ESSENTIAL OIL TECHNICAL DATA

Name           Bot. name.          Constituents              Solubility        

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Angelica       A. archangelica     phellandrene;            6 vols 90% EtOH
                                   valeric acid

Anise          P. anisum           80-90% anethole;         3 vols EtOH; ether
                                   methylchavicol            chloroform

Asarum         A. canadense        pinene; methyleugenol    2 vols 70% EtOH

Balm           M. officinalis      chiefly citral           EtOH

Basil          O. basilicum        methylchavicol;          2 vols 80% EtOH
                                   eucalyptol; linalool      ether; chloroform

Calamus        A. calamus          76% beta-asarone         EtOH

Caraway        C. carvi            53-63% carvone;          1 vol 90% EtOH;
                                   d-limolene               8 vols 80% EtOH

Cinnamon       C. cassia           80-90% cinnamaldehyde     EtOH; glac. acetic
                                                            acid

Citronella     C. nardus           25-50% citronellal       10 vols 80% EtOH
                                   25-45% geraniol

Clove          E. caryophyllata    82-87% eugenol            EtOH; ether;  
                                                             glac. acetic acid

Dill           A. graveolens       50% carvone; apiole      1 vol 90% EtOH

Eucalyptus     E. globulus         70-80% eucalyptol;       abs EtOH; oils
                                   alpha-pinene             5 vols 70% EtOH

Fennel         F. vulgare          50-60% anethole;         1 vol 90% EtOH;
                                   20% fenchone             ether; chloroform

Geranium       P. odoratissimum    geraniol esters          3 vols 10% EtOH;
                                   (geranyl tiglate)        ether; chloroform

Ginger         Z. officinale       l-zingiberene;           ether; carbon
                                   d-camphene               disulfide

Hops           H. lupulus          65-70% humulene          ether

Hyssop         H. officinalis      50% pinene               2-4 vols 80% EtOH

Juniper        J. communis         pinene; cadinene;        4 vols EtOH; amyl
                                   camphene; terpineol      alcohol; chloroform


Lavender       L. officinalis      30-40% esters            4 vols 70% EtOH
                                   (linalyl acetate)        absolute EtOH

Lemon          C. limonum          90% limonene             3 vols EtOH; glac.
                                                            acetic acid

Lemon grass    C. citratus         75-85% citral            3 vols 70% EtOH;
                                                            ether; chloroform

Marjoram       O. marjorana        40% terpenes             2 vols 80% EtOH;
                                                            ether; chloroform

Nutmeg         M. fragrans         60-80% d-camphene        1 vol EtOH; 
                                   myristicin; elemicin     3 vols 90% EtOH

Parsley        P. hortense         chiefly apiole           8 vols 80% EtOH;
                                                            ether

Patchouli      Labiatae species    patchouli oil            ether

Pennyroyal     M. pulegium         85% pulegone             3 vols 70% EtOH;
               H. pulegioides                               ether; chloroform

Peppermint     M. piperita         >50% menthol             4 vols 90% EtOH

Rosemary       R. officinalis      >10% borneol             10 vols 80% EtOH

Rue            R. graveolens       90% methyl nonyl ketone  3 vols 70% EtOH

Sandalwood     S. album            90% alcohols (santalol)  5 vols 70% EtOH

Sassafras      S. albidum          80% safrole              2 vols 90% EtOH

Spearmint      M. spicata          >50% carvone             equal vol 80% EtOH

Sweet Bay      L. nobilis          eucalyptol; eugenol      EtOH

Tansy          T. vulgare          thujone; borneol;        EtOH; ether;
                                   camphor                  chloroform

Thyme          T. vulgaris         20-40% thymol            2 vols 80% EtOH

Valerian       V. officinalis      bornyl esters (acetic,   EtOH; ether;
                                   formic, isovaleric)      chloroform

Vetiver        V. zizanioides      8-35% sesquiterpene      1-3 vols 80% EtOH;
                                   ketones                  oils

White Cedar    T. occidentalis     d-thujone; l-fenchone    4 vols 70% EtOH

Wormwood       A. absinthium       Thujyl alcohol; thujyl   2 vols 80% EtOH;
                                   acetate; thujone         ether

Yarrow         A. millefolium      cineol                   EtOH; ether
Abbreviations:

EtOH - ethyl alchol      HOAc - acetic acid
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Properties of constituents:

Compound                 Property
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anethole                 carminative
Apiole                   carminative
Borneol                  perfumery, incense
Bornyl esters            sedatives, antiseptics, counterirritants
Camphor                  anti-infective, counterirritant,antipruritic
Carvone                  flavoring, perfumery, carminative
Cinnamaldehyde           flavoring, perfumery
Citral                   flavoring, perfumery
Citronellal              insect repellant
Eucalyptol               flavoring
Eugenol                  dental analgesic, insect attractant
Fenchone                 counterirritant, perfumes
Geraniol                 perfumery, insect attractant, 
Humulene                 urinary antiseptic (?)
Limonene                 skin irritant, sensitizer
Linalool                 perfumery
Menthol                  antipruritic, flavoring, carminative, anesthetic
Myristicin               mild hallucinogen
Phellandrene             fragrances
Pinene                   manufacture of organic compounds
Safrole                  topical antiseptic, pediculicide, carminitive
Santalol                 in perfumes, soaps, detergents
Thujone                  [ingestion can cause convulsions]
Thymol                   antifungal, antithelmintic, antiseptic
Valeric acid             intermediate in perfumery

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This information may be of use to some more advanced herbalists.  The
solubility information will be of use to anyone who prepares essential oils. 
This is for informational purposes only.  I do not endorse the use of any of
these agents, especially by the untrained.  Many of these agents are very
toxic.

Prepared by Gary Ross [CIS 73317,3317]

 DB> Could you elaborate on the process of extracting essential oils? I
 DB> have been trying to find a way to do this and have come up empty......

One way is to soak flowers of the herb in Everclear or Vodka.  You have to
stick a bunch of flowers in a container with the alcohol and squish it
around <technical description, huh?>.  Take the flowers out after about 15
minutes of squishing and squeeze the excess liquid from them.  Put the same
amount of flowers in the same mixture and do it again.  The alcohol is
extracting the oil of these flowers and you have to have LOTS of flowers.

So you ask, howdya get the oil out of the alcohol?  Simple, actually.
Alcohol takes a lot to freeze it.  Oil freezes easy and is lighter than the
alcohol.  Put the whole thing in the freezer and after a few hours or so,
you should be able to skim whatever frozen essential oil you have in the
mixture, right off the top!  If you can re-use the alcohol for the same
flower a few times.  After a while it gets a bit grungy and has to be
disposed of.

WARNING!!!  Do NOT put nightshade flowers in such a mixture...if you touch
this mixture with nightshade, chances are that you'll be pushing up
daisies!

Seriously though, if you know the herb is poisonous, be careful with
extracting the essential oil.  I have extracted nightshade oil and one time
I had a pinhole in the rubber glove I was using.  Thought I'd died.  I was
not a happy camper.


-Begin Recipe Export- QBook version 1.00.14

Title:Scented oils
Keywords:herb, nonfood, oil, preparation, method, info

Amounts:  Use 4 oz dried herbs or 8 oz fresh herbs to 1 pint of oil.
At dincture of benzoin (1/4 tsp per cup of finished oil) or Vitamin E
(400 IU per cup)  Oils will last about 1 year.  Store in cool dark
place.


Method 1.

1. Rub fresh or dry herbs between palms of hands to break down herbs.
2. Place herbs in glass jar.
3. Pour chosen oil(s) over herbs.  Cover with tight lid.
4. Every day shake jar so herbs and oil mix together well.  Do this
for at least two weeks.
5. After 2 weeks strain by covering kitchen colander with
cheesecloth.  Squeeze herbs in cheesecloth to wring out any remaining
oil.
6.  Pour contents of bowl into clean glass jar and cover tightly.
7. Add tincture of benzoin or Vitamin E as preservative.

Method 2. (quicker)

1. Rub fresh or dry herbs between palms of hands to break down herbs.
2. Place bruised herbs in oil in a pan.  Slowly heat and cook herbs
gently until crisp, about 1/2 to 1 hour.  Cook roots first, then add
leaves and flowers last.  Keep pot covered.
3. Every day shake jar so herbs and oil mix together well.  Do this
for at least two weeks.
4. After 2 weeks strain by covering kitchen colander with
cheesecloth.  Squeeze herbs in cheesecloth to wring out any remaining
oil.
5.  Pour contents of bowl into clean glass jar and cover tightly.
6. Add tincture of benzoin or Vitamin E as preservative.

Method 3.  Slower, but gies better oil.  Ayurvedic method of making
herbal oils.

1. Rub fresh or dry herbs between palms of hands to break down herbs.
2. Place 1 part herbs, 4 parts oil and 16 part water in a pan.  Gently
heat all ingredients together until water is evaporated.
3. Every day shake jar so herbs and oil mix together well.  Do this
for at least two weeks.
4. After 2 weeks strain by covering kitchen colander with
cheesecloth.  Squeeze herbs in cheesecloth to wring out any remaining
oil.
5.  Pour contents of bowl into clean glass jar and cover tightly.
6. Add tincture of benzoin or Vitamin E as preservative.



-End Recipe Export- Courtesy of The Homestead (615)367-4410

