New Oil Boom for Highlands

Tue 11 Aug, 2009 // Tartan Silk

Essentially Scottish Botanicals officially openED their steam distillation unit, with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead MSP on Thursday 20 August launching the new facility. The unit, based near Inverness, will be dedicated to developing the potential of plant extracts, indigenous to Scotland, including a plant species used in the Boots Botanics range.

Supported by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Essentially Scottish Botanicals initial aims are to manage the large-scale production and refinement of essential oil from Myrica gale (also known as Bog Myrtle/Sweet Gale) a plant which grows particularly well in the Highlands. The shrubby deciduous plant has long been hailed as having unique antiseptic, insect repellant and therapeutic properties, making it hugely valuable to the pharmaceutical industry.

For thousands of years, extract of Myrica gale has been harnessed for its flavour, antibacterial and pest control properties. Researchers saw an opportunity to further exploit these properties and set about studying the plant to maximise its potential as an active skincare ingredient. Following five years research and trials they discovered that the essential oil contains a particular mix of compounds that is particularly effective at treating viral/bacterial skin conditions, and as a result it was incorporated in to the Boots Botanics range. The oil is the first new essential oil to be commercially developed in Europe for over forty years and has the potential to rival and surpass Australia’s tea tree oil.

In addition to Myrica gale, Essentially Scottish Botanicals have already begun to investigate a number of different indigenous Scottish grown plant species for the efficacy of their. These natural extracts have the potential of being used in a wide range of products including; toiletries, specialist food, drinks, healthcare and of course cosmetics. It is hoped that in the future farmers will look to this as an essential additional income.

Essentially Scottish Botanicals Executive Director, Nigel Blackwell stated “The key to success is being able to produce new plant extracts in a cost effective, sustainable and traceable way. The opening of the facility demonstrates our long term commitment to the region. It is an integral part in a supply chain that identifies the potential of a wild species and harnesses that potential by the commercialisation of the crop and the production of a traceable natural product.”

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