Want Objectives 

It would be preferable that the plants have… 

 Growth 
o High abundance in farms/plantations in Bicol 
o Fast Growth Rate (or fast harvest cycle) 
o Hardy/Resilient to various environmental conditions 
 
 Economics 
o Income Potential for Farmers/Suppliers 
o High Import Value/Domestic Demand 
o High Export Value (Supply, or lack thereof) 
 Foreign 
 Philippines 
o *Aesthetic/Appeal  
 
 Essential Oil Profile 
o Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Utility 
o Aroma/Flavoring Tenacity (Firmenich Compendium or other sources) 
o Stability in Applications 
o High Green Chemistry Score, Biodegradability (in Firmenich Compendium or
other sources) 
 
YERBA BUENA

Growth

Widely cultivated to some extent in all parts of the Philippines. It is typically inhabiting in moist places,
including stream sides and drainage ditches. It is said that this plant is abundant not only in Bicol Region
but also in other region of the country.
Yerba Buena will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. Its foliage tends to
remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be
expected to live for approximately 5 years.
Economics
Farm incomes for peppermints is estimated to have a value of $19, 136 in India.
In the Philippines, farmers who cultivate medicinal plants allows them to harvest 2 times with an income
of 300,000 to 600,000. (BD, 2020)

No export data for the Philippines

Export data for India
The total value of exports in India for peppermint is $ 427, 012, 504 to which the top 5 importers are
United States, China, Germany, United Kingdom and Japan. India is one of the top exporters of
peppermints.

At present (2021), the top 5 importers of peppermint from India are US, China, Germany, Singapore and
France. The total export value of Peppermint in these countries is 153.82 USD million. These top 5
countries account for over 77.06% of the total Peppermint export from India.
Import Value

Country of Origin Php Value

Australia 461, 384.00
People’s Republic of China 458, 642.00
India 282, 655.00
 Australia 342, 099.00
People’s Republic of China 777, 152.00
France 27, 926.00
India 67, 323.00
UK and Ireland 2, 361, 927.00
US 12, 168.00
TOTAL 4, 791, 276.00

(FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS OF THE PHILIPPINES, 2020

Young Living
5 mL
Wholesale: 590
Retail: 780

Essential Oil Profile

Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Utility
- One of the oldest household remedies known.
- In the Philippines, tops and leaves are considered carminative; when bruised used as antidote to stings of
poisonous insects.
- Mint is used in neuralgic affections, renal and vesical calculus.
- Used for stomach weakness and diarrhea.
- Decoction and infusion of leaves and stems used for fever, stomach aches, dysmenorrhea, and diuresis.
- Pounded leaves for insect bites, fevers, toothaches, headaches.
- Crushed fresh plants or leaves are sniffed for dizziness.
- Powdered dried plant as dentrifice.
- Crushed leaves are applied on the forehead and temples for headaches.
- For toothaches
- For flatulence
- Alcohol or ether extract used as local anesthetic for affections of the nose, pharynx, and larynx.
- Used for obstinate vomiting of pregnancy.
- An alcoholic solution of menthol has been used as inhalation for asthma. Menthol is also used as local
anesthesia for headache and facial neuralgia.
- Decoction or vapor from menthol used with lemon grass as febrifuge. Also used in hiccups.
- Plant used as emmenagogue; also used in jaundice.
- Dried plant used as dentrifice.
- Leaves and stems used as carminative, antispasmodic, and sudorific.
- Infusion of leaves used for indigestion, rheumatic pans, arthritis and inflamed joints.
- For coughs, boil 6 tbsp of chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 mins; cool and strain. Divide the
decoction into three parts; take 1 part 3 times a day.
- Diluted essential oil used as wash for skin irritations, burns, pruritus, scabies, ringworm and as mosquito
repellent.
- For arthritis, warm fresh leaves over low flame; then pound. Apply pounded leaves while warm on the
painful joints or muscles.
- As mouthwash, soak 2 tbsp chopped leaves in 1 glass of hot water for 30 minutes; strain. Use the
infusion as mouthwash.
- In Japan, used as home remedy for coughs and colds. In Chinese medicine, aerial parts used for colds,
influenza, headaches, and sore throat.

Others
- Peppermint oil is often used in pharmaceutical preparations to subdue unpleasant medicinal smells.
- Menthol derived from the essential oil is used in pharmaceutical, perfumery and food industries.
- The oil and by-product, menthol and dementholized oil (DMO), have highest share in the global mint
markets.

Aroma/Flavoring Tenacity
- Cultivated as a spice for cooking.
- Leaves used for tea.
- Used in salads to provide flavor.
- Used as a flavoring in confections, mint flavors, and beverages.
- last 10 hrs on smelling strip

High Green Chemistry Score and Biodegradability

- Substance is readily biodegradable.

Firmenich Compendium

Application Stability
Fragrance 100 %
Shampoo 75 %
Shower Gel 75 %
Soap 75 %
Detergent 75 %
Softener 100 %
APC 50 %
Candle 75 %
AVERAGE 78.125 %

Perfumers World
- Have rating of 9 (very good performance) in application suitability for creams, shampoo, etc.
AVERAGE: 8.5

CITRONELLA

Growth

Widely cultivated not only in the region as well as to other region in the country. Citronella is a grass
therefore it is abundant not only in farms/plantation can grow anywhere. It thrives well under tropical and
subtropical climate with abundant moisture and sunshine therefore being cultivated in other country as
well beside Philippines such as China, Sri Lanka, etc.

Economics

Income Potential for Farmers

On average, citronella grass yields 0.7% fluctuating from 0.5% to 1.2% depending on the climate
generating 12 – 35 metric tons per hectares equivalent to 84 – 247 kilograms of oil (Bureau of Plant
Industry, 2019). In Lopez, Quezon, ALDAWA Cooperative manage a citronella farm and directly distill
the plant parts to produce an end-product of hydrosol and essential oil sold in the local market. For every
harvest, farmers can take 110,000 bundles of the grass that is 6 kilograms each and can produce
1,100 litres of oil amounting PhP 6000 per litre. Citronella grass grows rapidly that farmers can harvest
four (4) times with a maximum income of over 6 million pesos per harvest (Gancenia, 2021).  

Based on the study of Economic Potential of Citronella Production in the Philippines by Camacho, et.al,
(2015) it was estimated that 96 L ha sup -1 was produced per harvest which has a gross revenue of
PhP115,200.00. With three harvests during the first year, the gross revenue was PhP 345,600.00.
Considering all costs, the total net revenue of oil production during the first year of harvest was
PhP135,562.20. Results also showed that pursuing such enterprise could be economically viable since its
Net Present Value (NPV) in 10 years can reach as much as PhP2.891 M at 12% discount rate. This can be
translated to PhP240.917 NPV/ha. The projected internal rate of return for the same period is around
91%, a fairly attractive return on investment. The overall employment generation potential of the venture
is also fairly attractive with an average of 936 MD/ha/ 1 yr. 

No Export data for the Philippines

Export Value for India

The total value of exports in India is $ 4, 715, 684 to which the top 5 importers are Nigeria, Tanzania and
United States, Mozambique and Malaysia. India is one of the top exporter of India together with China,
etc.
At present year, the top 5 importers of citronella oil from India are Taiwan, US, Malaysia, Canada and
Belgium. The total export value of Citronella in these countries is 0.34 USD million. These top 5
countries account for over 79.07% of the total Citronella export from India.

Import Value
The country spent  USD 171,852  or PhP 4,562,309  for  the  importation  of  citronella  oil, ironically,
from countries that are also known citronella oil importers like Hongkong, Netherlands, Germany, France
and Spain. The reason is the low price of imported citronella oil compared to locally produces oil.
(Camacho et al., n.d., 2015) 

Country of Origin Php Value

People’s Republic of China 354, 416.00
UK of Great Britain and Ireland 131, 254.00
India 326, 639.00
Indonesia 1, 551, 412.00
TOTAL 2, 363, 721.00

(FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS OF THE PHILIPPINES, 2020)

Young Living Price

15 mL
Wholesale: 1 150
Retail: 1 510

Essential Oil Profile

Utility
Has various industrial uses to which its oil is highly valued as it is used in perfumes, soaps, spray,
disinfectant, paints and polish. An ointment containing 25% of this oil is an excellent protection against
mosquitoes.   

Citronella was the most widely used insect repellent (Katz et al. 2008). Later formulations used
combustible materials, such as sawdust from cedar and other aromatic burning woods, soaked in
citronella and made into incense or burnable coils. Citronella oil is also used as an herbicide for the
control of ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) (Gwynn 2014).

Aroma/Flavoring Tenacity
In addition to biopesticidal uses, citronella oil is used as a flavoring agent in many food products
including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, candies, baked goods, gelatins, frozen diary,
morning ceral, gelatins, soft candy, hard candy and puddings at low quantities. It is also an ingredient in
perfumery, soaps, candles and incenses, dietary supplements and traditional medicines, including as a
natural intestinal parasite remedy, and aromatic teas (Khan and Abourashed 2010). 
Odor last for 8 hrs. on smelling strip.

Used in aromatherapy applications, Citronella Essential Oil slows or prevents the growth or spread of
harmful airborne bacteria, repels flying insects, uplifts negative moods, and relaxes the body and mind. It
is reputed to reduce muscles spasms, ease headaches, and boost energy. 

Summary

• Mosquito Repellent / Fumigant: Citronella oil and candles commercially popular as traditional
mosquito repellents and household fumigants.
• Food Flavoring: Citronella oil also used as food flavoring agent, in beverages, baked goods, cereals,
candies, dairy products, gelatins and puddings.
• Veterinary: Oil also a component of veterinary deterrent product for dogs seeking to mate.
• Aromatherapy: Also used in aromatherapy.

High Green Chemistry Score and Biodegradability

- Substance is readily biodegradable.

Firmenich Compendium

Application Stability
Fragrance 75 %
Shampoo 100 %
Shower Gel 75 %
Soap 75 %
Detergent 75 %
Softener 100 %
APC 50 %
Candle 50 %
AVERAGE 75 %

Perfumers World
- Have rating of 9 (very good performance) in application suitability for creams, shampoo,
soaps etc.
AVRAGE: 7.8

Application Suitability Criteria:

10 – Rating ranges form 8.11 – 9 with a very good performance definition

9 – Rating ranges form 7.11 – 8.1 with a good performance definition
8 – Rating ranges from 6.11 – 7.1 with a reasonable performance
7 – Rating ranges from 5.11 – 6.1 with a fair performance
6 – Rating ranges from 4.11 – 5.1 with mediocre performance
5 – Rating ranges from 3.11 – 4.1 with a slight stability problem
4 – Rating ranges from 2.11 – 3.1 with a discoloration problem
3 – Rating ranges from 1.11 – 2.1 with a stability problem
2 – Rating ranges from 0.1 – 1.1 with a major problem
1 – Without recorded rating

Medicinal/Pharmaceutical Criteria

10 – One of the oldest remedies known and have many applications.

9 – Being used in drug production.
8 - Plant has a study of having potential in curing diseases and can treat diseases.
7 – Can cure aches and beauty benefits.
6 – Can cure aches.
5 – Used in making pesticides.
1 – No medicinal use

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