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A valuable element in the production of Bulgari fragrances is Elemi gum, an ingredient that derives from the tree of the same name native to the Philippines, and belonging to the same family as incense, myrrh and opoponax. Known for its spicy character, with peppery notes and hints of lemon, this ingredient is best expressed in fragrances with fresh and multifaceted top notes, and base notes such as frankincense and pink pepper.
Riding the wave of the success of the Flower Gems of India initiative launched in 2019, Bulgari renews its commitment to the production of sustainable fragrances and announces a new project, “Trees of Life: The Gems of the Philippines”, an initiative created to support the responsible cultivation of Elemi trees in the Philippines.
Starting in January 2022, Bulgari has embarked on a collaboration with the fragrance house dsm-firmenich, a long-time partner of the brand, and the Philippine company R. Cielo Real Elemi International Exports, to build a distillery in the Batangas region, in the Philippines, dedicated to promoting the responsible production of Essenza di Elemi. The Philippines produces over 300 tons of Elemi gum annually, which was historically taken abroad to be distilled into essential oil. The new distillery allows gum to be harvested and distilled locally, thus avoiding transportation to another country and adding stability to the local economy.
To complete this project, the local company R. Cielo Real Elemi International Exports committed the land for the distillery, dsm-firmenich provided the engineering expertise for the distillation process, while Bulgari financed the construction with related equipment.
The Roman maison has committed to planting 1,200 Elemi trees, starting with the 300 supplied by R. Cielo Real Elemi International Exports, and to creating 25 new jobs for Elemi rubber tappers over the next 7 years. Having a local distillery will streamline the supply chain and give Bulgari and its partners control over every stage of the production process; the traceability of the natural ingredient is guaranteed from cultivation to the final product thanks to Path2Farm, a solution developed by dsm-firmenich to allow greater quality control.