YULIANI SUKHANA: (JP/Wasti Atmodjo)

Yuliani Sukhana never dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur. For many years she was busy

with her nursing career, treating people with care and compassion.

Yuliani was stationed in a number of hospitals in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Mataram in West Nusa Tenggara before landing in Bali to begin her career as a producer of herbal spa and cosmetic products.

“It is a small home industry involving my family, including my husband, a pharmacist,” Yuliani said as she pointed to her spa products in her Denpasar home.

The exotic aromas of ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass and other herbs wafted in the air of her showroom and home-based factory of Bali Tangi, which means “the revival of Bali”. In color compositions, tangi could be described as violet.

“Indonesia, formerly known as the Spice Islands, is home to thousands or even millions of plants, spices and herbs which can be used as ingredients in medicines, cosmetics, tonics and herbal remedies with no chemical additives,” said the 60-year-old, adding that more and more Indonesians preferred to use chemical products for medicines and cosmetics.

In Java and Bali, the elderly usually drink jamu (traditional herbal beverage) or loloh as it is called in the Balinese language, to cure illnesses.

For centuries, Javanese princesses and royal family members enjoyed head-to-toe body treatments to enhance their physical beauty using herbs and spices as facial masks, body scrubs and hair conditioners.

Yuliani started her business when she retired seven years ago.

“My hobby is gardening and learning about herbal medicines, so I started to produce dried flowers and herbs as potpourris.”

A few months later, she received an order to produce boreh, a Balinese-style body scrub for use in a spa operating in one of the island’s hotels. Her boreh became the first of many signature products from her small company.

The scrub was made from various plants, spices and flowers, including rice, green tea, betel leaves, cinnamon, carrot, papaya, roses and jasmine. Her scrub was effective in exfoliating dead layers of skin and rejuvenating the skin to a soft, supple tone.

Her boreh concoction was also believed to warm the body and relieve aching muscles and joints.

Later, Yuliani experimented with other products such as massage oils, incense, soaps and candles also produced from organic plants and roots.

At the workshop located behind her house, workers grill and dry all types of ingredients and package them for orders. The products are beautifully and artistically packaged as gifts and souvenirs.

“In the past, we did door-to-door promotion. Now, spa and herbal products are displayed in many luxury stores and malls,” Yuliana said.

She said collaborating with local organic farmers in making her products had made her happy and proud.

“We have a strong commitment to use organic products free from chemical fertilizers in order to produce healthy products for our consumers and to save the environment.”

She added that she had procured herbs, spices, rice, flowers, plants and roots from farmers in Bali, Java and Sumatra. “This has contributed to the improvement of the farmers’ economic conditions.”

Yuliani hopes other cosmetic producers will buy products from local farmers to help improve the farmers’ living conditions.

Yuliani said she had been concerned that many Indonesian women preferred to use chemical-based cosmetics, especially skin-whitening products which promise “fairer and brighter skin”.

“Such products contain hazardous chemical ingredients that can have negative impacts on health,” adding women have been lured by the “white and silky skin” these products promised to deliver without knowing the possible dangers of the chemicals used.

“Using natural products, eating healthy foods and leading a healthy lifestyle will lead to a happy and balanced life.”

Yuliani is currently active in educating women, farmers and local masseurs, especially blind masseurs, on the importance of growing, producing and using herbal products.

“Women can grow medicinal plants to earn extra income for their families.”

Research and development of herbs and plants is needed to improve and to diversify the types of products available, Yuliani said.

“I read books, articles and references on every plant, root and herb before using them in my products.”

“I once received a special order to make a product from bread fruit, locally known as sukun. I am now busy searching for references on bread fruit.”

With growing orders from both local and international buyers, Yuliani decided to register her products with the Health Ministry to obtain legal health certification.

“I urge the government to pay closer attention to small-scale entrepreneurs like me. I found it very difficult to process the registration and certification. It was too bureaucratic.”

In order to receive an export permit, all products need to be certified by the Health Ministry.

“I am now registering my products with the Food and Drugs Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to assure my clients the products are safe.”

Bali Tangi now sells its products to Singapore, Malaysia and the Maldives.

“It would be good if the government gave more support to small-scale businesses.”

Popular

Labubu dolls ride China soft-power wave

The global problem of over tourism, and why Bali is at a tipping point

A democratic reckoning for global development finance