About Us
This Society, "11th International Congress of Essential Oils, Fragrances & Flavours-1989" (ICEOFF) was set-up on 20th April, 1988 by 8 founder members and registered under
the Societies Registration Act, 1860, essentially to organize the 11th International Congress of Essential Oils, Fragrances & Flavours held in New Delhi in November, 1989. It
was first such Congress in India and the Third in Asia.
Selection of India to host the 11th International Congress was based on fulfillment of the criteria laid down by the Congress Committee of the three International
Organizations, namely: International Fragrance Association, Geneva (IFRA), International Organization of the Flavour Industry, Geneva (IOFI) and International Federation of
Essential Oils & Aroma Trade, London (IFEAT) and was made in 1986 at Washington at the 10th International Congress of Essential Oils Fragrances & Flavours held there, on
the basis of bid documents submitted by certain prominent industrialist-delegates from India. Those who were prominent by way of contribution in this regard were Mr. G.D.
Kelkar of M/s S.H. Kelkar & Co, Mumbai; Mr. Sant K. Sanganeria of M/s Radha Sales Corporation, New Delhi; and Mr. Padam K. Seth of M/s Seth Brothers (Perfumers) Pvt. Ltd.,
Delhi, the then President of Perfumers & Flavours Association of India (PAFAI).
The object of Congress (International Body) is:
• To provide opportunity to pre-eminent scientists, technicians, researchers, writers, authors and businessmen engaged in the specialized field of essential oils, fragrances and
flavours.
• To present and discuss papers, research work, writings, articles and other material and to present their views before the Congress, the related trade and industry and the
Govt. / Semi Govt. Deptt., and organizations.
• To discuss under one roof, the related technical and management problems to improve the usefulness of the related products to mankind and to improve the techniques
technology and methods of plantation of essential oil-bearing plants, production of derived products and their derivatives and distributions.
• To increase efficiency, progress and prosperity of the trade and the industry relating to essential oils, aromatic chemicals, fragrances and flavours.
Keeping in view these objects, ICEOFF has also been concentrating during its existence for more than 2 decades on the following:
• Multiple Projects of development of natural aromatic plants / distillation of oils like: Patchouli, Geranium, Lavender / Lavendin etc. mainly in Karnataka, Odisha, Maharashtra
Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh in collaboration with various renowned Research Institutes, Agricultural Universities and Govt. bodies.
• Conducted various specialized Training Programmes for the participants through FFDC Kannauj, for the benefit of Perfumery Industry.
• Extended financial assistance by sponsoring meritorious students from economically weaker sections of the Society for two year's M. Tech. Programme in Perfumery &
Flavour Technology and pursuing post-graduate diploma courses in Perfumery and Cosmetics Management.
• Liaison with Govt. / Semi-Govt. authorities with main thrust to involve Farmers and Scientists for visible progress in the field of natural essential oils and aromatic plants for
the overall business interest and benefit of Fragrance Industry in India.
• Organizing / sponsoring 1/2 days Training Programs / Workshops / Industry-Farmers Meet at regular intervals independently and also through renowned regional Govt. /
Semi-Govt. Institutions in different States for educating / training the farmers engaged in cultivation of aromatic plants and its allied activities and participants from fragrance
industry / trade.
In view of the above objects, two workshops on Essential Oils were organized in New Delhi to consider the problems faced by the Industry in context of globalization of the
Indian Economy and to consider: (a) whether the oil, being produced as a part of pilot project is qualitatively acceptable to the Indian Industry (b) whether the cost of production
compares favourably with the landed cost of imported oil and (c) the economics of production of steps needed to induce the Indian Farmer to grow more and more of these oil
-bearing plants. Participating in these workshops were certain selected members of the Industry, eminent scientists and also representative from the Govt. e.g. Advisor to the
Govt. of India on Small-Scale Industries; Director, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP): Principal Director, Fragrance & Flavour Development Centre
(FFDC); Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu (RRL); Senior Scientists from IHBT, Palampur etc.
Ten oils, for which a lot of demand exists in the country and for which a tremendous export-potential exists, were identified and it was decided to take them up for development.
Of those ten, three were shortlisted for being concentrated on, for development purposes, in the first instance, they being; Patchouli, Geranium and Lavender. Later on, other
additions were made from time to time. The deliberations made at the Workshop are being pursued by the Society.
The following are highlights of some of the research projects approved by the Society for financial assistance from time to time.
A. Regional Research Laboratory, Jammu for extension of coverage of lemon grass cultivation.
B. Financial assistance was extended to Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore (IIHR) for development of Patchouli and Geranium Oil. Further assistance was
extended for inclusion of plant-pathology and disease control aspects in the aforesaid program. The improved samples of Patchouli and scented Geranium for odour
evaluation were received from the Institute and also a report on results obtained with Pot Culture Studies “Effect of Boron, Iron & Copper on Patchouli”.
C. Financial assistance for installation of distillation plant for a project for the development of Essential Oils in Orissa in collaboration with APICOL, An Orissa Government
Body. The plant was installed at the project site.
D. Financial assistance was extended for development of Geranium & Lavender / Lavendin in the hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh against the proposal received from Institute
of Himalayan Bio-Resource, Technology, Palampur (IHBT) under CSIR. IHBT reported good progress of this project.
E. Financial assistance for development of Geranium in areas around Kumaon Hills was considered with full cooperation in implementation of this project by NBPGR, which was
noteworthy. Looking at Geranium plants being multiplied in that area with our initial financial assistance, ICEOFF got distillation unit fabricated & installed in the premises
of Regional Station, NBPGR at Bhowali to facilitate local distillers by providing a source of livelihood to the rural population of that area, particularly womenfolk.
F. Financial assistance for setting-up of a distillation unit in Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri (a deemed University) in Distt. Ahmednagar, Maharashtra was committed
and the Unit was fabricated & installed by an engineering firm of Hyderabad.
G. For encouraging scientists involved in research and promoting the interests of the industry, an annual cash award of Rs. 1 lakh was instituted by ICEOFF to be given to noted
researchers / scientists for any outstanding work done in the field of research in essential oils, aromatic chemicals, fragrances and flavours. For this purpose, only those
scientists who have done some new research work and a positive contribution to the cause of industry were considered. First such award was conferred on
Dr. (Mrs.) B. Lakshmi Narasamma, a scientist of RRL, Jammu as a team leader, for outstanding work in the development of new variety of Lemongrass.
H. With the object of assisting the Industry in the scientific exploitation of the essential oil-bearing plants and manufacture / production of essential oils, fragrances and flavours
candidates were sponsored by the Society for M. Sc. (Tech.) Course in Perfumery Technology in the University of Mumbai, Deptt. of Chemical Technology (UDCT). Thereafter
the candidates from economically weaker section (preferably women) of the Society were sponsored and extended financial assistance for 2-years M. Tech. Program in
Perfumery & Flavour Technology by us for undertaking their studies at Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai.
I. Need was felt by the Society for providing a low cost facility of training in perfumery and flavour technology to such candidates from various parts of the country, who are
unable to afford the cost of post-graduate education at UDCT, Mumbai. Accordingly, short-term courses in this technology were introduced under an “ICEOFF-FFDC
PROGRAMME for Human Resources Development”, with infrastructure facilities available with the Fragrance and Flavours Development Centre at Kannauj (FFDC), a body
set-up by Govt. of India in the Ministry of Industry under the UNDP. Under various modules of programmes approved by the designated Coordination Committee for this
purpose, handsome number of candidates were benefited by various training courses conducted by FFDC with our financial assistance.
J. ICEOFF extended a financial support spread over a period of 3 years in annual installments to CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mountain Agriculture Research &
Extension Centre, Salooni, Distt. Chamba, which was a project entered into between Institute of Himalayan Bio-Resource Technology (IHBT), Palampur and Himachal
Pradesh Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Palampur to enhance and strengthen the ties between the two organizations for exchange of techniques / technologies, R&D; results, relevant
plant materials and scientific personnel in order to promote the cultivation and processing of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants in Chamba Distt. of Himachal Pradesh. Prime
objectives of our financial support were:
a. To produce quality planting-material in bulk of Lavender (Lavendula officinalis) variety Sher-e-Kashmir.
b. To evaluate indigenous and exotic lavender varieties / lines of oil yield, quality and disease / pest resistance.
c. To provide technology back-up and training for production, protection, post-harvest management, processing and quality control regarding lavender crop.
Additionally, financial support was extended by ICEOFF for procurement of geranium distillation plant under possession of IHBT, Palampur.
K. A new project for promotion of cultivation and distillation of lavender oil named as “Technology Intervention for Sustainable Development through Selected Medicinal &
Aromatic Crops in Chamba Distt. Himachal Pradesh” was taken-up with CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Viswavidyalaya spread over a period of 3 years with annual installment
for improvement of quality of Rosemary plants, lavender and its oil in Himachal Pradesh. This project has been successfully carried out.
Now, with main thrust to involve farmers and scientists for visible progress in the field of natural essential oils and aromatic plants for the overall business interest and benefit
of Fragrance Industry in India, our focus is on organizing series of training programs / workshops / diploma courses at regular intervals on various products including in
particular natural essential oil-plants and its Distillation / Extraction etc.
ICEOFF was initially operating from rented premises in Connaught Place area, New Delhi. In November, 1993, its registered office and working was shifted to newly acquired
premises on ownership basis at Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002 and is continuing to function there from.
The Society is also registered as Charitable Trust u/s 12A of the Income Tax Act. Donations to the Society enjoy tax concession u/s 80-G of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
The accounts of the Society are regularly audited by a firm of qualified Chartered Accountants and their report alongwith the Annual Accounts is filed with the Income Tax
Authorities alongwith its Annual Return of Income.