IPB Students Innovate Licstia Fragrans, Nutmeg Aromatherapy Candles
Nutmeg is one of the fruit that has many benefits. Not only used as a spice, nutmeg fruit can also be used as an aromatherapy that can relieve stress. Based on that, a group of Bogor Agricultural University students (IPB) incorporated into the Entrepreneurship Student Creativity Program (PKM-K) 2018, made an innovative product in the form of aromatherapy candles made from raw materials of nutmeg. The team member consists of: Febi Maulana Nugraha, Syukron Ma'mun, Febri Ramadhan, M. Fadhil Ramzy, and Yolanda Erma Yunita under the guidance of a lecturer. Ir. Agus Hikmat, M.Sc.F.Trop saw that the availability of nutmeg, especially in Bogor is still very abundant and underutilized. So the abundance of this nutmeg need to be utilized for economic profit.
"Currently nutmeg is made as sweets only. Now we try to innovate the nutmeg into another product that is in the form of aromatherapy candles that can relieve stress, "said Febi. Febi said her team's aromatherapy candles do not use paraffin but soy waxes derived from soybeans that are safer, environmentally friendly, chemical, and cheap. According to research, if we too often use paraffin it will be able to generate carcinogenic in the body which is very dangerous and can potentially cancer.
Nutmeg candles contain three sizes: small, medium and large. Small size with a height of 5 centimeters and 3 centimeters in diameter. Medium size with height 4.4 centimeters and diameter 5 centimeters. Large size 6 centimeters in height and 8 centimeters diameter. Small size valued Rp. 12 thousand, while Rp. 37 thousand, and Rp. 50 thousand. These candles are rod-shaped and use glass containers. The colors are available in four colors, namely pink, yellow, brown, and green.
Nutmeg fruit can be used as aromatherapy because inside the fruit there are substances that can act as anti-stress miristisin. The nutmeg used in aromatherapy candles is in the form of powder because it is relatively cheaper than the oil. For now aromatherapy candles on the market have responded and received well by consumers. According to them this is a nice innovation and rarely encountered because during this aromatherapy is made by using fruits. In addition, this aromatherapy candle is packaged uniquely to attract consumers. (Jhn)
