Arnica Oil

#### Arnica Oil. **Arnica Oil **is steam distilled from the flowers of **Arnica Montana**, a perennial plant which grows wild in many parts of Northern and Central Europe, Scandinavia, USSR, etc. It grows wild and is also cultivated in Northern India where it has been used for the skin-healing effects of its infusions and tinctures. A related plant, **Arnica**** ****Cordifolia**, and other species of arnica are used in the U.S.A. and are known as "mountain tobacco". The yield of essential oil is very small, and the cultivation of the plant is highly problematic. Consequently, the oil is scarce and expensive. It is conceivable that only a minor part of the aromatic principles of the flowers are isolated by the steam distillation. Hence, it is preferable to use a tincture or an extract (e.g. an absolute) of the flower material. A few French supply houses offer an **Arnica Absolute**, and a **Resinoine**-type is also produced. These products are more representative of the flower than are any other products from arnica. Arnica **Oil**** **is a yellow-orange or greenish-blue colored liquid. **Arnica Absolute **or **Arnica Resinoine **are dark amber colored, viscous liquids of intensely herbaceous-sweet, tealike, somewhat spicy, powerful and very tenacious odor. The dryout is bitter, tealike and very pleasant. The odor of the oil resembles that of chamomile with a certain woody-earthy undertone. One of the aromatic principles of the absolute is Thymohydroquinone Dimethyl-ether which is present in greater amounts in the essential oil from the roots, Arnica **Root**** **Oil. The latter is not a commercial article. The literature disagrees as to the similarity or dissimilarity in odor of the two oils. Arnica **Root Oil **is yellow or dark yellow in color, and is more viscous than the flower oil. **Arnica Oil **(from flowers) finds occasional use in perfumes of the herbaceous (i.e. non-floral) type, e.g. chypre, fougère, "tabac", leather, colognes, etc. It is also used in certain flavors for liqueurs. The oil is produced on a very limited scale, mainly in France or Germany from locally grown material or from Belgian flowers. The flavor is slightly bitter, but rich and herbaceous, tea-like and pleasant. Suggested use level is 0.50 to 1.00 mg%, while the Minimum Perceptible is about 0.10 to 0.20 mg% with substantial variations according to type of oil (distilled, extracted, etc.).