Cabreuva Oil

#### Cabreuva Oil. The wood of various species of wild growing **Myrocarpus **trees in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina is highly appreciated as an ornamental lumber and furniture wood, although it is extremely hard to cut or saw. The wood is known as **Cabureicica **or **Cabreuva **wood; it is extremely resistant to moisture and mold growth. Since the tree is related to the trees which yield **Peru Balsam **and **Copaiba Balsam **it is not surprising, that also the Myrocarpus yields a "balsam" when the trunk is deliberately damaged. This kind of "balsam" formation is known as a pathological one in contrast to the "voluntary" or physiological products (copaiba or turpentine). However, the essential oil of **Cabreuva**** **is now produced by distillation of waste wood from the lumbermills. Chippings and sawdust of **Myrocarpus Fastigiatus **are steam distilled in Brazil. They yield a pale yellow, somewhat viscous essential oil of sweet-woody, very delicate and slightly floral odor. Its tenacity is one of its greatest virtues. Certain lots of **Cabreuva**** ****Oil**** **may display dry topnotes similar to those found in cubeb oil or in the sesquiterpenes from clove leaf oil. Although very delicate and apparently faint, the odor of **Cabreuva**** ****Oil**** **is often under-estimated in its effect of freshness and suave-floral notes. In rose, lily-of-the-valley, cassie, ambre and in woody-oriental perfumes, **Cabreuva Oil **lends tenacity and distinct notes of "precious wood" with a background of slightly green, dry floralness, a combination rarely found in synthetic perfume materials. The oil is produced by a few Brazilian distillers only, and in very modest quantities. It served for some time as a starting material for the isolation of the sesquiterpene alcohol, **Nerolidol**, the main constituent of cabreuva oil. This sesquiterpene alcohol is now produced synthetically at a reasonable cost. Adulteration or contamination of **Cabreuva Oil **with **Oleo Vermelho **(see this monograph) is possible. See also monograph on **Melaleuca Viridiflora**, variety "A". Cabreuva oil, as such, has found very little use in perfumery in spite of the above mentioned excellent effects of the oil.