Essenciagua is established in Lozère, a department recognized for the quality of its air. Our distillery is a unique building of its kind designed to fit harmoniously into an exceptional environment at the crossroads between the Causses territory, the Cévennes and Aubrac.
A unique eco-built distillery
Our 1,500 m2 distillery is a unique building of its kind which integrates all the principles of passive construction to optimize its energy consumption and reduce its environmental impact. The building is powered by 100% renewable and cooperative electricity. Its frame favors wood. Its roof is green and micro-irrigated. It welcomes the bees from the surrounding area. Soil waterproofing is minimal: zero bitumen! Forest integration is total.
The building also has a Canadian well. No need for air conditioning: the insulation is natural and the distillery has double controlled mechanical ventilation (VMC). Excess calories are recovered by heat exchangers which heat the building.
The territory of the Causses and the Cévennes: UNESCO world heritage
The territory of the Causses and the Cévennes have been included on the UNESCO world heritage list as a cultural landscape of Mediterranean agro-pastoralism since 2011. The Causses and the Cévennes present a great diversity of natural environments on a restricted space, resulting from differences in altitude, the nature of the soil and contrasts in climatic zones.
The agropastoral footprint over the entire perimeter of the site and the resulting openness of the space give a unique identity to the rural landscape. The Causses experienced strong economic and demographic growth until the end of the 18th century and the first part of the 19th century. Today, maintaining agro-pastoralism is an important issue for preserving the open landscapes and the biodiversity of the site.
The Aubrac Regional Natural Park: tradition and modernity
The Aubrac Regional Natural Park is located at the junction of two regions, Occitanie and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and three departments, Aveyron, Cantal and Lozère. The mid-mountain massif is surrounded by the Lot and Truyère rivers to the south of the Massif Central. The territory is characterized by variations in altitude, climatic influences, strong seasonality, a variety of rocks and unique landscapes. The region is home to rare natural environments, diverse flora as well as an exceptional agropastoral heritage including burons, drailles, stable barns and medieval rural archaeological remains.
The iconic landscape of Aubrac is brought to life by the living architecture of free-roaming herds, which is also a key element of the local economy. The region is particularly proud of the cattle breed to which it gave its name: the Aubrac, a rustic breed adapted to its terroir. The park's maxim, "Tradition without modernity is sterile, modernity without tradition is blind", reflects the importance of preserving cultural and natural heritage while encouraging the economic and social development of the region.
Transhumance is a tradition still alive in agricultural practices, celebrated each year during a nationally renowned festival which attracts several thousand visitors. The Aubrac region, characterized by high altitude, winds, vast pastures and low population density, allows for better air quality.
Essenciagua has managed to blend into this territory. We have learned over the years to exploit the resources and natural wealth that surround us in a respectful and reasoned manner in order to distill incomparable products of rare quality. Our essential oils and hydrosols reflect this place: exceptional.