- 48 - 
A few A'cars ago, when our method of examination had fewer 
adherents than now, we received a series of samples of lavender oils 
from one of the largest manufacturers in France, who at that time 
was still an opponent of the ''ester-theory". The examination proved 
that the price of the oils moved upwards with the ester- value found, 
•and that the quality of the oils also agreed with the prices. 
At the top of his list of oils selected by the nose, Parry places 
a sample from Annot, which, although containing but 26,5 per cent 
of esters, yet in his opinion has a finer aroma than all the other oils. 
We are not for the present in a position to test the correctness 
of this assertion, but that it has not remained uncontradicted in well- 
informed circles of the trade, may be proved to Mr. Parr\' by the 
following Ihies, which we have received from an important manufacturer 
of essential oils at Cannes, who is an expert of the first rank. The 
part of his letter, which refers to this matter, reads as follows: 
"In the London 'Chemist and Druggist' of 26^1 July, I read an article by 
Ernest Parry on lavender oil and the ester- content. He endeavours to prove 
that the esters have no influence on the value of lavender oil. Among the 
samples analysed, mention is made of an oil from Annot with 26,5 ^/^ esters. 
This is completely wrong; I am certain that among 100 samples of the lavender 
oil distilled in this part of the country, not one will be found which contains 
less than 35^/^ ester. I know all the manufacturers of this district, as well 
as their essences of which I receive samples every year which show 38 to 44 ^/y. 
Since more than half a century the lavender oils from Annot are those most 
in demand at Grasse, and they have always fetched prices 1,50 to 2 francs 
higher than those of ordinary qualities. This show^s quite clearly, that the 
esters must have a certain influence on the value of the oils, for the deter- 
mination of the ester-content of lavender oil has only been in vogue for the 
last ten years." 
Parry admits the great advantage of the determination of the 
•ester-value, in conjunction with the other methods of examination, for 
the purpose of detecting adulteration with oils of turpentine and spike, 
and other substances. In judging the perfume value, he recommends 
odour-tests with lavender water. He here suggests what every sensible 
perfumer alread\' does as a matter of course in order to select the 
lavender oil best suited for his purpose. We also have always 
emphasised that the odour-test retains its full value alongside the 
method of determining the ester-content, and we quote here verbally 
•a passage from our Report of October 1897, page 32, as follows: 
^'it is so self-evident that every essential oil is first of all tested by 
^us for the odour, that we consider it superfluous always to return to 
this subject. But what those gentlemen do not wish to see, they 
simply ignore". 
After these explanations we must consider the "ester- question" as 
^•settled once for all. 
