|
Aqua Oleum Lavender Essential Oil 10ml
This oil is by far the most popular oil in aromatherapy today. From a volume
point of view, most companies will admit Lavender is the biggest volume oil they
sell, but the problem lies in the quality and origin of the oil.
For many years now, Aromatherapists assume that when one talks of Lavender
oil one automatically means oil of French origin. However, although they do
produce a lot of oil, they are not, and have not been, the major producers for
many years now. They are also masters of the Loaves and Fishes miracle. In the
1992 season, official figures prove that the French produced less than 50 tonne
of Lavender oil (this was a generous figure), yet they still manage to export
well in excess of 100 tonne per annum.
Adulteration is all too common with Lavender Oil as two of the major
constituents - linalool and linalyl acetate, can be produced synthetically at a
fraction of the cost of the naturally occurring constituents.
Firstly, we will indicate the major producers of Lavender Oil, even though
many other countries produce this oil, their qualities or quantities are not
considered:
Lavender Oil
|
|
Average annual production |
tonne |
|
Bulgaria |
140+
|
|
France |
43
|
|
Croatia |
22 (declining)
|
|
Russia |
18
|
|
China |
10+
|
|
Australia |
4
|
A number of factors will influence the Lavender market in the coming years:
* The cost of French oil is increasing while the production is decreasing.
Perfumery companies usually have first refusal on the premier qualities, as they
are volume consumers on a yearly basis and usually know the good qualities with
advanced olfactory and technical facilities. The remaining oil could be
extended/blended adulterated or enhanced.
* The increased availability of Eastern European oils, (since the collapse of
Communism) will lead to the sale of more genuine oil as the sophisticated
techniques are as yet not known by the farmers and growers. Also based on our
market research, we received an overwhelming approval of our Bulgarian Lavender
over French oil, with quotes like ‘it smells just like real Lavender’.
* The identification of dihydro-linalool and dihydro-linalyl acetate in
Lavender oils proving adulteration with synthetic linalool and linalyl acetate.
These sub-constituents are not naturally occurring in pure Lavender Oil.
Typical constituents of Lavender Oil usually fall into the following range:
Lavender Oil
|
|
Principal constituents by % |
min |
max |
|
linalool |
29
|
46
|
|
linalyl acetate |
36
|
51
|
|
1,8 cineol |
0.1
|
2.2
|
|
caryophyllene |
2.5
|
7.6
|
|
terpinen-4-ol |
2.7
|
6.9
|
|
ocimenes |
2.5
|
10.8
|
|
lavandulyl acetate |
3.4
|
6.2
|
These constituents are indicative and can sometimes vary, especially with
small field stills, where erratic temperatures give a poor quality and yield.
Also there are not sufficient quantities to allow communelle of batches giving a
more realistic quality. As our Bulgarian source has volume production, we are
now in the position to offer a quality as produced from the still. The
oil has an initial pungent top note but this clears within ten minutes to allow
the powerful floral/herbaceous notes to appear.
The Bulgarian oil is also more prominent on a smelling test, by far
outlasting the French oils used.
Back to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy
| 
Drinks,
Natural Cleaning Products,
Therapy and much, much more.
SPECIAL OFFER PAGE
