ABSTRACT
The essential oil industry is highly complex and fragmented. There are at least 100 different producing countries, as can be seen from the map “Essential Oils of the World” (Figure 23.1). Many of these producing countries have been active in these materials for many decades. They are often involved in essential oils due to historical colonization; for example, clove oil from Madagascar has traditionally been purchased via France, nutmeg from Indonesia through Holland, and West Indian and Chinese products through Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. The main markets for essential oils are the United States (New Jersey), Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and France (Paris and Grasse). Within each producing country, there is often a long supply chain starting with the small peasant artisanal producer, producing just a few kilos, who then sells it to a collector who visits different producers and purchases the different lots that are then bulked together to form an export lot, which is then often exported by a rm based in the main capital or main seaport of that country. This exporter is equipped with the knowledge of international shipping regulations, in particular for hazardous goods, which applies to many essential oils. They also are able to quote in U.S.$ or euros, which is often not possible for small local producers (Figure 23.2).
