INDIAN FOREST RECORDS. 
Vol. VIII.] 1922 [Part V 
The Essential Oil from the leaves of Abies PindroW , 
Spach. 
BY 
JOHN LIONEL SIMONSEN 
F OR sometime past the investigation of the various sources of turpen¬ 
tine in India have been in progress in these laboratories (cf. 
Journ. Chem. Soc. Trans. 1920, 117, 570). Recently a sample of the oil 
obtained by the distillation in steam of the leaves of Abies Pindrow, 
Spach. was received from Col. C. R. Johnson of Abbottabad and the 
results of the examination of this oil form the subject of this com¬ 
munication. 
In other countries the oil obtained from the leaves, twigs and cones 
of the various species of Pinus and allied species form a valuable article 
of commerce under the general name Pine-needle oils (Perfumery and 
Essential Oil Record, 1920, XI, 97 ; Parry. Chemistry of Essential 
Oils, 1921, 53-61) and it appeared therefore to be a matter of interest 
to determine in how far similar Indian species resemble the European 
and American varieties. In many cases the oils, owing to their high 
content of bornyl acetate, are very fragrant and are in large demand 
as cheap perfumes, also owing to their low cost they have been used 
as flotation oils. 
Some years ago Puran Singh (Ind. For. 1914, XL, 503) examined 
the oil from the fresh needles and short twigs of Pinus longifolia. The 
actual constituents of the oil, which was obtained in a yield of 1-4 per 
cent., were not determined, but its low ester content indicated that it 
would be of little value. 
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