84 



PLANT COMPOUNDS 



This is a white, crystalline solid at ordinary temperatures 

 and can be obtained from peppermint oil by freezing. It 

 is used in medicine. The peppermint oil itself is obtained by 

 steam distillation of the peppermint plant and is a pale 

 greenish-yellow oil which darkens on standing. It is lighter 

 than water and is used in medicine and for flavoring to a 

 very great extent. 



(h) Oil of Roses, called attar or otto of roses. This oil is 

 composed of geraniol, C10H17OH, and citronellol, Ci u Hi 9 OH, 

 both open-chain or aliphatic alcohols. There are also some 

 esters and paraffins present. It is obtained by distillation 

 of roses which are grown for the most part in Bulgaria 

 and Roumania, "the rose garden of the world." It is a 

 pale yellow oil, lighter than water, with a very delicate odor. 

 Attar of roses is very high priced and is frequently adul- 

 terated with geranium oil which resembles it somewhat. 



(i) Oil of Sassafras consists of safrol, 



CH 2 .CH:CH 2 



/ \ 



\ / 



-Ox 



-o 



>CH 2 



and a number of terpenes, etc. It is obtained by distilling 

 the root bark of the sassafras tree which is very common in 

 the United States. It is usually a reddish-yellow liquid, 

 heavier than water, and is used for scenting cheap soaps and 

 in flavoring. It is one of the cheaper oils. 

 (j) Oil of Thyme is chiefly thymol, 



CH 3 



/ \ 



/OH 

 CH3 . CH . CH3 



