Perfumes sesquiterpenoids

Natural scents are exclusive products, used for the most highly-priced perfijmes. The largest market of perfumes - particularly in the poor developing countries - is based on synthetic materials. Natural scents are mostly derived from flower plants, evolved to be recognized by pollinating insects. The orchids (flower plants in the monocotyledonous family Orchidaceae, which make about 10% of all flower plants) are highly rated for scents, particularly the woody scent afforded by a sesquiterpenoid, caryophyll-5-en-2a-ol. 

Sesquiterpenes and their derivatives are found together with monoterpenes in many essential oils. Many of them are important flavour and perfume compounds, some are of considerable importance for pharmaceutical applications [131]. As sesquiterpenoids contain one more isoprene unit than monoterpenes, a greater variety of structures is possible which is... 

Conifer needles also contain volatile products which are mainly composed of mono- and sesquiterpenoids. The volatile turpentine constituents are used in the production of flavors and perfumes and in various technical and pharmaceutical products. The turpentine and rosin production of trees can be increased considerably by injecting suspensions of pitch canker fungus or chemicals such as "paraquat" (1,r-dimethyl-4,4 -bipyridinium salt) which has been found to be very effective. 

Sesquiterpenoid natural product of the drimane type, C16H28O, M(t 236.38, mp. 75-76 C, used for a woody fine odor in perfumes. 

Connolly JD, Thornton IMS (1973) Sesquiterpenoid lactones from the liverwort Frullania tamarisci. Phytochem 12 631-632 Culberson CF (1969) Chemical and botanical guide to lichen products. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill Dahlquist I, Fregert S (1980) Contact allergy to atranorin in lichens and perfumes. Contact Dermatitis 6 111-119 Dahlquist I, Fregert S (1981) Atranorin and oak moss contact allergy. Contact Dermatitis 7 168-169 Fernandez de Corres L (1984) Contact dermatitis from frullania ... 

As a consequence of their higher molecular weight, sesquiterpenoids are less volatile than their monoterpenoid counterparts. This means that a smaller percentage find use in perfumery. However, some of those that do have an odor, have low thresholds and/or high intensities. They often have fixative properties and are generally used as base notes, in particular as woody notes, in perfumes. The use of sesquiterpenoids in perfumery was reviewed by McAndrew (322). Three of the most important sesquiterpenoid-rich oils are sandalwood, patchouli, and vetiver. 

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