Scientific and other notes on essential oils. 31 



Neroli Oil. On page 39 of our October Report 1916 we discussed a paper by 

 R. Guyot 1 ) on the green colouring of orange flower water. Guyot 2 ) has since con- 

 tinued his investigations and now reports on the morphology and the nutrient mediums 

 of the chromogenous microbes of orange flower water. The temperature most suitable 

 for the development of the microbe is about 20°, between 55 and 60° it is destroyed. 

 The microbe does not form any green crystals on artificial nutrient mediums in distinction 

 to Laseur's bacillus chlor or aphis. The author explains the fact that the new microbe 

 does not produce the green colouring to any extent on artificial nutrient mediums by 

 the hypothesis that orange flower water is not sufficiently nourishing for it and that 

 in consequence it is compelled to form the green dye, in order to protect itself from 

 violet and ultraviolet rays, which act is a strongly oxidizing manner on it. 



Palmarosa Oil. The periodical Indische Mercuur copies an article 3 ) from the 

 Indian Trade Journal on the. "Rosha (Rusa) oil industry in British India", in which 

 we find some interesting indications as to the production of palmarosa and gingergrass 

 oils. It is to be regretted that the article almost only mentions "rosha oil", which 

 seems to mean palmarosa oil as well as gingergrass oil 4 ), two entirely different pro- 

 ducts; however, in most cases palmarosa oil seems to be referred to. The treatise 

 is by R. S. Pearson and has been edited by the Forest Research Institute of 

 Dehra Dun. 



Rosha oil (from Cymbopogon Martini) is also called Nimar oil in India and has, in 

 addition, numerous local names, such as: "rusha'\ "rosha", "rohish", "nanha", "duMi", 

 "sail tall", "mircha", "gandha", "gandi", "tikari", "Jcarva", Sjc. 



Rosha oil, i.e. the "motia" (palmarosa oil) as well as the "sofia" (gingergrass oil), 

 is employed throughout India to make the so-called "attars" 5 ). Calcutta, Benares, and 

 other towns in northern India consume for this purpose more than 3000 to 5000 lbs. 

 yearly, the oil being first sent to Bombay and from there farther north. Besides, it is 

 forwarded direct to Burhampur and the Nimar districts, where it is likewise worked 

 up into "attars". Most likely, small quantities are kept in the producing districts and 

 used there, but the relative exact details are wanting. Rosha oil, especially "motia" 

 (palmarosa oil) passes for a remedy against rheumatism and is sold for this purpose 

 in most of the bazaars. Besides, it is used on a small scale for perfuming soaps. The 

 oil is said to possess cooling and astringent qualities and is therefore taken against 

 headache and skin diseases; furthermore, it is supposed to be a remedy against 

 baldness. It is also taken internally against bilious complaints, but in very small 

 doses only. 



If the oil is meant to be used as an adulterant of otto of roses, it must first be 

 shaken with a gum arabic solution and then exposed to the sun. Thus the oil gets 

 lighter in colour and agrees in this respect better with the rose oil 6 ). Rosha oil which 

 has been heated too strongly in distilling, is said to be no more good for the purpose. 



The rosha oil sold in India is rarely pure, but adulterated with oils of turpentine, 

 linseed, colza, or ground-nut, the faking being done in most cases by the distillers. 



The quantity of rosha oil exported from India between July 1 st , 1912 and June 30 th , 1913 

 amounted to 136263 lbs. As per indications of Volkart Bros., about 4000 lbs. of rosha 



x ) Journ. de Pharm. et Chim. VII. 13 (1916), 37; Chem. Zentralbl. 1916, II. 74. — -) Journ. de Pharm. 

 et Chim. VII. 15 (1917), 12; Chem. Zentralbl. 1917, 1. 225. — 3 ) The Indian Trade Journal; Indische Mercian- 

 39 (1916), 787 (N° 35 of September l*t). _ 4) Comp. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, 2" d ed., 

 vol. II, p. 178 and 190. — 5 ) The native name for perfumes without alcohol and frequently with sandalwood 

 oil as a basis. — 6 ) Comp. Gildemeister and Hoffmann, The Volatile Oils, 2 nd ed., vol. II, p. 556. 



