202402/02
Considering the enormous potential application value of Taiwan’s endemic plant resources and to enhance the public’s faith in and willingness to purchase locally-produced natural essential oils, thereby increasing the green output of Taiwan’s forestry industry, the Chiayi Branch of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency and National Chiayi University have partnered to assist forest owners working with the Alishan Forestry Production Cooperative in developing three forest fragrances. This morning (2nd), in the grounds of Chukou Nature Center, Director General Lin Hwa-Ching of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Branch Director Chang Tai of the Chiayi Branch, President Lin Han-Chien of National Chiayi University, as well as Chairman Teng Tung-Ching of the Alishan Forestry Production Cooperative jointly lifted the glass covers of terrariums containing the forest fragrances to symbolize the product launch for the forest-inspired fragrances that seek to enrich the ambience of our daily lives.
The event commenced with plant sonification artist Nick Tsai’s live improvisation performance featuring the flora of Alishan. Immediately after, guests in attendance were invited to inhale the stunning herbal, fruity floral and woody fragrances—created using Taiwan Incense Cedar as the base note—in three specially-built creative spaces adorned with plant installation art. As Director General Lin Hwa-Ching of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency indicated, in recent years, the agency has been deeply committed to discovering the sustainable use value of Taiwan’s forests. Forest plant essential oils embodying the scent of Taiwan have been at the top of the list of non-wood products prioritized for development. Coincidentally, essential oils are also one of the most sought after souvenirs for visitors who enjoy mountain and forest travels. In Taiwan, an island of abundance, sustainable forestry must begin in the consumer market where the importance of forestry development is communicated to the general public, and this is precisely one of the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency’s focal points at this stage of development.
Meanwhile, Branch Director Chang Tai of the Chiayi Branch stated that after National Chiayi University was entrusted to mentor the Alishan Forestry Production Cooperative (Gongshing Community) in Fanlu Township, Chiayi County. They inventoried local plant resources and analyzed the use value of the Taiwan Incense Cedar from root to leaf. It was determined that while the timber is a source of high-quality furniture material and incense sticks, the greatest unique feature of the Taiwan Incense Cedar is that its heartwood, branches, and leaves yield an essential oil that is sweet, wholesome, robust, and long-lasting, capable of imbuing a sense of calm and security. The scent was therefore combined with familiar herbal, floral, and fruity notes of forest plants to create three fragrances—woody, herbal and fruity floral—unique to the cooperative’s Tufei Mountain, perfect as both gifts for oneself and others.
As the Chiayi Branch explains, fragrances are categorized as cosmetics and must fulfill the requirements stipulated in the Cosmetic Hygiene and Safety Act before commercialization. The items included in this launch are produced by Health And Cosmetics Kingdom (HACK), a manufacturer that has received ISO22716 certification, Taiwan GMP certification, and the Green Factory Label. Furthermore, the fragrances themselves have passed multiple SGS Taiwan tests including testing for the four major heavy metals (arsenic, mercury, lead, and cadmium), microbiology testing for five major bacteria (E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and testing for aerobic plate count). Members of Taiwan’s cosmetics industry including MUJI, Lavender Forest, and Tse-Xin Organic Agriculture Foundation were also invited to the launch in hopes the unique and mesmerizing scents will make essential oil-based fragrances even more popular and beloved.
Do you dream of collecting the unique scents of Taiwan’s forests through fragrance? This is your chance for your fantasy to come true! Starting today, the three Taiwan Incense Cedar-inspired forest fragrances will be available for sale at the five following locations: the Tsong Sen Domestic Timber Experience Center located on Jinshan South Road, Taipei; the Air Library in Meishan Township, Chiayi County; the Alishan 2488 exhibition space within Alishan Bus Station; Mountain Ali Tea No. 35; and the Wooden Article Store in Hinoki Village, Chiayi City. The three alluring spaces featuring plant installation art showcased at the launch will be exhibited at the Alishan Botanical Garden for one month so travelers may immerse themselves in the wonders of forest-inspired fragrances during the Lunar New Year holidays. For a propitious start to the Year of the Dragon, bring sweet, grassy and woody scents of Taiwan’s forests back home with the Forest Fragrances of Tufei Mountain.