INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PATCHOULI AND ESSENTIAL OIL RESEARCH INNOVATION 2025 (IConPEORI 2025)

“Empowering Communities through Sustainable Nilam Cultivation, Science Technology and Cultural Heritages.”

4–5 September 2025 | Banda Aceh, Indonesia

in Conjunction with AIC 2025

Brief Introduction

The essential oil industry has experienced remarkable growth over the past decade and continues to thrive, even amid global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the pandemic has heightened public interest in essential oils due to their calming, immune-supporting, and disinfectant properties. Among them, patchouli essential oil—extracted from the Pogostemon cablin Benth plant—has seen particularly strong demand. Renowned for its distinctive scent and diverse applications, patchouli oil plays a key role in the flavor, fragrance, cosmetics, luxury goods, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries. This versatility underscores the vital role of essential oils in the global marketplace. As the world’s leading exporter of patchouli oil, Indonesia holds a strategic advantage in the international market. With its vast agricultural landscape and continuous innovation in oil processing technology, Indonesia is well-positioned to strengthen its role as the largest producer of patchouli oil in the post-pandemic era. Strategic initiatives to promote sustainable cultivation practices are further enhancing this potential. We are proud to invite national and international scholars, researchers, policymakers, professionals, and stakeholders to participate in the International Conference on Patchouli and Essential Oil Research Innovation 2025 (IConPEORI-2025), taking place on 4–5 September 2025 in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, with hybrid participation options available. Held in conjunction with the 15th AIC, this year’s conference carries the theme: “Innovating Together for a Sustainable Future: Green Technologies and Circular Economy in Action. The event emphasizes our collective responsibility to address urgent environmental and societal challenges through collaborative, multidisciplinary innovation. Hosted by the Atsiri Research Centre PUI-PT Nilam, Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), IConPEORI-2025 aims to foster global collaboration between academics and practitioners, focusing on sustainable innovation in patchouli, essential oils, and their derivative products. We look forward to welcoming you to Banda Aceh and to an inspiring exchange of knowledge and ideas.

Dr. Syaifullah Muhammad, ST, M.Eng

Head, ARC-PUIPT Nilam Aceh Universitas Syiah Kuala

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Good morning, peace and blessings be upon you all. ✨

Distinguished guests, esteemed keynote speakers, respected researchers, practitioners, and all participants from around the world.

It is a great pleasure and deep gratitude that I welcome you to the International Conference on Patchouli and Essential Oil Research Innovation (IConPEORI) 2025, hosted by the Atsiri Research Centre (ARC-PUIPT), Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh-Indonesia.

This conference is not merely a scientific gathering—it is a movement, a collaborative milestone and a platform of convergence where tradition meets innovation, and where local wisdom evolves into global knowledge.

Patchouli (Nilam) is more than a plant. It holds a deep historical and cultural significance in the lives of the Acehnese people and throughout Indonesia. For centuries, it has been part of our heritage—grown in our villages, traded through our ports, and valued across continents. Yet, despite its legacy, its true potential remains largely untapped.

We believe that the future of patchouli and other natural resources lies in our collective ability to strengthen research, foster innovation, and push forward with the downstream processing (hilirisasi) of these commodities. Only then can we unlock real, sustainable economic value—not just for our local communities in Aceh, but for the nation as a whole.

This effort cannot stand alone. We need to build a pentahelix ecosystem—a robust collaboration between academia, government, business and industry, the community, and the media. This is the only way we can ensure the continuity and competitiveness of Indonesia’s essential oil industry, especially in a world that increasingly values sustainability, authenticity, and wellness.

That is why IConPEORI exists—not just as a conference, but as a platform where pentahelix actors can share research, disseminate findings, showcase innovations, and most importantly, contribute ideas and experiences to the advancement of patchouli and essential oils in general.

Let us seize this opportunity to connect, collaborate, and create meaningful impact.

Welcome to Banda Aceh—a city of heritage, rich in culture, spirituality, and natural beauty. May your experience here be both intellectually rewarding and personally memorable.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s shape the future of patchouli—together.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Thank you.

Prof. Dr. Iskandar Abdul Samad, M.App.Ling

Chairman of iConPEORI 2025

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

Peace be upon you, and very good morning to all of us.✨

Distinguished keynote speakers, honorable guests, respected researchers, scholars, industry practitioners, and participants from across the globe.

On behalf of the organizing committee, it is a great honor and privilege to welcome you all to the International Conference on Patchouli and Essential Oil Research Innovation (IConPEORI) 2025, held by the Atsiri Research Centre – PUIPT of Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh-Indonesia.

This year, our conference theme — Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Nilam Cultivation, Science, Technology and Cultural Heritages — reflects not only a scientific concern but a collective call to action. As we witness a global shift towards sustainability, the essential oil industry, particularly patchouli, stands at the crossroads of tradition and modernity, culture and science, local wisdom and global relevance.

IConPEORI 2025 brings together more than just presentations. It brings together passion, purpose, and possibility. Through this forum, we hope to foster deep collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and communities to explore innovative pathways for essential oil development — from upstream cultivation to downstream product innovation.

This conference features: High-level keynote speeches from global experts, Research paper presentations from multiple disciplines, An expo of essential oil-based products, Farming visits to patchouli cultivation sites, Book discussions, Hands-on workshops, and Smart-Preneurship Academy, empowering the next generation of essential oil innovators.

Our vision is clear: To position Banda Aceh not just as a geographic location, but as an intellectual and entrepreneurial hub — a City of Fragrance, rooted in patchouli heritage and driven by sustainable innovation.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all participants, our keynote speakers, reviewers, volunteers, partners, and sponsors who have made this event possible. Special thanks also to our dedicated team at the Atsiri Research Centre for their tireless commitment.

Let us use these three days not only to share knowledge, but to build bridges, spark new ideas, and reaffirm our shared commitment to a sustainable and aromatic future.

I wish you all a meaningful and fruitful conference. Thank you, and welcome to Banda Aceh.

Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Thank you.