Olica, young Reunion company, launches its first range of natural cosmetic products resulting from a long research process around plants from Reunion Island. Each product highlights the qualities and benefits of a plant, exotic or endemic, from island biodiversity.
“There are very few places in the world, where ancestral know-how linked to plants has been maintained. This is the case in Reunion Island through herbal teas.”, observe Camille Legrand, founder of Olica. It's in full confinement, in 2020, that Camille Legrand, holder of a DUT in chemistry, farmer's daughter, has the idea of making accessible to as many people as possible the hidden benefits contained in endemic or exotic plants that grow on the lands of the southwest of the Indian Ocean, “and to offer an opportunity for everyone to reconnect with this knowledge sometimes forgotten over the generations, but with a modern framework and scientific rigor”. Between health and well-being, Olica symbolizes the union of natural oils (It was) and care (care), but also between ancestral knowledge and modern science through scientific proof of their effectiveness. “We sell a lot of dreams today with products that, most of the time, contain less than 1% active ingredients ! Our approach is the opposite : we want to offer raw products containing up to 15 or 20% active ingredients. »
University research work
Accompanied by the Reunion Island technology park, Camille Legrand found in Emmanuelle Ferrère, phytochimiste, the high level of skills that he lacked to carry out large-scale research and development work on the plants of Reunion Island. Laboratory analyzes of several endemic plants have begun with the assistance of the University of La Réunion.. Each plant, and the natural substances it contains, is studied. “You should know that a plant will not have the same composition if you pick it in Petite-Île or in Cilaos., or if you choose to harvest it early in the morning or late in the afternoon”, explains Emmanuelle Ferrère, associate of the company Olica, to give an idea of the complexity of the research. Already recognized for the quality of this work, Olica has been certified by Cosmetic Valley, the competitiveness cluster of the cosmetic perfumery sector. Olica is expanding the range of possibilities in cosmetics by offering new essences.. Its clientele promises to be international. “We supply specific essential oils to perfumers, and we have already received orders in Korea”, wonders Camille Legrand.
Many innovations to come
With more than 30% endemicity on the island – an exception on a global scale – the playing field is considerable. After a launch of the first six products, the range is expected to expand by the end of the year and will also include species from the Mascarene region. “We know that ylang-ylang from the Mozambique Channel is of incomparable quality. Et Rodrigues, among other examples, also contains unique and very specific essences. » The products will initially be available in around fifty specialized points of sale on the island, parapharmacies and organic stores, as well as on the Olica online site. “We will initially market around 7,000 products to individuals., before moving towards the national market and other overseas territories, where the demand for quality natural products is strong. » The company has already equipped itself with a laboratory and has its own land of 4,5 ha in Piton Saint-Leu, maintained with the help of two employees to cultivate and select the species and plants that will join the range. To ensure production is expected to grow and expand, Olica also works in partnership with producers from Madagascar.
