USK Student Team Secures National Funding for Aceh Patchouli Innovation

A team from the Student Creativity Programme in Entrepreneurship (PKM-K) at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) has secured national funding for an innovation utilising patchouli oil. The funding was provided by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology through the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs. Team member Thahara Salsabila stated that the Rp6.9 million grant was awarded for the development of products based on patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) and ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata). The USK PKM-K team previously developed a liquid soap named SERA, a neuro-aromatherapy product using Aceh’s distinctive patchouli and ylang-ylang essential oils as its main ingredients. The development team consists of Imania Hardiana and Thahara Salsabila from the Pharmacy Study Programme, and Cut Indira Amalia from the Accounting Study Programme, under the supervision of Dara Sukma Ratmelya. The student creativity programme is a national-level competitive funding scheme that encourages students to produce creative innovations beneficial to society while supporting knowledge-based entrepreneurship. SERA, which stands for Sequential Emotional Release Aromatherapy, was developed by leveraging two well-known Acehnese commodities: patchouli and ylang-ylang essential oils. Acehnese patchouli is a leading Indonesian essential oil commodity of high quality and has long been an export product, while ylang-ylang is known for its distinctive floral aroma and is widely used in the perfume and aromatherapy industries. Through this innovation, both local ingredients are processed into a soap that provides added value while expanding the utilisation of Aceh’s natural resources in the personal care industry. Thahara Salsabila explained that SERA is designed with a formulation that releases its aroma gradually, providing a longer-lasting scent sensation during use. The neuro-aromatherapy approach offers a more comfortable bathing experience while supporting stress regulation as part of a self-care routine, particularly for urban workers with high activity levels and work pressure. SERA has also been exhibited at an innovation product exhibition held at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at Universitas Syiah Kuala. Thahara Salsabila said the success in obtaining national funding demonstrates the commitment of USK students to producing innovations that highlight the region’s leading potential. She expressed hope that the innovative product would serve as an example of how Aceh’s natural resource wealth can be processed into value-added products that not only have economic potential but also introduce the region’s identity through research-based innovation.