The Scientific name of the Seychelles Endemic Palm Tree Coco de Mer is Lodoicea Maldivica. Its fruit and a nut can be half meter long and weigh up to 40 kg. The tree itself is up to 40 metres in height and has a lifespan of 800 years. The UNESCO protects the Coco de Mer forests and it is strictly monitored by the Seychelles Government, as it is sensitive to human influence.   

Key facts about Island Scent Pty Ltd:

• Established in 2000 as a distillery in order to produce essential oils of endemic plants
• The chemical composition has been prepared in Italy by a perfumer company Diadema Cosmetici di Marta Pierini & Co
• Design of the bottles and packaging are made in Italy by Still Beauty in Florence
• New product lines of perfumes will be totally produced in Italy, including bottles and cap
• Employees are trained specifically to gather naturally fallen nuts in the forest without harm

Company profile:

Island scent Pty Ltd is the owner of the brand “Coco de Mer Cosmetics”, which produces the extract of the Coco de Mer. The company is owned by Dr. Silvana Bisogni Bonne, of Italian origin, and her husband, Mr. Patrick H. Bonne of Seychellois origin.

Mr. Bonne had intimate knowledge of rare and indigenous plants of the Seychelles. By harvesting directly from nature, the couple began to manufacture 100% raw and wild essential oils, something not made in over 200 years since Seychelles traded as a colony.

While working on the Coco de Mer nuts, they noticed a unique fragrance coming from the husks. They decided to invest significantly in new product Research and Development working with various Universities and Cosmetic laboratories in Italy. After two years, they were able to gain the unique chemical profile of the Coco de Mer and thus begin the formulation of cosmetics from the unique aroma. The company works in collaboration with Diadema cosmetics, a luxury Italian cosmetic company, to produce unique cosmetic products and a perfume line with organic, sustainably sourced Coco de Mer.

The perfume line represents the three main energies found within the legend of the Coco de Mer inspiring the couple:

• The Creator Iluvatar
• The Goddess of water
• The God of earth

The company works in unison with Government of Seychelles and nature parks of the Vallee de Mai, Praslin Island, and around the country to ensure that the Coco de Mer nut is valued and maintained for future generations. The extraction is done in an eco-friendly sustainable process and each year a good portion of the revenue of the company is invested directly into the preservation of the forests where the Coco de Mer grows.

Main achievements over the years:

• Employees: From 3 in 2000 to 8 in 2021
• Main markets are Gulf and Asian markets and the company started exporting to Italy in November 2021

• Registered on the European Portal for safe import into European Community

How did the EPA help?

Currently, the EPA allows the company to import essential inputs coming from the EU for their perfume production at 0% duty. The company expects Italy to represent 10% of their market in the forthcoming months and in a few years would like to enter all most important markets.

"Currently the EPA allows us to import essential inputs for our perfume at 0% duty as they come from the EU!"

Island scent Pty Ltd

Dr. Silvana Bisogni Bonne and Mr. Patrick H. Bonne, Directors