December, after the plants begin to bud. To obtain the highest yield of oil with the best quality, they distill from the leaves and the upper third of the stems. Below, a slideshow of the cultivation process for our palmarosa in Nepal.


Inspecting the oil after distillation

Produced by steam distillation of the fresh or dried grass, palmarosa may be a lesser known essential oil, but it is superlative for skin care, offering cell regenerative and antiseptic properties beneficial to dry, mature, and problem skin types. While palmarosa soothes the skin, it is also uplifting to the spirit, reducing nervous tension and stress, clearing the mind, and calming the senses. Excellent for use in diffusers, palmarosa is high in geraniol, a terpene alcohol that is anti-bacterial, toning, and stimulating to the immune system. Palmarosa’s pleasing odor and its properties against bacteria make it ideal for disinfecting stale rooms. 



The Nepalese name the plant Motiya, and have capitalized on its benefits to create economic opportunities. By providing a guaranteed market for cultivated and wild-collected plants, cooperative programs help small-scale local farmers continue to work the fields, as well as promote the protection of open space for business purposes by leasing privately owned and community lands. Cultivation and harvest are organic and sustainable: What remains from the distillation process is composted and returned to the lands to encourage fertile soil. Micro-financing is available to help local people begin to farm and to provide them with the knowledge to properly cultivate and harvest the plants. Not only can plants like bountiful palmarosa provide therapeutic benefits to people worldwide, they also offer rural residents consistent employment and cash earnings, thereby raising quality of life.

For information on our Essential Oils and pricing, please visit our website. For questions and to place an order, please contact sales@primafleur.com ~ or call (415) 455-0957.

The Wonders of Rhatany

Rhatany Root (Krameria Lappacea), derived from the rain forests in South and Central America, is a skin care ingredient with anti-oxidative, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory efficacy. Ideal for defense against aging and external stress, Rhatany supports the skin repair and cell turnover. It is also effective as an internal astringent, and is especially useful in relieving bleeding gums, halting blood flow and reducing bruising. Experience the healing power of Rhatany in our new ECOCERT® Rhatany Heel-all Foot Crème.

 

Rhatany Heel-All Foot Crème [No. 1113]

It is said that the average person takes between 7,000-10,000 steps per day! That’s quite a feat for our feet! To get the most mileage, it’s crucial that we care for our feet and legs with nurturing self massage, therapeutic aromatherapy and moisturizing crèmes. Prima Fleur’s Rhatany Heel- All Foot Crème combines the best of our effective raw ingredients, like Aloe vera and shea butter, with exemplary botanicals, like Rhatany root extract. Rhatany is the perfect addition to a foot crème due to its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory efficacy. It is also known to supportthe natural repair system of tissue, which is beneficial for the heels, or other calloused or rough areas. Our calophyllum inophyllum from Madagascar is known to treat most skin ailments including cuts, blisters, burns, psoriasis, acne, and dry skin. It nourishes and regenerates cells and has been used in Chinese and Tahitian traditional medicine for abrasions, odor and muscle and joint pain caused by inflammation. Peppermint, Spearmint, Lemon and Grapefruit are among the essential oils that provide a burst of fragrance as well as additional anti-fungal support. These therapeutic botanicals are blended in a rich base of Ugandan Shea Butter, Sunflower Seed oil, Orange Peel wax and Beeswax.

 

For more information on products and ingredient lists, please visit our website. To place an order, please call (415) 455-0957.