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Verbena Oil. An examination of verbena oil from Grasse has 
been published by E. Theulier^). The oil, obtained in a yield of 
0,072 per cent, from the fresh leaves of Verbena triphylla, had a bright 
yellow colour, reminded in the odour somewhat of lemongrass oil, and 
showed the following constants: d^5o = 0,919; = — 16° 20'; ester- 
content (calculated on linalyl acetate) 11,20 per cent. The oil was 
insoluble in 80 per cent, alcohol, but dissolved in an equal volume 
of 90 per cent, alcohol, and when more of this solvent was added, 
small white crystals separated out. The same body separated out 
when the oil was cooled in a freezing mixture; after repeated recrystalli- 
sation from strong alcohol it melted at 62,5°, and it is therefore most 
probably a paraffin-like hydrocarbon. In addition to citral, of which 
the quantity was found by Theulier to be 20,8 per cent, the oil con- 
tained 1-limonene (proved by the tetrabromide which was prepared 
from it, though not in a perfectly pure state); geraniol (separated by 
the calcium chloride compound, and identified by oxidation into citral), 
and a probably Isevorotatory sesquiterpene. 
Vetiver Oil. In consequence of an enormous demand for our 
distillate, we have largely increased the manufacture of this product 
which is indispensable in the preparation of fine toilet- soaps. We now 
supply it in any quantity. 
P.Genvresse and G. Langlois^) have detected two compounds in 
vetiver oil, but these have no importance for the odour of the oil. 
The two oils serving for the examination originated from Bourbon and 
from Grasse. The neutral Bourbon oil had the specific gravity 
o,Q93 (20°), the optical rotation -[-23° 43' (in alcoholic solution); with 
the oil from Grasse the specific gravity was 1,012 (20°), and the rota- 
tory power -[-27° 9'. The last-named oil had an acid reaction. When 
submitted to steam -distillation, only one-third of the total oil passed 
over, of which one part was specifically lighter, and the other heavier 
than water. The former consists chiefly of a sesquiterpene C^5H24, 
vetivene, a colour- and odourless liquid of the boiling point 262° 
to 263° (740mm, 135° at 15 mm), the specific gravity 0,932 (20°), 
and the optical rotation -[-18° 19^ It absorbs without solidifying 
4 atoms bromine, whereby it acquires a blue colour. The heavier 
portion of the oil consists essentially of a sesquiterpenic alcohol C^i^ 5 HggO, 
vetivenol, a thickish bright-yellow odourless body with the following 
physical constants: boiling point 169° to 170^ (15 mm), specific gravity 
1,01 1 (20°), optical rotation -j- 53^43' (in alcoholic solution). When the 
alcohol is treated with acetic anhydride, it forms an acetate; anhydrous 
^) Bulk Soc. chim. III. 27 (1902), 1013. 
^) Compt. rend. 135 (1902), 1059. 
