Upon returning to the village after college, Kuenga intended to establish an organic farming cooperative to assist local farmers in growing and selling organic produce in the capital city of Thimphu. βWe discovered that many of the villagers were already growing high-quality Schezwan Pepper (Thingye). A government facility was also available, a distillery, for extracting essential oils from the pepper, but it was not being utilized due to a lack of management,β Kuenga said.
Kuenga Dhendup and Pema Choden Gyaltshen started exploring the equipment, and it was much later, they recognized that it could be a viable business idea for the community. They shared, βOne winter day in 2016, we got the opportunity to meet His Majesty the King after the National Day held in Trongsa. We have been immensely lucky to have been recognized by His Majesty on that National Day and been asked what are the things that we may need help with and we took the opportunity to request His Majesty on availing training to learn more about Essential Oils and to make valued added products using essential oils and since then, we havenβt looked back,β
Today, they are the founder of Kingdom Essences Pvt. Ltd and recently won the βBhutan Enterprise Award 2022 winners.β At the time, aromatherapy was a relatively new concept in the market and there was not a lot of information available about it, Kuenga said, adding that despite this, we saw potential in the field and decided to pursue it, learning as much as we could and experimenting with different essential oils and techniques to see what worked best.
βThe aromatherapy market in our local area was still relatively new, making it difficult to sell our products within the country. However, there is a high demand for pure and therapeutic essential oils in the international market.β They shared that one of the major challenges they face is the need to meet specific certification requirements for each country, which can be difficult due to our countryβs lack of testing facilities, standards, and regulations. βWe often have to send our products to other countries for testing, which can be costly as we have to get separate certifications for each plant oil.β
Obtaining the necessary certifications and accreditations to bring our products to the appropriate markets is another challenge,β they shared. As we gained more experience and knowledge, Kuenga expressed that they started participating in government fairs and trade shows to create any kind of awareness of our product and we feel this has been a huge challenge for us which we face to date.
However, they have recently made significant progress in this area by obtaining organic certification for the European marketβs pine, khempa, and wintergreen essential oils. βPure essential oils tend to be more expensive than synthetic ones due to the cost of producing them.β They are made from pure, natural plant extracts and are not diluted or altered in any way, which adds to their cost.
Synthetic oils, on the other hand, are made from synthetic ingredients and are often less expensive, but synthetic essential oils do not offer any therapeutic benefits, although they may have a psychological effect. They are trying to communicate this to the public as much as possible on most days. βTake advantage of the opportunity the government is offering. Donβt miss out on this chance to make a difference and contribute to your community. Whether itβs a grant, a program, or a new initiative, seize the opportunity and make the most of it,β Kuenga said.
He added that when choosing an idea or project, be sure to do thorough research and think carefully about your decision. βDonβt rely on others to guide you or hold your hand through the process. Take the time to explore your options and make an informed choice that aligns with your goals and values,β he said. However, he shared that an entrepreneur is someone who takes risks to start and run a business, whether it is handmade or manufactured products or a service-based business.
βThey can spot an opportunity, come up with an innovative solution, and bring it to market successfully. A person who identifies a need or opportunity and creates a solution to fill that gap. They use their skills, knowledge, and resources to market a new product or service, often taking on financial risks.β
By Rinzin Dema