The aroma of lavender flowers is like the fresh air after the rain, and the thought immediately takes you to the fields of purple plants under the summer sky. If you look beyond the fine and pleasant scent, you will discover that lavender essential oil has become one of the essential ingredients for some cosmetics. Moreover, a large part of these cosmetics, manufactured in Europe, is „inspired” by lavender grown in the fields of Moldova, a country ranked in the top ten lavender oil producers worldwide.
The lavender from Rezina district, present in cosmetics in Germany
About 200 hectares of lavender from the village of Mincenii de Jos, Rezina district - this is the treasure that the entrepreneur Gheorghe Jereghi is proud of, who, in 2000, partnered with the British Robert Ethrington to create „Resendjer” SRL. An economist by profession, Robert Ethrington visited Moldova for the first time in 1994 when the company he ran in Great Britain offered consultancy to the representation of the World Bank in our country. The fertile soil and the favorable weather conditions determined him to start a fragrant business here. Robert Ethrington comes to Moldova three or four times a year - to take the pulse of the business, monitor the lavender cultivation process, and provide useful advice to workers.
Initially, lavender was more of a hobby for the two associates from the village of Mincenii de Jos, but, with the growing demand for lavender oil on the European market, it gained more solid contours. Today, a large part of the oil produced by Gheorghe Jereghi arrives in Germany, at a famous company producing shampoos, perfumes, body creams, etc., whose name, however, remains a trade secret for the time being. We can also read about the business from Mincenii de Jos on the website of another world-famous cosmetics company - Weleda: „40 km from the capital of Moldova, we initiated a sustainable project for the cultivation of organic lavender. The fertile soil and warm summer provide the ideal conditions for cultivating the natural anti-stress antidote. By cooperating with „Resendjer”, we not only support organic production but also the demand of local farmers for a secure job, starting with 2003”.
To obtain lavender oil, about 300 people are trained in the fields of Minceni village, depending on their needs and period. All work is done manually, including weeding and harvesting, as the use of automated systems reduces the quality of the oil.
After being cut with a sickle, the lavender is left in the field for a day, then it reaches a distiller. Here, the flowers are passed through steam and, due to the high temperature, drops of essential oil are released which are carried through a tube. Then, the composition passes through the condenser, where it liquefies. The resulting liquid contains oil and water, and by separation, the miraculous lavender essential oil is obtained - a complex compound that totals 150 active constituents with the anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial role - and lavender perfume water. From a ton of green plants, the entrepreneur Gheorghe Jereghi obtains, on average, 9-10 liters of essential oil. In 2016, the purple-gold plantation generated three tons of lavender oil, which will be sold in September. „Every year the prices are negotiated at the beginning of autumn, being established according to the quantity of production obtained and the quality of the oil”, says Gheorghe Jereghi.
● Being the most well-known and widespread essential oil, due to its many qualities, lavender oil is used to promote sleep, calm the nervous system and reduce wrinkles, but also for its highly appreciated scent. As it also has an antiseptic effect, it speeds up the wound healing process, reduces irritations and infections caused by insect cuts and stings. It is also an excellent tonic for nerves, being a perfect remedy for people suffering from migraines or insomnia.
● 1200 tons of lavender oil are currently sold worldwide. The largest supplier in Bulgaria, with over 100 tonnes per year, followed by France and China.
● According to the data of the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2014, 569 hectares of lavender were planted in the Republic of Moldova. According to the Organization for Investment Attraction and Export Promotion of Moldova (MIEPO), a liter of lavender oil produced in Moldova is sold in Germany for 100-120 euros.
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| Robert Ethrington, the British who brought lavender to Mincenii de Jos. Photo: newsmaker.md |
Ten years of export to the European Union Plains of bright purple and strong aromas hidden in small essences. It is not about the Provence region of France, but about Alexandru Cotorobai's plantation from Cobusca Nouă, Anenii Noi district. The entrepreneur, who runs the „Aroma” company, has 86 hectares of lavender: 83 are for fruit, and the other three – for cuttings that will bloom next year. Along with them are fields of rose, sage, hyssop, coriander, dill, and other crops. In mid-June, when the plants are in full bloom and contain maximum esters, lavender oil is also produced. And here, it is obtained by steam distillation. Alexandru Cotorobai does not include auxiliary additives in the composition of the oil, so the product obtained is natural and of superior quality. According to the entrepreneur, up to 12-15 liters of essential oil can be obtained from a ton of lavender. France, Belgium, or Germany are just a few of the countries where Aroma sells its oil. „Whoever offers the highest price wins. We give oil samples to Europeans, they check them and in the contract, we specify that the exported product must correspond to the sample. Our plant allows us to produce a quantity of the oil that the EU could not even buy”, says Alexandru Cotorobai, who started exporting to the European Union ten years ago.
Lavender scented business at 24 years old
„Lavender from Moldova" is the name of the brand created by Nicu Ulinici who, at 24 years old, is the youngest entrepreneur in the field in our country. He decided to start his smelly business two years ago and today he manages a two-hectare plantation in the village of Valea-Trestieni in the Nisporeni district. For now, the products of this brand – lavender bouquets, fragrant bags, or lavender essential oil - can be found in commercial networks in Chisinau. But among the young man's priority objectives is access to the European Union market.
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| Nicu Ulinici took his „Lavender from Moldova” to the Gustar Festival 2016. Photo: Ana Maria-Veveriţa |
„It's the first year, the first experience. After analyzing several business ideas, I chose lavender, because it is a more special culture than the others”, says Nicu. Lavender essential oil is produced one week after the plant blooms, that is, once a year: to clear up. I get a liter of oil from 150 kg of green lavender, and we throw away the processed flower”, explains the young man. To achieve everything on time, during the season, the farmer hires ten workers who, for a day, can pick at least a ton of lavender flowers – the plant of a healthy life. Also for a healthy life, in the future, Nicu Ulinici intends to expand his business and cultivate mint. When the season ends, the entrepreneur deals with in-store delivery and finding new customers.
The oil produced by „Lavender of Moldova” is sold in bottles of 10 and 30 milliliters, with a price of 35 and 80 lei, respectively. He also sells lavender water, which Nicu says is a wonderful product for the skin: „Cleanses oily skin, soothes and regenerates sunburn. Thanks to her, I healed a small burn in the work process”.
The article was written by Oxana Greadcenco and published on August 8, 2016 on moldova.org.
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