Quick Dips

De-ponging Oil

Manuka oil is well known for its anti-microbial activity, however its use in the cosmetic industry has been limited until now because it has an intense, although not unpleasant, smell. But a new generation "low-perfume" manuka oil has recently been developed.

Managing director of East Cape company Coast Biologicals, Bill Courtney, spotted a market opportunity for manuka oil if the smell could be reduced.

"The international cosmetic market has a need for an oil with potent anti-microbial properties, but this market could not tolerate high odour levels.

"I knew that if we could reduce the manuka oil perfume we would have a unique opportunity in the cosmetic industry."

Essential oil from manuka is currently the only significant commercial oil from a New Zealand native plant species.

Manufacture of the oil is conducted on a large scale by Coast Biologicals using steam distillation.

Industrial Research biochemical engineering manager Max Kennedy says developing the technology to remove the perfume from the oil was quite a challenge.

"We had to remove the perfume components while at the same time retaining the anti-microbial active ingredients.

"We tried a huge range of technologies before coming up with a combination that provided the necessary low smell and high activity."

Courtney says the project gave them a competitive edge.

"It enabled us to boost the value of our product and to enter the cosmetic market."

The technology was transferred to Coast Biologicals' Opotiki plant with Technology New Zealand's Technology Assessment Programme. The low perfume manuka oil is currently in commercial production.