11 materials · 10 provinces

Every material has an address.

We buy directly from distillers and growers we know by name, and we visit them twice a year. Point at the map to meet them.

01 / 11

Vetiver

Chrysopogon zizanioides

Garut produces most of Indonesia's vetiver oil. It smells damp and smoky.

Origin: Samarang, Garut, West Java
Partner: Samarang vetiver distillers' cooperative
Method: Roots washed, sun-dried, then steam-distilled for 18 hours.
Harvest: June to September

Found in Akar Kenanga

02 / 11

Patchouli

Pogostemon cablin

Acehnese patchouli is known for the highest patchoulol content.

Origin: Calang, Aceh Jaya, Aceh
Partner: Krueng Sabee patchouli growers
Method: Leaves dried three days, steam-distilled, then the oil is aged a year.
Harvest: Year-round, every 4 months

Found in Akar Nilam

03 / 11

Benzoin

Styrax benzoin

Tapped by hand the way it has been for generations in the Tapanuli benzoin forests.

Origin: Pollung, Humbang Hasundutan, North Sumatra
Partner: Pollung benzoin tappers
Method: Resin tapped from the trunk, dissolved into a resinoid.
Harvest: Three times a year

Found in Akar Melati Malam

04 / 11

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum burmanni

Kerinci is the world's largest source of cassia cinnamon.

Origin: Kerinci, Jambi
Partner: Growers at the foot of Mount Kerinci
Method: Bark steam-distilled into oil.
Harvest: Year-round

Found in Nilam

05 / 11

Jasmine sambac

Jasminum sambac

Pemalang and Tegal grow most of Indonesia's jasmine, mostly for tea.

Origin: Pemalang, Central Java
Partner: Jasmine pickers of Pegongsoran
Method: Buds picked before dawn and extracted the same day.
Harvest: Peaks in the rainy season

Found in Melati Malam

06 / 11

Tuberose

Polianthes tuberosa

Pasuruan is the largest tuberose centre in Java.

Origin: Rembang, Pasuruan, East Java
Partner: Rembang cut-flower growers
Method: Flowers picked as they open at night, extracted into an absolute.
Harvest: Year-round

Found in Melati Malam

07 / 11

Cananga

Cananga odorata

Javanese cananga is greener and fresher than Comoros ylang-ylang.

Origin: Blitar, East Java
Partner: The Wonodadi family distillery
Method: Flowers steam-distilled; we buy only the first fraction.
Harvest: Year-round, peaking in May

Found in Kenanga

08 / 11

Agarwood

Aquilaria malaccensis

We use only certified cultivated agarwood, never wild-harvested.

Origin: Putussibau, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan
Partner: Cultivated agarwood groves of Kapuas Hulu
Method: Wood from inoculated, cultivated trees, hydro-distilled.
Harvest: Trees aged 7 years or more

Found in Nilam

09 / 11

Sandalwood

Santalum album

Every tree harvested is replaced by a new seedling.

Origin: Soe, Timor Tengah Selatan, East Nusa Tenggara
Partner: Mollo smallholder sandalwood groves
Method: Heartwood of mature trees steam-distilled over two days.
Harvest: Limited, set by the growers

Found in Cendana

10 / 11

Nutmeg & mace

Myristica fragrans

Banda's nutmeg trees grow in the shade of old canarium trees.

Origin: Lonthoir, Banda, Maluku
Partner: Lonthoir nutmeg farmers' cooperative
Method: Seeds and mace dried separately, then steam-distilled.
Harvest: Twice a year

Found in Pala Banda

11 / 11

Clove

Syzygium aromaticum

Ternate is home to the oldest living clove tree.

Origin: Ternate, North Maluku
Partner: Clove growers on the slopes of Gamalama
Method: Flower buds dried, then steam-distilled.
Harvest: July to October

Found in Pala Banda