In response to the cosmetics industry's growing demand for natural ingredients and botanical extracts, Berkem SAS - the plant extraction subsidiary of the eponymous group - has added 4 new products to its range of floral waters: bamboo, peppermint, lime blossom and immortelle.
Toothpaste, shampoo, make-up remover, eye contour products... more and more professionals in the cosmetics industry are incorporating floral waters into the composition of their products, or even replacing pure water with floral water, in some cases as a marketing argument.
Used for their fragrant properties and active ingredients, floral waters (also known as hydrolats) are recognized for their purifying, anti-inflammatory, regenerative, antiseptic, antioxidant and sebum-regulating properties... The result of a distillation process and composed of aromatic molecules, they are veritable "active waters" for formulas.
A buoyant market for Berkem
Berkem, which specializes in plant extractionis aimed at the cosmetics and agri-food markets, supplying natural active ingredients extracted from plant matter for formulation. Established in 1964 in Gardonne (24) with 55 employees, the company is increasing its production of floral waters every year for customers in France and abroad (Canada, China, USA, Korea...). In 2020, 100 tons of floral waters were produced by its teams.
Its range, now comprising 16 floral waters*, is expanding: bamboo, peppermint and lime blossom waters are already on sale; immortelle will be available in December 2020.
"The plants, both exotic and traditional, have been carefully selected for their properties and ancestral uses, and provide a range of natural benefits essential for face, body and hair care. The extraction processes we have developed limit the impact on the environment and preserve the integrity of the active molecules naturally present in the plants," emphasizes Jean-Louis Peron, General Manager of the Plant Extraction Division, Berkem SAS.
* Other Berkem floral waters: Damask rose, orange blossom, cornflower, witch hazel, jasmine, lavender, grapefruit, grape, green tea, lemon balm, lemon and Roman chamomile.
