Commercial and scientific notes on essential oils. 29 



triacetate which, however, would still be interpreted into some 8 to 10 per cent, of linalyl 

 acetate. Since the ester value of the oil suggests altogether 33 per cent, of linalylacetate 

 there remain, after deducting at least 15 per cent, of added terpinyl acetate and further 

 S per cent, probably of glycerin triacetate, only 10 per cent, of real linalyl acetate. 



When we consider that pure lavender oil contains at least 30 per cent, of linalyl 

 acetate, we have to conclude that the oil in question consisted to one third, at the best, 

 of lavender oil whilst the rest was compounded of the esters mentioned and some other 

 additions which partly must be very sparely soluble, since the whole oil was very 

 difficult to dissolve. 



It need hardly be stated that this oil was once more one of the so-called cheap oils; 

 the price demanded was about half of what the producer would expect for lavender oil. 



Lavender Oil, Italian. — Italian lavender oils are known to possess a low con- 

 tents of esters (20 to 32 per cent.) 1 ). This may be the chief reason that this oil is 

 only manufactured in relatively-small bulks (up to 3000 kg. annually), although the 

 lavender plant grows abundantly in the mountainous districts of northern Italy, 

 especially in the valleys of Stura and Gesso, in the valley of Aosta and in the 

 Maritime Alps. According to an English journal 2 ) an oil coming from the Stura valley 

 contained 37 per cent, of lynalylacetate, that is to say, a higher ester percentage than 

 is usual. If the author, on the strength of this fact, considers Italian lavender oils to 

 be rich in esters, this may have to be taken by comparison to English lavender oifs 

 which possess an ester contents ranging from 5 to 10 per cent. The statement would 

 not be correct without this qualification, since French oils frequently contain 40 to 

 50 per cent, and even more of lynalylacetate, as will be known. — One firm is said 

 to have started cultivating lavendar in Italy. We shall have to wait a year or two 

 for the results of these experiments. 



Lemongrass Oil. — With respect to lemongrass oil from the Philippine Islands see 

 p. 85 of this Report. 



Marjoram Oil. — As regards Spanish marjoram oils see p. 82 of this Report. 



Mustard Oil. — Samples of milk to be keptfor analysis may, according to P. Post 3 ), 

 be preserved by means of mustard oil, 20 drops per litre. Mustard oil is preferable to 

 the potassium dichromate frequently used for this purpose, because it can, if necessary, 

 be removed again without detriment before the milk analysis, and because its presence 

 does not exclude the determination of the acid and of the freezing point. The catalysis 

 number can, however, not be determined in milk to which mustard oil has been added. 

 Post describes how the mustard oil is to be removed from the sample, before the 

 determination of freezing point, milk sugar and albumin. 



Oil of Myristica Otaba. — The seeds of Myristica Otaba, Heim, a tree growing 

 in the mountains of Columbia at an. altitude of 5000 ft., have been studied in the 

 Imperial Institute 4 ) of London. The steam distillation of the seeds, which resemble 

 nutmeg, yielded 7.2 per cent, of a colourless oil of the following properties: — d§§ 0.894; 

 « D — 79.44°; n D 1.502; acid. v. 13.6; ester v. 0; ester v. after acetyl. 20.0; soluble in 

 16 vol. 90 per cent, alcohol. 



: ) Cf. Giidemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, 2 nd ed., vol. Ill, p. 435. — *) Perfum. Record 12 

 <1921,, 5. — *) Pharm. Weekblad 58 (1921), 131. — *) Bull. Imp. Inst. 18 (1920), 168. 



