Asia Plantation Capital Showcases Pure Oud oil at Esxence 2015

SINGAPORE, March 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Fragrance Du Bois, part of the Asia Plantation Group of companies, is delighted to announce its second appearance at Esxence, the world's foremost luxury perfume trade show. This year, Fragrance Du Bois will be bringing its showcase stand to Milan, recreating the glamour, allure, and exquisite luxury of its boutiques that are setting new benchmarks around the world.

Photo - http://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20150325/8521501899

The showcase will feature Fragrance Du Bois' innovative 'Oud Trunk', and will display pure and sustainable Oud oils, all of which have been certified as to source by Asia Plantation Capital and CITES, (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna).

The oils are used in all Fragrance Du Bois' perfume creations, and are now being supplied to an increasing number of international perfumers and cosmetics companies. These include many of the luxury brands featured in Fragrance Du Bois' international boutiques, as well as other brands that will be in attendance at the Esxence showcase, along with the growing coterie of Gulf-based companies and royal households.

Given the high value of Oud oil - with retail prices reaching in excess of US$250,000 per kilogram for the purest examples - a staggering US$5million worth of oil will be on display at the Fragrance Du Bois stand. Suffice it to say that security will be appropriately tight.

"This year at Esxence we hope to help educate the industry into the value and importance of a certified supply chain," said Gary Crates, European CEO of both Asia Plantation Capital and Fragrance Du Bois. "The 'Soil to Oil to You' story applies to all of our plantation species, and not just Oud. Currently, we produce patchouli, vetiver and rose oils, along with many other sustainable oils and resins for international markets. At Esxence this year, we are launching multiple new products, several of which are firsts for the industry. These include APC Essentials - a new division of the Group dedicated to working with large and small companies to supply them their own naturally sourced and grown products. This complements another of our initiatives, L'Essence Du Bois, which takes the form of an exclusive journey through the 52 essences of nature found in all fine fragrances."

Crates continued, "We are also introducing a range of hand-made, bespoke, artisanal boxes that can be selected and customised for each of our fragrances, as well as a range of exquisite hand-made crystal bottles for our pure Oud oils, designed by the eminent creators of luxury crystalware, Cristal De Paris. And that's not all," Crates concluded. "We have also entered into a design collaboration with Swarovski for Fragrance Du Bois' Shades and Privé range of fine fragrances, featuring a selection of bejewelled caps that can be carefully chosen by clients and tailor-made to their personal preference of the perfumes in all our boutiques."

Oud oils produced by Asia Plantation Capital come with an unprecedented number of certifications and awards, including approval from CITES and IFRA (the International Fragrance Association), with authenticity and proof of source being further augmented by Product Safety Data Sheets and EU Import Permits.

Asia Plantation Capital is also proud to have been the recipient of a number of awards recently, being nominated as a finalist in the Sustainable Beauty Awards, a finalist in The Art and Olfaction Awards, and being named as Capital Finance International's (CFi.co), 'Best Sustainable Forestry Management Company – Global', for 2014. It should be noted that Asia Plantations Capital's products are Sharia Compliant, and to ensure the company's commitment to sustainability, it guarantees to replant a minimum of two trees for every one Agarwood tree that is harvested.

It has become clear that consumers of luxury goods across the world are becoming far more conscious and concerned with the source of the products they buy, and with, perhaps, more than 60% of the global trade in Agarwood still emanating from illegal sources, it is vital for companies involved in its use and trade to ensure that their supply chains are secure and legal.

While even current certifications do not guarantee this, with Oud now being one of the luxury oils that is most 'in demand' worldwide, it is essential that companies respond positively to the supply chains that Asia Plantation Capital (and only a handful of other suppliers), can provide. It has never been more important than now to accept that cost should not be a factor when illegal logging, smuggling, and environmental damage are part of the equation.

All visitors to Esxence this year will receive a warm and aromatic welcome at the Fragrance Du Bois stand, and the team there will be able to show clients the company's extraordinary range of perfumes and back end sustainable supply chain products that help to deliver one of the world's most sought after luxury commodities.

About Asia Plantation Capital

Asia Plantation Capital (APC) is the owner and operator of a diverse range of commercial plantation and farming businesses across the Asia-Pacific region and around the world, and is part of the Asia Plantation Capital Group of associated companies. Its focus is on multicultural and diverse plantation projects geared to the domestic and commercial demands of the countries in which it operates. Working closely with, and supporting local communities, is an underlying core principle of the APC business, providing social and cultural support, as well as investment, to move these communities away from deforestation and illegal logging activities, previously seen as a main source of income in some regions of Asia. Established officially in 2008 (although operating privately since 2002) the group now has plantation and agricultural projects on four continents, with operational projects at various stages in Thailand, Malaysia, China, Laos, India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, North America and Europe.

Promoting the use of sustainable and certified wood is the best way of preventing deforestation, protecting biodiversity, and combatting poverty in the tropical rainforest regions. For the yachting sector (a major user of teak) which strives for excellence and which is already involved in environmental efforts, this is also a way of ensuring that no wood from illegal logging is used.

About Fragrance Du Bois

Fragrance Du Bois is a niche luxury perfume house working closely with sustainable plantations in Asia, bringing exciting new 100% organic Oud oil based fragrances to exclusive markets worldwide. Sustainably sourcing the finest raw materials across the globe, working with French perfumers to create a full range of products, and also providing bespoke fragrance services, Fragrance Du Bois is personal luxury with a conscience. With exclusive fragrance lounges around the world, in Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, Fragrance Du Bois creates only the finest experience in bespoke perfumery.

Fragrance Du Bois is known as Parfums Du Bois in France and in non-French speaking markets, as Fragrance Du Bois.

About CITES

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

For further information, please contact:

Stéphanie du Ché
PR & Media Manager Europe
Email: stephanie.duche@asiaplantationcapital.com
Mobile: +33 616 361 108

Adrian Heng
Group Marketing Director
Email: adrian.heng@asiaplantationcapital.com
Office: +65 6222 3386
Mobile: +65 9750 7440