Synthetic variants, vanishing trees threaten legacy of the Nilgiris eucalyptus oil

The aroma of eucalyptus has been synonymous with the mist-covered Nilgiri hills. Tourists visiting any part of the Nilgiris always carry home small bottles of eucalyptus oil as a signature product of Ooty. Now, an application seeking a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Nilgiris Eucalyptus Thailam (Nilgiris eucalyptus oil), which falls under the essential oil category, has been filed by the Nakubetta Agri Development Initiative Producer Company Limited, Kotagiri, the Nilgiris, and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. Manufacturers believe such recognition could help differentiate genuine products from counterfeit and synthetic variants flooding the market. But another section of the industry says that this comes at a time when the eucalyptus oil industry is facing severe decline. “We are among the last few still selling pure natural eucalyptus oil. Today, a majority of the products in the market are synthetic oils mixed with a small quantity of natural oil. Very few traditional distillers remain in the Nilgiris. The communities that once climbed trees and worked in the forests to extract the oil are slowly disappearing, and hardly anyone is entering the profession now,” a septuagenarian, who has been in this trade for over four decades, said. Few surviving trees “The eucalyptus trees have almost vanished. Earlier, they were spread across acres and acres in the Nilgiris. Today, they survive only in a few pockets and private estates. I now produce oil only for the local market. Earlier, we used to trade extensively across India, but that business has drastically declined over the years,” he added. He also pointed out that there is a shortage of workers in this industry. According to people in the hills who have been in this trade, eucalyptus oil is being sold everywhere today, from bakeries to petrol pumps, but there is very little awareness among consumers about its actual medicinal and therapeutic uses. Industry players say the market is flooded with synthetic variants whose colour and fragrance fade quickly, unlike the authentic Nilgiris eucalyptus oil known for its purity and long-lasting properties. Similar oil from China has also been entering shops in the hill station. Scepticism over GI tag A second manufacturer, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “There was a time when we produced nearly 5,000 litres of eucalyptus oil a week. Today, our production has come down to barely 200 litres a week,” he said. Expressing scepticism over the proposed GI tag, he added, “I feel it may already be too late for such measures to revive the industry.” Those in the sector are urging the government to crack down on fake products, introduce measures to support traditional producers, and encourage younger generations to enter the business. The Department of Biotechnology, Mother Teresa Women’s University, Kodaikanal, was the facilitator for the GI application. A. Usha Raja Nanthini, Professor and Head, Department of Biotechnology, Mother Teresa Women’s University, said: “Even now there is a demand for this oil, and a GI tag would help and encourage more people venture into this business.” The eucalyptus tree grows up to 150 feet and the plantation areas are situated in the upper Nilgiris, including Manjoor, Dodabetta, Chincona, Barex, and Coonoor. Mostly Local and rural women are engaged in the collection of fallen dried leaves of Eucalyptus globulus. The leaves are loaded into a still (distillation chamber) and filled with water. It is heated from the bottom, and the water starts boiling. Steam gets generated, carrying the vaporised essential oil with it. The steam and oil vapor then pass through a condenser, where they cool and turn back into liquid. The resulting mixture of water and oil is collected; the oil floats on top, allowing it to be separated.