Olfactory perception – also known as the sense of smell – has always fascinated Dr. Rainer Wohlfart. During his doctoral studies, he was already writing about the calming effect of hops. “When they hear the title, many people laugh. But it is about the fragrance of the hops and the effect it has on the human body. That was something completely new at the time,” remembers Rainer Wohlfart. His academic interest turned into his professional passion. At the end of 2017, he retired after 31 years as the Head of the Research, Development and Regulatory Approvals department of Kneipp GmbH. Even though he no longer appears every day in Würzburg, Wohlfart left a lasting mark and his presence is still very much felt in the company.
In 1986, he applied for a job at Kneipp, fresh out of university, on the recommendation of his doctoral supervisor. The boss at the time was the pharmacist Senator Luitpold Leusser who managed the business into the third generation. Business was good. Several years before, the sales channels had been expanded to drug stores and grocery retailers. Many consumers swore by Kneipp products – whether bath salts, food supplements or plant juices.
The healing properties of phytotherapy
Senator Leusser was already about 70 – with no successor. This was not a cause for concern for Wohlfart. “Kneipp was even then a solid brand that was synonymous with quality,” he remembered. When Leusser proposed that he starts working in the Research and Development department of his company, Wohlfart jumped at the offer and said yes. From that point on, the two men had a close and trusting working relationship. “Mr. Leusser was not the easiest of people but he had a big heart,” said the researcher about his former Managing Director.
Wohlfart was now completely in his element. He tinkered with fragrances, experimented with essential oils and also conferred with perfumers. “As a result of my research, I also made good, strong friendships with many colleagues,” explained Rainer Wohlfart. The perfumer Dr. Heinz-Peter Münzing in particular worked with him over the years. “He was a true mentor, especially in the field of essential oils.” Dr. Münzing – at well over 80 years of age – was also present at Dr. Wohlfart's official retirement party in December 2017.
Dr. Wohlfart worked intensively on phytotherapy, that is, the use of plant-based preparations to prevent or treat diseases. “Nature has given generously everything we need to stay healthy” is one of the key ideas of the eponymous founder of the company, the priest and naturopath Sebastian Kneipp (1821–1897). An opinion fully shared by Wohlfart.
Best of science, best of nature
Dr. Wohlfahrt’s first product launch was Norwegian Sea fish oil capsules. Something new at the time: the omega-3 fatty acids in the capsules have since become a standard supplement in many foods. Countless other launches followed. But regardless of which product left the production facilities: people had to tolerate it well, and it had to really work: “There are products on the market that do not do what they promise,” explains Wohlfart. Kneipp remains true to the principle ‘best of science, best of nature’. Sebastian Kneipp himself always wanted his products to be scientifically based but also in harmony with nature. And nothing has changed in that regard. The company regularly conducts studies, some in collaboration with the Psyrecon research institute in Wuppertal, an independent institute for applied psychophysiology, that verify that specific combinations of scents can have astonishing effects.
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Innovative to the end
2018 marks HARTMANN’s 200-year anniversary.
To commemorate this milestone, we have put together this series of articles. In it we show how our employees and partners contribute to advancing healthcare, as well as discussing trends and issues that affect the healthcare systems we serve.