In a historic development for Assam, the state's famous agarwood is being utilized locally for the first time in 75 years to produce world-class perfumes. Entrepreneur-chemist Jehirul Islam, a resident of Guwahati, has spearheaded this initiative, creating authentic, wood-based perfumes from Assam’s rich natural resources, including agar oil, ginger oil, turmeric oil, citronella, lemongrass, bay leaf, and sugandh mantri.
During an exclusive interview with Business North East (BNE), Jehirul Islam said, “Agarwood from Assam is the best in the world and renowned internationally. Unfortunately, for decades, its benefits have been largely reaped outside India. This marks the first time in Assam’s history that we have developed wood-based perfumes locally, using essential oils sourced from the region.”
Highlighting the untapped potential, Jehirul Islam noted that Assam and the Northeast are home to over 2,300 species of aromatic plants. The industry has largely remained dormant. “No one in the past 75 years has shown interest in building such a business. We’ve developed systems to produce agar oil, which has shown promising compounds with potential health benefits, including cancer, HIV, and diabetes research,” he added.
The entrepreneur envisions a bright future, estimating a business potential of Rs 50,000 crore in the near future. Aiding this vision is the Assam government’s initiative to legalize agarwood and establish an International Agarwood Trade Centre in Golaghat under the ‘One District One Product’ scheme. “If the government expedites the trade centre, it will attract global buyers to Assam,” he further stated.
Jehirul Islam said the perfumes developed are completely organic, non-synthetic, and alcohol-free, ensuring they are safe for the skin and environmentally sustainable. “Synthetic perfumes are not healthy, but ours are beneficial for health, skin, and clothes. We hold the first cosmetic license in this domain,” he said.
The journey to this milestone has been long. After spending a decade in Saudi Arabia (1998–2007), Islam began research in agarwood cultivation and oil extraction in 2008. He developed innovative methods, including inoculating trees with Phialophora and other beneficial fungi naturally found in regions like Golaghat and Kaziranga. After years of experimentation, his perfumes were finally launched in 2024, with Chief Secretary Ravi Kota inaugurating the flagship store on May 25.
The initiative thrives on a strong partnership with local farmers. “We work with 326 farmers from Jorhat, Sivasagar, and Golaghat to source agarwood. Other raw materials are also sourced locally, aligning with our vision to support indigenous communities and promote Assam’s economy,” Jehirul Islam said during the interview.
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Speaking of his company's revenue, Jehirul Islam stated that the company has already recorded robust sales and is paying significant GST contributions monthly. "We are targeting a revenue of Rs 100 crore within 2–3 years," he told BNE's Kajol Singha.
With the government’s backing and abundant natural resources, Jehirul Islam encourages young entrepreneurs to explore the perfume and agarwood sectors. “Assam has vast opportunities. I am ready to support anyone interested in learning about this industry,” he said.
This endeavor not only revitalizes Assam’s traditional agarwood industry but also aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to transform the state into a global hub for agarwood and aromatic products.
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