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Focus on Essential Oils

Jasmine Essential Oil

Introduction
Jasmine oil is an essential oil
derived from the white flowers of the
common jasmine plant, also known
as Jasminun officinale. The flower is
believed to originate from Iran, but
can now also be found in tropical
climates.

For centuries, jasmine has been
popular for its sweet, romantic fra-
grance and has been used in some of
the world’s best-known perfumes, in-
cluding Chanel No. 5. It’s also a com-
mon ingredient in alcohol, sweets,
and desserts.

Jasmine oil has a long and colour-
ful history. Its calming qualities have
been known for a long time; way back and in aromatherapy jasmine is con- most species, but with some species
to when the Ancient Egyptians used sidered one of the most effective being yellow flowered. Unlike most
it for headaches and to help improve products to relieve stress, anxiety, genera in the Oleaceae which have
sleep quality. As one of the most re- nervous tension, depression and ex- four petals, jasmine often have five
cognisable and well-known oils, it has haustion. It can be used also as an or six petals. They are often strongly
outstanding effects on the skin, mind antiseptic (also anti-viral) and as an and sweetly scented. Flowering is in
and body; certainly a ritual that can anti-inflammatory agent. spring or summer in most species,
benefit many. but a few species, like J. nudiflorum,
Manufacturing process in winter on the bare branches of this
In traditional holistic medicine Jasmine flowers are white in deciduous species.

Jasmine oil & the plant Jasmine flowers do not reach
INCI name Jasminum grandiflorum flower extract their full potential until two years of
Essential oil name Jasmine absolute essential oil cultivation. Between July and Octo-
ber, Jasmine plants are then picked
Origin Egypt
at night when the aroma is most
Part used Flowers intense.
Scent Floral, fruity, powdery
The process of extracting jasmine
Extraction method Solvent extraction
oil from jasmine plants is different
Common names Spanish jasmine, Royal jasmine, Catalan jasmine to the way most other essential oils
Latin name of plant Jasminum grandiflorum are produced. This is because steam
Botanical family of Oleaceae distillation, one of the most common
plant methods, damages the delicate jas-
mine flowers.
Plant detail The plant is a shrub with white flowers whose
beautiful fragrance gives a floral note to perfumes.
In the past, floral oils were pro-
Chemical consti- Benzyl acetate, linalool, benzyl alcohol, inclole, duced by a process called enfleurage,
tuents of oil benzyl benzoate, cis-jasmone, geraniol, methyl rarely used anymore because of the
anthranilate, benzoic acids, benzaldehyde, y-terpineol, high cost. Flower petals were laid on
isophytol, phytol, cis-3-hexenyl benzoate. a layer of fat spread on a glass chassis.

Home, Personal & Institutional Care India November 2020 35