FROM CITRONELLA FACTORY TO RUMAH ATSIRI INDONESIA

On our walk in Plumbon Village, Tawangmangu, Solo – Central Java, one day, we came across an abandoned factory complex: something we found out later on as a Citronella distillery facility from the 1963. Intrigued by the remaining facility and the unusual façade of the factory, we decided to dig deeper into its history.

The distillery factory—intended to be the biggest in Asia that day—was called 'Citronella factory', a silent witness of the economic cooperation between Indonesia and Bulgaria. Plumbon village was selected as the site location due to its natural potentials that that fits the planting of essential oil's ingredients; like citronella. Water source—which is essential for the distillation process—was also available in large quantities from a river close by.

The factory went through a series of ownership exchange, until PT. Rumah Atsiri Indonesia decided to officially take over the establishment in 2015; and revived it into an edu- recreation complex which also includes MICE facilities, research & development, production house, and market place for essential oils.

We believe that the complex and its surrounding village was a reminder of Indonesia's abundance and potentials to play an essential role in global economy. We feel responsible to preserve and revive the knowledge, skills, and innovation related to essential oils in Indonesia, through edu-recreation, research, development, production, training and provide market place in Rumah Atsiri Indonesia.