About us
Who we are
Vepris Ardhi Ltd is a Kenyan natural-ingredients company based in Isiolo County, in the Mount Kenya region. We grow aromatic plants, turn them into high-quality essential oils and extracts, and supply them to brands across Asia, Europe and beyond.
Our approach is simple: we choose the plants, methods and quality standards together with our customers before we grow at scale. It means less guesswork, less waste and ingredients that are right from the start.
Our land and people
Room to grow, responsibly
- Our land
- 700 ha
- A large landholding that gives us room to grow responsibly while keeping much of the natural landscape intact.
- Altitude
- ~1,000 m
- A highland setting close to the equator, with strong sunlight all year round.
- Cultivation
- 40 ha
- Our first irrigated fields, growing to 162 ha as partnerships develop.
- Community
- Up to 500
- Direct jobs as we grow, especially for women, youth and Turkana, Samburu and Meru communities.
Key facts
Vepris Ardhi at a glance
- Our land
- 700 hectares (about 1,750 acres) in Isiolo County.
- Cultivation
- First irrigated fields of 40 hectares (100 acres), growing to 162 hectares (400 acres).
- Honey
- Around 22 tonnes a year of honey, including a premium white creamed honey for Kenya.
- Lead products
- Rose geranium essential oil; sweet basil essential oil (linalool type); African basil essential oil in two natural types (eugenol-rich and thymol-rich).
- Specialty range
- Lemon basil essential oil, frankincense and myrrh resins, Leleshwa leaf oil, upcycled tea and coffee extracts.
- Health & personal care
- Devil’s Claw root extract, jojoba oil and aloe vera extract.
- First samples
- Rose geranium and sweet basil essential oils, scheduled for 2027.
- Who we serve
- Fragrance, cosmetics, health and supplement brands in Korea, East Asia, Europe and beyond.
- Location & access
- About 1,000 metres above sea level near the equator, with irrigation, good road links and Isiolo International Airport nearby.
- People & community
- Up to 500 direct jobs as we grow, with a focus on women, youth and Turkana, Samburu and Meru communities.
- How we work
- With a select group of partners to shape each ingredient, test trial batches and build long-term supply.
Our growth plan
From first harvest to full scale
We are growing step by step, so every new crop and every new hectare is matched to what our customers need.
| Stage | What we’re doing | What it delivers |
|---|---|---|
| Getting started | Growing rose geranium, sweet basil and African basil; trialling lemon basil; launching our premium white creamed honey in Kenya. | Our first coded evaluation samples of rose geranium and sweet basil essential oils in 2027, each with full lab analysis (GC-MS). |
| Scaling up | Developing our first 40 irrigated hectares (100 acres) and growing to 162 hectares (400 acres), adding lavender, lavandin, neroli and vetiver. | Consistent, repeatable supply made to each customer’s specification. |
| Signature ingredients | Leleshwa leaf oil, frankincense and myrrh resins, native African basil types, Devil’s Claw root extract and upcycled tea and coffee extracts. | Distinctive ingredients developed together with perfumers and brands. |
Why Isiolo and Kenya
A place like no other
Our farm sits about 1,000 metres above sea level, close to the equator in the Mount Kenya region. It enjoys strong sunlight all year, irrigated fields and access to plants found only in East Africa. Our 700 hectares give us space to grow while protecting much of the natural landscape.
The Mount Kenya region is also home to native aromatic plants that local communities have valued for generations, from camphor-scented Leleshwa to African basil. We are bringing these plants into modern perfumery with care and respect.
Highland advantage
Altitude and equatorial light shape the character of each plant, and we measure that difference in the lab.
One origin
Our crops are grown, processed and recorded within one traceable Kenyan system.
Rare botanicals
Frankincense and myrrh resins and Leleshwa leaf oil offer scents that are hard to replicate anywhere else.
Caring for the land
We farm in defined zones and protect natural landscape and wildlife around them.
Well connected
Good road links and Isiolo International Airport connect our farm to Nairobi and to customers across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Nothing wasted
We’re turning tea and coffee by-products from Mount Kenya into new aromatic extracts.
Sustainability and community
Growing value that stays in Kenya
The story of an ingredient should include the people and the land behind it. Here is how we look after both.
Jobs and skills
Up to 500 direct jobs as farming and processing grow, with a focus on women, youth and Turkana, Samburu and Meru communities.
Legal, gentle harvesting
Native plants and resins are gathered with the right permissions and in ways that let them regrow.
Protecting nature
We farm in defined zones, keep much of our land natural and support conservation across the Mount Kenya region.
Caring for water
We measure the value we create from every cubic metre of irrigation water.
Nothing wasted
Tea and coffee by-products become new aromatic ingredients.
World-class standards
Our operations are built to follow recognised international standards for ethical trade, responsible sourcing and good farming.
Partner with us
Build your ingredient with us
From first sample to reliable supply, we make ingredients around your needs.