For generations, patchouli has been more than a crop in Aceh. It is a livelihood, a legacy passed through families, and a quiet bond between people and land. Aceh patchouli—widely regarded as one of the finest in the world—has long supported the global fragrance industry, often from places far removed from the spotlight.
In late 2025, severe flooding altered this landscape. Villages were inundated, access roads collapsed, and patchouli fields were submerged. For farming communities, the disruption went beyond damaged crops—it interrupted daily rhythms, income, and the fragile balance that patchouli cultivation depends on.
Patchouli follows its own time. Leaves must be harvested, dried, and distilled within precise windows. When floodwaters broke this cycle, fields were damaged, drying spaces disappeared, and community distillation units fell silent. For many families, production did not stop entirely—it slowed, unevenly, as farmers adapted to circumstances beyond their control.
Initial assessments by the International Labour Organization (ILO) across four patchouli-producing districts in Aceh estimated losses of approximately IDR 33 billion. Behind this figure are lost working days, delayed harvests, and households navigating uncertainty while continuing to care for their land.
Aceh remains one of the world’s most important sources of high-quality patchouli oil. While other regions continue to supply the market, recovery in Aceh is ongoing, and overall availability remains limited. Regrowth takes time—fields must be replanted, infrastructure restored, and confidence rebuilt.
At Taru Wangi, we stand with the farming communities at the heart of this supply. Sustainability, for us, means presence—staying engaged through difficult seasons, listening closely, and supporting our partners with knowledge, quality stewardship, and responsible access to the market. Our role is not only to source, but to walk alongside growers as they recover.
True luxury is rooted in care, patience, and continuity. Aceh will recover. Patchouli always does. And each season leaves its mark—not only on the land, but in the story and character of the scent itself.