Extraction and characterization of aromatic essential oils for natural perfume formulation

The purpose of this study was to extract essential oils from selected medicinal and aromatic plant leaves and flowers for natural perfume formulation. Fragrant essential oils were extracted from Lavandula angustifolia (leaves and flowers) (1.30%), Cymbopogon martini (leaves) (1.04%), Rosmarinus officinalis (leaves) (0.91%), Cymbopogon nardus (leaves) (0.83%), Juniperus procera (fruit) (2.3 %), and Thymus schimperi (leaves) (1.17%) by using steam distillation, whereas resin was obtained from Boswellia papyrifera (5%) using Soxhlet extractor (hexane), both extractants were analyzed by GC-MS. Camphor (21.19%), α-Thujene (16.29%), endo-borneol (14.08%), β-pinene (9.22%) and α-pinene (7.07%) in L. angustifolia; geraniol (40.89%), β-Myrcene (9.34%), 2,4,6,octatriene,2,6-dimethyl (8.20%), β–ocimene (5.93%) in C. martini; α- pinene (38%), eucalyptol (27.76%), caryophyllene (7.37%) and bornanone (7.27%) in R. officinalis; α-pinene (85.68%) and α-Sabinene (13%) in J. procera; citronellal (38.21%), citronellol (23.16%) and 3-carene (14.26%) of C. nardus and Incensole (53.%) and Pulespenone (46.95%) from resins of B. papyrifera were found as major components. Local perfumes were formulated using different proportions of fragrance essential oils and ethyl alcohol as a solvent. The main chemical compounds that are found in fragrant essential oils such as linalool, geraniol, citronellol, α-pinene, β-pinene, citronellal and eucalyptol determined the perfume scent. The panelist hedonic test showed that the first chosen perfume containing, L. angustifolia as top note; C. martini as a middle note and B. papyrifera as a base note and the second one containing C. nardus as top note; R. officinalis as a middle note and B. papyrifera as base note. Generally, the selected essential oils could be used as a substitute for the production of natural perfume for Air freshener or body splash after further toxicological tests are performed on the product.