The Ambrette Seeds Absolute is a distinguished raw material, highly appreciated in the fragrance and flavour industry for its unique musky and pear-like notes.
Nelixia has developed, ex-nihilo, with Guatemalan communities the cultivation of Abelmoschus Moschatus plants as a mean to diversify their crops and increase income of local producers.
The ambrette cultivation is located in the regions of Taxisco, with the ethnic group Mam, and Baja Verapaz with the Q´eqchi and Pocomchí. These regions are well known for their fertile soils and sunlight. These communities have mostly been producing traditional crops. The cultivation of Ambrette has shown to be an opportunity for them to diversify their crops and increase income.
INVOLVE AND RESPECT
Ambrette production provides an additional income for producers
Long-term contract with a fixed price
100% of production is purchased by Nelixia
EMPOWER COMMUNITIES
Trainings on waste management
Trainings on forest conservation
Implementation of efficient cooking stoves for every family
Implementation of drinkable water
Alphabetization program for producers and their families
TRANSPARENCY
100% traceable Essential Oil: from seed to essential oil.
About Ambrette Seeds
Botany and production
Native from South Asian countries, the Abelmoschus moschatus is also cultivated in Central and Latin American countries such as Guatemala, Peru and Ecuador for the climate conditions. The plant, that derives from the hibiscus family, is an annual erect shrub that can reach up to 2 meters. The yellow flowers with purplish center, lasts only one day to soon become the capsules that holds the ambrette seeds. The Abelmoschus moschatus prefers open forests in relative moist habitats, such as sub-tropical conditions, and thrives under plenty of sunlight.
Botany and production
Native from South Asian countries, the Abelmoschus moschatus is also cultivated in Central and Latin American countries such as Guatemala, Peru and Ecuador for the climate conditions. The plant, that derives from the hibiscus family, is an annual erect shrub that can reach up to 2 meters. The yellow flowers with purplish center, lasts only one day to soon become the capsules that holds the ambrette seeds. The Abelmoschus moschatus prefers open forests in relative moist habitats, such as sub-tropical conditions, and thrives under plenty of sunlight.
Our value chain
Guatemala is a very fertile country, with more than 300 microclimates which means it is a territory that can embrace virtually any crop.
Our proximity and relationship with producers enable us to understand potential productions to diversify and increase their income, such as ambrette which we developed in a rotational crops system. Each year producers cultivate different species on the parcels: corn and beans for their own consumption and in the following year, ambrette plants.
The ambrette capsules are picked when they are mature or dry, the seeds are separated from the shells and dried to decrease humidity. The producers weigh and register their harvest before it is transported to NELIXIA´s facility where it will be transformed into traceable Ambrette absolute.
Our value chain
Guatemala is a very fertile country, with more than 300 microclimates, allowing it to develop virtually any crop.
Learning about the low sustainability and lack of traceability of the patchouli value chain, we decided to develop this new crop in Guatemala, controlling the full value chain.
After a successful R&D in our own fields, we moved to grow this crop partnering with local communities in an agroforestry model, as a way to support those communities through an alternative to their traditional crops.