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(-)-bornyl acetate
Abies alba (Pinaceae) Silver fir
Picea glauca (Pinaceae) White spruce
Pinus mugo (Pinaceae) Mugo pine
The pine family (Pinaceae) consists of evergreen, resinous trees. Only Larix (larch) and Pseudolarix loose their needles once a year. Resin and turpentine is tapped from several species, and essential oils are obtained by steam distillation of the needles, e.g. from the above species.
Pine and Fir needle oils often have (-)-bornyl acetate as their main olfactory component, but there are great variations between the species. Other main constituents are monoterpene hydrocarbons such as alpha- and beta-pinene, limonene, 3-carene and alpha- and beta-phellandrene [6]. Conifer needle oils are used in perfumes for air fresheners, bath products and detergents.
Etymology: The word turpentine derives from the ancient Greek terebinthos, a name for a pistachio from the Mediterranean countries, Pistacia terebinthus, from which the so-called Chios turpentines was obtained. Later on the name turpentine came in use for volatile oils from conifers, for instance maritime pine, Pinus pinaster, from which the so-called French turpentine is obtained. From here origins the organic chemical name terpene, denoting isoprene-derived hydrocarbons (C10) which constitute the major part of French turpentine. Mineral turpentine, on the contrary, is a mineral oil derivate, consisting of a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with a similar boiling point interval and similar solvent properties as French turpentine.
some pineapple esters, furaneol + mesifurane
Ananas comosus (Bromeliaceae)
The monocot pineapple family, Bromeliaceae, counts about 1700 species, the majority of which is living as epiphytes in trees. Pineapple, however, grows on the ground as a stem-less rosette plant with stiff, thorny leaves.
Pineapple is a native of the northern parts of South America and was cultured long before Columbus saw it in Guadaloupe in 1493. The small flowers are surrounded by violet leaves (picture in the middle). On ripening, not only the ovaries of the flowers become juicy, but also the flower stem. It all fuses together to become what we call a pineapple fruit (or ananas fruit). The cultured varieties are without seeds. Hawaii is one of the major exporters.
A truly ripe pineapple is a delicacy. A recent study identified more than 130 aroma compounds in the juice from freshly cut pineapples, with methyl 2-methylbutanoate, methyl 3-(methylthio)-propanoate, furaneol and mesifurane as the major constituents [17].
Etymology: The Tupi Indians called the fruit nana. The English word pineapple, and the Spanish word pinos, reflects the fruit's resemblance with a (large) cone from a pine.
alpha-cadinol
Schinus molle (Anacardiaceae) Peruvian pepper tree
Peruvian pepper tree, an Anacardiacean tree reaching a height of 15 m, is growing wild from Mexico to Southern Chile. It is not related to black pepper, but the dried, red, berry-like fruits are used in a similar way as a spice. The essential oil of 'pink pepper' has a sweeter character, going well even in fruit sauces, vinaigrettes, and desserts. The berries are also used to prepare a traditional Peruvian alcoholic drink.
Pink pepper oil is dominated by monterpenes and sesquiterpenes, with alpha-cadinol as one of the major oxygenated compounds [81]. The oil has found a littel use in perfumery as it brings diffusivity, adds a creamy aspect, and blends well with musks. It is used, for example, in Pleasures (E. Lauder 1995) [43].
benzyl acetate
Pittosporum tobira (Pittosporaceae) Tobira, Japanese pittosporum
The genus Pittosporum contains some 160 species. P. tobira is a dense, rounded, evergreen shrub or small tree native to Japan, China, and Korea. It is grown around the world in subtropical climates, e.g. along the Mediterranean coastline. The small flowers are held in clusters at the branch tips. They are purely white when they emerge from the buds and slowly age to a mellow creamy yellow. Their odor is somewhat reminiscent of orange flowers (neroli).
The main component of the flower oil of tobira (and a number of other Pittosporums) is benzyl acetate [6].
Etymology: Gr. pitta, tar, Gr. spora, seed, because the seeds in the ripe fruit are surrounded by a sticky mucilage.
raspberry ketone, (R)-(+)-(E)-alfa-ionone, mesifurane, beta-damascenone
Rubus idaeus (Rosaceae) European raspberry
Raspberry forms dense stands in the woods on clearings and along paths where the ground is rich in nitrogen nutrients. It spreads rapidly by rood suckers, and the birds help its propagation by eating the berries, whose seeds pass the birds' gut without loosing their germination capacity. Many heavily bearing sorts with berries larger than those of the wild type are developed, but most often their aroma is somewhat fainter.
The aroma of raspberry is highly characterized by the phenolic ketone 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-butanone in harmony with ionones, beta-damascenone and mesifurane. Altogether more than 200 compounds are identified in the aroma of raspberry. 1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-3-butanone is also called raspberry ketone. In its pure state it is a colourless, crystalline substance (mp. 82 ºC) with an intense, warm and penetrating character, reminding of raspberry preserve. Alpha-ionone in raspberry is the pure (R)-(+)-(E)-enantiomer and may therefore be used as a marker in checking for artificial raspberry aroma [36].
Etymology: Lat. Rubus, the old Latin name for blackberry, Lat. idaeus, growing on wooded mountain slopes.