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Extraction And Formulation Of Perfume From Lemongrass Leaves
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1. Essential Oils (these have been extracted from various plants
(organic or nonorganic) and when combined give the smell of the perfume
you are trying to produce.
2. Pure Grain Oil
3. Water
1.2 LEMONGRASS
Family: Poaceae (Gramineae), Cymbopogon species
The
genus has about 55 species, most of which are native to South Asia,
Southeast Asia and Australia. Two major types have considerable
relevance for commercial use: East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon
flexuosus ) is native to India, Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand, whereas
West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is assumed to originate in
Malaysia. The plants grow in dense clumps up to 2 meters in diameter and
have leaves up to 1 meter long. Further Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) J.F.
Watson var. martini, which is native to India and cultivated in Java is
worth mentioning as it also grows in Bhutan and is extracted for
palmarosa oil. Another species with commercial relevance is citronella
grass (Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt) which also stems from India, but
is today grown throughout the tropics.
The reported life zone for
lemongrass is 18 to 29 degrees centigrade with an annual precipitation
of 0.7 to 4.1 meters with a soil pH of 5.0 to 5.8 (East Indian) or 4.3
to 8.4 (West Indian). The plants need a warm, humid climate in full sun.
They grow well in sandy soils with adequate drainage. Since the plants
rarely flower or set seed, propagation is by root or plant division. The
plants are harvested mechanically or by hand about four times each year
with the productive populations lasting between four and eight years
Extensive breeding programs have developed many varieties of lemongrass.
The
quality of lemongrass oil is generally determined by the content of
citral, the aldehyde responsible for the lemon odor. Some other
constituents of the essential oils are -terpineol, myrcene, citronellol,
methyl heptenone, dipentene, geraniol, limonene, nerol, and farnesol
.West Indian oil differs from East Indian oil in that it is less soluble
in 70 percent alcohol and has a slightly lower citral content.
Lemongrass
is used in herbal teas and other nonalcoholic beverages in baked goods,
and in confections. Oil from lemongrass is widely used as a fragrance
in perfumes and cosmetics, such as soaps and creams. Citral, extracted
from the oil, is used in flavoring soft drinks in scenting soaps and
detergents, as a fragrance in perfumes and cosmetics, and as a mask for
disagreeable odors in several industrial products. Citral is also used
in the synthesis of ionones used in perfumes and cosmetics.
As a
medicinal plant, lemongrass has been considered a carminative and insect
repellent. West Indian lemongrass is reported to have antimicrobial
activity .Oil of West Indian lemongrass acts as a central nervous system
depressant .Oil of East Indian lemongrass has antifungal activity .The
volatile oils may also have some pesticide and mutagenic activities
.Cymbopogon nardus is a source of citronella oil. Cymbopogon martinii is
reportedly toxic to fungi.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]Perfume extraction refers to the extraction of aromatic compounds from raw materials, using methods such as distillation, solvent extraction, expression or enfleurage. The extracts are either essential oils, absolutes, concretes, or butters, depending on the amount of waxes in the extracted product. Heat, chemical solvents, or exposure to oxygen in the extraction process denature the aromatic compounds, either changing their odour, character or rendering them odourless. In this work three method ... Continue reading---
