Oil Linaloe

J. C. r inuey has described two HUeresting samples ol Mexican linaloe oil,- which are ungucslionablv natural oils, hut which may be derived troDQ a dUT< i L-nt species ot Dnra ra from those which are usually di.stillcd. 

Methyl-heptenol is an alcohol with a delicate rose odour, of the formula CgHjgO. It occurs in Mexican and Cayeme linaloe oil, and is-prepared by reducing methyl-heptenone, and has the following characters —... 

Occurrence (- )-L. in Brazilian rosewood oil (Brazilian linaloe oil , Anita rosaeodora, Lauraceae) 80-85% (+)-L. (coriandrol) in coriander oil (60- 80%) and in Mexican linaloe oil Bursera del-pechiana=B. penicillata, Burseraceae) 60-65%. L. also occurs bound to various carboxylic acids, e.g., linalyl acetate (3-acetoxy-3,7-dimethylocta-1,6-diene, C,2H2o02, Mr 196.29). The linalyl esters are synthesized from L. since they have various plications in perfumery. For synthesis of L., see Lir.. L. and L. esters are used in the perfume industry and for the synthesis of tocopherols. 

The oil consists almost entirely of liualol, with traces of saponifiable botlies, i)Ut appears to be free from methyl heptenone, found by Barbier and Bouveault in Mexican linaloe oil. This oil is distinctly fiiuir in cnlour than the Mexican product. 

Cayenne linaloe oil, also known as oU of Bois de Bose Femdle," and sometimes as oil of Azelia, is distilled in French Guiana. 

The oil distilled h om the wood of this tree is rich in linalol, and has an odour recalling that of linaloe oil. It has the following characters — Specific gravity.0 870 to 0 895... 

The oil is chiefly used in soap perfumery. The Bois de rose femelle is the wood of the so-called Brazilian lign-aloe, and yields the corresponding linaloe oil. It is one of the Burserctcece, and has no connection with the above-described rosewood. 

The linaloe oil of commerce is distilled in Mexico, and also in Europe, from several species of Bursera, mainly from the wood, but also to some... 

According to Dr. Altamirano/ Mexican linaloe oil is obtained from the districts Oaxaca, Puebla, Guerrero, Morelos, and Michoacan down to Colima. The two trees which are or have been the principal source of the oU are known as Spanish linaloe and copal limdn . The former is now nearly eradicated, but the latter stiU flourishes abundantly. 

Linaloe oil is a colourless or pale yellow oil of sweet, soft odour, that of linalol predominating. It has the following characters —... 

Shiu oil, an oil distilled in Central Formosa, has been found as an. adulterant of this oil, which it somewhat resembles in odour. As this-oil always contains camphor, which is absent from pure linaloe oil, the adulterant can be detected as follows — ... 

J. G. Umney has described two interesting samples of Mexican linaloe oil, which are unquestionably natural oils, but which may be derived from a different species of Bv/rsera from those which are usually distilled. 

They have detected the following bodies in the oil 2-linalol, 1-ter-pineol, nerol, and geraniol. They consider that this dextro-rotatory seed oil is present in the dextro-rotatory linaloe oils of commerce above referred to. 

Linalool (23) is more properly spelt linalool and pronounced with two distinct o sounds, the first long and the second short. This gives an indication of one of its principal sources, Linaloe oil, the essential oil of the Indian tree Bursera delpechiana, which contains levels of 30% linalool and 45-50% of its acetate. However, it is common practice nowadays to omit the diaeresis and even to speU the name with a single letter o. Other synonyms include linalyl alcohol, Licareol (extract from rosewood), and Coriandrol (extract from coriander). It occurs very widely in nature. The richest source is Ho leaf oil from China and Taiwan, which typically contains >90% linalool and levels as high as 97.5%, have been reported (150). Rosewood oil will typically contain 75-85% linalool and it is a major component of many flower (e.g., 80% in Ifeesia and 75% in honeysuckle) and herb (e.g., 65-80% in coriander) oils. Linalyl acetate is also a frequently encountered component of plant oils. Oils in which it plays a particularly important organoleptic role, include lavender ( 50%) and citrus leaf oils (also 50%). 

Namral linalool is extracted mainly from three species. The largest is Brazilian rosewood of which 100-150 tpa is produced. In recent years, there has been some concern about the endangering of the rosewood species by overharvesting and consequently about the sustainability of production of the oil. About 10 tpa is produced from Chinese and Taiwanese Ho leaf. Production from Linaloe oil is only a few tpa in India (151). Minor sources of natural linalool include shin and coriander oils (82). In the past, it was also extracted from lavender and bergamot. 

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