SASKATOON – Looking for love? Maybe a little dab of canola behind the ears will do the trick.
The French have always been leaders in fashion, but it’s hard to believe the rancid smell of canola in bloom could be considered amorous.
But that’s what John Postnikoff discovered. He was browsing through a magazine when he came across an article about canola grown in France for fragrances.
The president of L & J Industries, a Saskatoon-based company that makes laundry detergent, decided to take a closer look at fragrance oils.
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If Postnikoff can find a partner, he said he hopes to build a processing plant to extract fragrance from canola and other native prairie plants.
“It’s not a very complicated process,” said Postnikoff, who has worked in related fields for more than 10 years.
In addition to using canola oil in its own products, L & J Industries could sell it as an additive for soaps, detergents and cosmetics. Once canola blossom extract has been refined, it has a more pleasant smell, he said.
During his research on the history of fragrance oil, Postnikoff realized people have been extracting scent from crops for centuries. Drawings of Roman leaders are often portrayed with floral wreaths around their heads. Rose petals were commonly used to soothe hangovers.
“There’s a lot of history. It’s awfully fascinating.”
If a plant is established there could be spinoff industries for producers looking for alternative crops. “It may fit into that industry,” he said.
