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| Dried cow dung in Kabul, Afghanistan as fuel – Photo: AFP |
Heating cow dung in a sealed pot for about an hour produces a vanilla-like scent, which can be used to make soap and scented candles.
Mayu Yamamoto, from the Japan International Medical Center and head of the research team, asserts that cow dung processed in this manner has a fragrance similar to real vanilla, although she acknowledges that “it is difficult for people to accept the use of a product derived from animal waste.”
Currently, Japanese scientists plan to utilize the vanilla scent from cow dung (which is twice as cheap as real vanilla) to formulate products that are not intended for consumption. In about two years, they hope to establish a factory capable of processing thousands of tons of cow dung daily to produce vanilla fragrance. This plan also addresses the issue of cow dung disposal, a problem farmers are currently facing.
HUỲNH ĐÀO
