Category: News

Consumer buying trends and the Oral Care market have seen a dramatic increase in the interest in products showcasing natural, sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. While fluoride is seen within numerous Oral Care products since the late 1890s, the increase of natural, organic and fluoride-free products has created a new market for eco-conscious consumers. 

With the Oral Care market expecting to increase by US $8.8 billion from the year 2019 and reaching just over US $53 billion by 2025, leading innovative brands are at the frontline of this expanding market, and you could be too.

Below we have put together our recommended oils, the perfect addition to any Oral Care formulation:

floviva Peppermint Oil

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is one of the most sought-after essentials oils in the Oral Care industry due to its wide range of antibacterial, anti-fungal and antibiofilm properties and excellent, refreshing flavour and fragrance. In addition to its therapeutic properties, the compound menthol, which is found in Peppermint Oil, helps stimulate the nervous system, providing a cooling and refreshing sensation often associated with ‘minty freshness’.

floviva Spearmint Oil

Like Peppermint Oil, Spearmint Oil is also popular within the Oral Care industry due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and its uniquely sweet flavour and fragrance. Furthermore, Spearmint Oil can stimulate saliva production, which is essential in ensuring overall oral health and well-being. 

floviva Myrrh Oil

Myrrh Oil is often used within the Oral Health industry due to its various suggested healing and medicinal properties and warm, sweet, spicy notes. In addition, the proposed benefits include antibacterial and antiseptic properties, making the oil more popular within mouthwash products to help treat oral infections and freshen breath. Myrrh Oil has a bitter yet sweet flavour, a unique addition to any Oral Health product. 

floviva Frankincense Oil

Frankincense (Boswellia carterii / serrata) is also popular within the Oral Health industry due to its aromatic, pine, mint-like fragrance and its anti-inflammatory properties (due to the presence of Boswellic acid). It is often used to help treat various inflammatory diseases such as gingivitis, a periodontal tissue inflammatory disease. 

floviva Eucalyptus Oil 

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties due to the major component present in the leaf (Eucalyptol/1,8-cineol).Eucalyptus Oil has antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and also helps to fight various germs that cause bad breath and oral discomfort. 

floviva Clove Bud Oil

Clove Oil is another sought-after essential oil due to its antifungal, antioxidant and antibacterial properties and robust, warm and spicy flavour, making it the perfect addition to various dental products. Previous studies have shown that Clove Oil (which contains Eugenol, a natural anaesthetic), can be used to treat dry socket, tooth pain and Staphylococcus infection, which is known to have antibiotic resistance. 

floviva Cinnamon Oil

Cinnamon Oil is an excellent addition to any Oral Care application due to its various antimicrobial and antibacterial properties (due to the high level of Eugenol contained in the leaf and the high level of Cinnamaldehyde contained in the bark) and sweet, spicy flavour and fragrance. The pure compounds within the oil show significant activities against oral pathogens, which could be beneficial in oral disease prevention, endodontics, and candidiasis treatment.

Citrus Essential Oils

Citrus essential oils such as lemon, lime and orange are often used within the Oral Care industry due to their sweet and refreshing flavour and fragrance. The high content of d-limonene contributes to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, making them a popular choice of ingredient.

To find out more, please visit our website or download our ProTec Botanic Product List below to view our full range of essential oils. 

Baobab oil is the natural choice for healthy skin. Baobab oil has been found to be significantly hydrating, moisturising and having occlusive properties when topically applied to the skin whilst clinically found to be non-irritating. Baobab oil has a unique fatty acid profile with a functional balance of palmitic, linoleic (omega 6) and oleic (omega 9) acids.

Find out below how we’ve been supporting the local Baobab community through funding a new school project. 

Dambale Village: 

Dambale village is a picturesque village located in rural Venda with around 4500 residents. With 95% of these residents being unemployed, many rely solely on agriculture, remittance and government assistance to survive. Approximately 50 – 70 young children aged between 1 – 6 do not have a pre-school to go to, and the lucky few who do, are only equipped with a small two-room building with no toilet, kitchen or basic learning equipment.

Now, the new pre-school consists of three classrooms, a store-room, kitchen complex, children’s toilets and adult toilets. All that’s left is for the school to be fitted with the necessary equipment and the first children to start attending. 

We look forward to updating you all soon about the completion of Dambale Pre-School. 

This further cements our commitment to support our farmers and their communities around the world, wherever we can.

ProTec Ingredia and ProTec Botanica, both market leaders in the supply of cosmetic ingredients to the Personal Care Industry, are announcing management changes to their respective businesses.

ProTec Ingredia was founded in 2011 and has been headed up by Managing Director Alan Eastwood since its inception. Effective June 1st 2021, Alan Eastwood will relinquish his duties as Managing Director and will move into a new ProTec Group Chairman role.

Alan was also instrumental in setting up ProTec Botanica, where he has served as Managing Director since 2014.

We are therefore pleased to announce the following changes to the ProTec Group Management:

• Kevin Cousins will become Managing Director of ProTec Ingredia UK
• Dean Lockton will become Managing Director of ProTec Botanica
• Tomasz Piotrowski will become Managing Director of ProTec Ingredia Poland

Kevin, Dean and Tomasz will take over the day-to-day management of their respective businesses and will be fully responsible for all operational matters. We wish them all the success in their new roles.

ProTec Group Chairman, Alan Eastwood comments: “This is a fantastic group of people and I want to thank everyone for the help and support they have given me, many for a long period of time. The ProTec Group is growing rapidly, and the businesses are strong and moving fast towards an exciting future. I am confident that our new leadership team will be successful in taking them there.”

For further information, please contact:

Sales Enquiries	Marketing Enquiries
Dean Lockton	Josh White
Director	Marketing & Communications Manager
dean.lockton@protecbotanica.com	joshwhite@protecgrp.com

Geranium Oil is obtained from the multi-branched shrub Pelargonium graveolens (L.) Geraniaceae that is considered native to South Africa. This particular shrub grows best in a warm and dry climate and can reach two to three feet in height. It is now found commonly across many continents, and our material has Egyptian origin.

With aromatic grey and green leaves, the Geranium flowers have a fresh, light and sweet rose scent and can vary from a pale pink to almost white, flowering ready for the first cut and distillation in June. Geranium Oil offers fresh, rose, floral and green notes, a perfect formulation component for various industries, including the cosmetics, pharmaceutical and fragrance market.

Today, many view Egypt as the world’s most important Geranium Oil producer, producing around 150 tons of oil each year.

Properties, benefits & uses of Geranium Oil:

Geranium Oil is a widely used ingredient most commonly seen in perfumes, moisturising creams, household items and lotion formulas.

Geranium Oil is one of the most popular essential oils due to the various suggested therapeutic and healing properties, making it a relaxing and calming ingredient commonly used in aromatherapy. Historically known to help fight infection, neurodegenerative disease and allergies, Geranium Oil could help lift depression, treat anxiety and reduce stress whilst enhancing the mood and balancing the mind. 

INCI: Pelargonium graveolens Flower Oil

How we make our Geranium Oil:

Geranium Oil is produced by steam distillation of the aerial part with the harvest commencing in June. The harvested ingredients are often left to wilt for 1-2 days before distillation. Geranium Oil is 100% pure and natural, a quality of which ProTec Botanica is very proud of bringing to the market.

Oil grades available:

Certified organic and conventional • floviva Geranium Oil

We are excited to update you all about Dambale Pre-School located in Dambale Village, South Africa. Last year we donated $1,000 USD to the Baobab Foundation to help with the construction of Dambale Pre-School.

Dambale Village: where small children have nowhere to go

Dambale village is a picturesque village located in rural Venda with around 4500 residents. With 95% of these residents being unemployed, many rely solely on agriculture, remittance and government assistance to survive. Approximately 50 – 70 young children aged between 1 – 6 do not have a pre-school to go to, and the lucky few who do, are only equipped with a small two-room building with no toilet, kitchen or basic learning equipment.

The objective

The overall objective is to create a three classroom building that will be fully equipped with tables, chairs, blankets etc. and a baby room where young children will sleep. There will be a covered open-plan area for children to play and eat their lunch to accompany the building. Furthermore, there will be child-safe toilets and a fully equipped kitchen.

Dambale Pre-School: rising from the dust

Since early February, various building supplies such as cement, bricks, windows frames, doors and roofing material has been delivered, and construction is well underway. The building’s foundation and walls have been continuously developing, and now it is time to put on the roof that will be commencing within the next coming week.

By the end of April, the plastering and painting of the building will be complete, then that is where the school will start to become equipped with school tables, chairs, cooking and eating utensils, and everything possibly needed to make the school a happy, safe and enjoyable place for all pupils. The pre-school is expected to be complete by the end of the school holidays in June.

To find out more about the Baobab Foundation and more about what they do, click here!

With consumers becoming more educated on environmental, ethical and sustainable factors when purchasing their organic beauty and wellbeing products, the growth of certified organic and natural products has risen a significant 23% over the past year, the first most extensive percentage growth since 2010. Brands must be aware of and adapt to this market trend. 

Wellbeing

The wellness market is shifting from becoming a “trend” to becoming an essential part of daily life. The wellness industry is estimated to be worth $4.5 trillion in 2019, and this is expected to progress in the coming years. Many different factors come into consideration when addressing wellbeing, with the most common being mental health, anxiety and sleep.

It is estimated that 3 out of 4 individuals feel overwhelmed or unable to cope due to stress, and individuals are looking for alternative ways to overcome these issues. With holistic wellbeing expected to grow over the coming years, the connection between mind and body has become a popular form of wellbeing worldwide. 

Efficacy

The organic industry is rapidly increasing, with brands showing that organic products are just as effective as non-organic products. It is estimated that 83% of people felt it was better for their health if a beauty or wellbeing product was organic, and 83% of brands said efficacy was a key driver in their customer’s loyalty. 

Mindful ingredients

One of the main drives for increasing the organic beauty and wellbeing market is that brands use more naturally occurring ingredients in their products, with traditional and herbal medicinal practices remaining popular. 

Holistic home

The organic market has not only seen an increase in the beauty and wellbeing market, but there is also an increase in the organic cleaning products and organic candle market, with 33% of individuals have increased their purchases of eco-friendly household care products, and 45% of people using an eco-friendly household product within the last six months. However, the market of “eco-friendly” products can be confusing to some consumers, with 43% of people unsure of what brands mean by eco-friendly. 

Air pollution

Is it well understood that global pollution is increasing with society’s development, with 9 out of 10 individuals worldwide breathing in polluted air. Pollution is the biggest aggressor for the skin and has been linked to the rise in people with skin sensitivity, premature ageing (due to oxidative stress) damaging free radicals, which reduces the skin’s ability to repair itself properly.

Waterless beauty

Brands are looking to get rid of water within their products by removing the needs for preservatives altogether. Doing so will reduce the carbon impact of shipping water and improve efficacy. The World Wildlife fund states that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortage; however, consumers are becoming more educated and aware of these environmental issues, with 27% of consumers now trying to reuse or use less water.

Sleep and anti-anxiety

In 2013, it was estimated that 8.2 million people in the UK suffer from anxiety, with a quarter of people experiencing some form of mental health issue in their lifetime. It is a common understanding that mental health issues can impact the overall wellbeing of the body, and sleep deprivation is a common symptom. The market for essential oils is increasing as a natural and traditional alternative to relieving sleep-related issues. The market has seen an increase in lavender and bergamot essential oil sales as these products have been proven to help with sleep and stress-related issues. 

Environmental concerns 

2019 has seen an explosion of the environmental movement, and consumers are demanding more from brands. With the Organic beauty and wellbeing market expected to be a $12 trillion industry by 2030, sustainability is now a key focus for consumers, businesses, brands and politicians alike. 79% of people are more likely to buy a beauty product if it’s organic, and 87% of people feel passionate about supporting environmental initiatives.

Ethics

With the increase of consumers becoming more educated on the environmental issues surrounding the beauty and wellbeing market, more consumers are looking for the COSMOS and the leaping bunny logo when buying their beauty products. It gives them peace of mind that the product has passed rigorous independent testing. 56% of people said they looked for logos because it allowed them to support the causes they care about, while 47% said they chose organic because it involves no animal testing, and 81% said they would feel they were doing the right thing for the environment.

Transparency

65% of consumers want to buy from purpose-driven brands that advocate sustainability, but in reality, only 26% currently do.

Plastic

Education about where our plastic goes once we are done with it has drastically impacted consumers purchasing habits. Over 80 billion plastic bottles are disposed of a year from just shampoo and conditioner alone, and 40% of our total plastic use is from the packaging. 64% of consumers asked said they look for products with recyclable packaging.

The challenge/opportunity

For the first time, Kantar has measured the ‘organic beauty sales’, reporting a vast sales increased from £343k to £2.5m in 2019. Retailers will be choosing to stock more certified brands, improving accessibility (both with availability and price point variety) – although consumers will still need to look for the logo to be confident of the impact of their purchase. 

Get in touch with us today, and with our certified organic ingredient portfolio we can help with your upcoming mindful product launches.

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting all our lives, mentally and physically.

Here at ProTec Botanica, we understand the importance and necessity of mental and physical wellbeing for all our clients and their customers during these unprecedented times. The mental health charity Mind has identified common feelings and emotions associated with the Coronavirus Pandemic. Many include feeling depressed, low, hopeless, tired, worried, stressed and scared.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, depression and low moods affect hundreds of millions of individuals globally, and understandably this figure has dramatically increased during the Coronavirus Pandemic. Their recent study suggests that Aromatherapy could be a positive and cost-effective reinforcement against these symptoms, improving various other factors, such as emotions, sleeping pattern, memory and appetite.

There are close to 100 commonly used essential oils, all with different claims to enhance energy, motivation, focus and reduce stress levels. Below are our top recommended essential oils to improve your mental and physical wellbeing.

• Rose Oil

Rose Oil has various properties that help decrease anxiety, stress, tension and depressive symptoms. This is done by reducing blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate. Rose Oil also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, actively fighting against microbes that cause infections.

• Lemongrass Oil 

Lemongrass Oil is a highly beneficial essential oil with many benefits to the body. Known to reduce stress and anxiety, Lemongrass Oil can also relieve headaches and migraines through its pain-relieving properties. Alongside this, Lemongrass also has antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. When applied to the skin, the antioxidant properties found within the Lemongrass Oil (the leaves are rich in phenols, flavonoids and tannins) can remove impurities while detoxifying the skin and leaving it feeling clean, clear and scented.

• Geranium Oil  

Geranium Oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties making it a relaxing and calming ingredient commonly used in Aromatherapy. It can help lift depression and treat anxiety whilst also enhancing the mood and balancing the mind.

• Chamomile Oil  

Chamomile Oil has many favourable properties that help improve the overall wellbeing of the body. Chamomile Oil is effective in relieving anxiety and is known to help promote sleep. With anti-inflammatory and healing properties, Chamomile Oil has been used to help indigestion, nausea and skin conditions such as eczema.

• Lavender Oil 

Lavender Oil is one of the most popular essential oils used in Aromatherapy due to its versatile properties. Commonly used to reduce anxiety and improve the mood, Lavender Oil can also help treat insomnia, depression and skin conditions such as eczema. 

To view our full range of essential oils, please visit our essential oil’s page.

Our Neroli Oil is one of the numerous products obtained from the Bitter Orange tree Citrus aurantium var. amara, a highly sustainable and endurable plant with products being processed using the plant’s blossoms, leaves, twigs, and fruits. The Bitter Orange tree takes 3 – 4 years to start yielding blossoms and 7 years to reach full maturity.

Our Egyptian producer has been at the forefront in developing its country’s Neroli Oil, supporting farmers to plant the Bitter Orange tree and helping increase its production of Neroli Oil from a mere 100kg in the year 2000 to 2,000kg in 2020. The farming community require patience, having to understand that any revenue return will not be for 3 – 4 years after planting, and the cost of oil production is significant with the limited harvest period available.

On average, 1 acre of land will produce 5,700kg of blossom and it will take 1,000kg of blossom to yield 1kg of Neroli Oil. Fortunately, Neroli Oil is very versatile in its uses, its fresh, floral, green notes demanded by fine fragrances and high-end perfumery and the ease at which it blends and works perfectly alongside other essential oils makes it a perfect formulation component.

Properties, benefits & uses of Neroli Oil:

There are various properties, benefits and uses of our Neroli Oil that would be highly beneficial in numerous products. Neroli Oil is most commonly used in body lotions, perfumes and cosmetics due to its various healing properties and a luxurious and lavish scent. When applied on the skin, Neroli Oil intensely moisturises the skin and boosts the epidermis’ natural processes.

Thanks to its calming effects, Neroli Oil can help achieve a better night’s sleep and be used for a simple mood boost.

Working with local communities and supporting our farmers is always one of our top priorities when it comes to sourcing butters and oils from around the world. 

As you may know, we have previously worked with the Baobab foundation to sponsor Baobab trees, something we are proud to have done and are proud to continue doing. 

No matter where you’re from, education is the most important tool any child could have, that is why we are gifting the Baobab foundation with $1,000 USD to help them get started on building a new pre-school in the village of Dambale. 

The school will be modelled on the two that have previously been built in different villages in the region. Once built the pre-school will consist of three classrooms, an open-air kitchen, storeroom, toilets and a perimeter fence.

Our $1,000 USD donation is the first they have received for the pre-school so it allows them to buy the building materials they need and to actually break ground on the project. 

None of this would have been possible without you, purchasing our Baobab oil which we’re proud to re-invest in the local community. 

If you would like to find out more about the project or to donate towards building their new school, do get in touch with us. 

You can find out more about the Baobab Foundation here. 

Dhatelo is a deciduous shrub native to the Himalaya Mountains in Nepal. The plant can grow up to 3 metres high at an altitude of 2000 to 3500 metres in central to western Nepal.

ProTec Botanica source our organic Dhatelo oil from the remote and unspoilt north-west Himalaya region of Nepal. Dhatelo is widely found throughout open areas in the wild and is often planted as a fence around cultivated land. It is estimated that 25 – 30% of oil can be extracted from fully ripe dried Dhatelo seeds, and with the resource being fully available in Dhatelo in Nepal and within the expected oil yields, approximately 30 tons of Dhatelo oil can be produced per year.

We’re proud to be able to support the local community whilst bringing this product to market and work closely with the co-operative management who ensure landowners and farmers are fully supported at every step of the process.

Properties, benefits & uses of Dhatelo Oil:

Increasing interest for use in cosmetic formulations such as moisturising creams, massage oils, face scrubs, lip balms, and hair care products with the following benefits:

Skin Care:

• Moisturising
• Nourishing
• Calming
• Photoprotection
• Anti-wrinkle

Hair Care:

• Repair
• Shine
• Scalp soothing

If you have any questions about this product or any other products in our range or would like to request a sample, please do get in touch.