Synthetic variants, vanishing trees threaten legacy of the Nilgiris eucalyptus oil

The aroma of eucalyptus has been synonymous with the mist-covered Nilgiri hills. Tourists visiting any part of the Nilgiris always carry home small bottles of eucalyptus oil as a signature product of Ooty. Now, an application seeking a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the Nilgiris Eucalyptus Thailam (Nilgiris eucalyptus oil), which falls under essential oil category, has been filed by the Nakubetta Agri Development Initiative Producer Company Limited, Kotagiri, the Nilgiris, and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology. Manufacturers believe such recognition could help differentiate genuine products from counterfeit and synthetic variants flooding the market. But another…