Hay Oil

#### Hay Oil. A comparatively new item which is not yet regularly found in the price lists is the essential oil of hay. The few producers do not specify from which grass (hay) the oil is distilled, or whether it is actually an extracted oil or a distilled one. It is most likely that one or several of the common ensilage grasses are collected during the period of inflorescence, properly dried, extracted with petroleum ether, and then finally distilled at very low pressure (molecular distillation of the extract with or without a co-distilling, neutral liquid). **Hay Oil **is usually a pale amber or pale yellow liquid with a delightfully sweet-herbaceous, tea-like fragrance, reminiscent of the odor of sage clary, wet tea leaves and hay. The undertone and the dryout are almost floral-woody, but remain sweet and very uniform. Certain types of hay oil show no coumarin-like odors at all. It is most likely that such oils are true distillates and not extracts or molecular distillates of extracts. In the latter cases, coumarin would certainly be perceptible in the product. **Hay**** ****Oil**** **is extremely interesting and useful in modern perfume types: citrus colognes, lavender fougères, fantasy compositions, jasmin modifications, orange flower bases, as a "nuanceur" for spicy fragrances or "men's perfumes", carnation modifier, etc. Unfortunately, the price of this material (it is about one-fifth of the price of jasmin absolute) prohibits its general use, e.g. for carrying notes in a "new mown hay" perfume base. **Hay Oil**** **blends extremely well with sage clary, champaca, mimosa, cassie, magnolia leaf oil, flouve oil, chamomile oils, helichrysum oil, tobacco leaf absolute, maté extracts, tea leaf absolute, phenylethyl alcohol, linalool, bergamot oil, lemon oil, ylang-ylang, bitter orange oil, deertongue, melilotus, coumarin, etc. In flavors, the oil may be used as a modifier in the citrus-blends for cordials and liqueurs and as a modifier for peppermint oil, spearmint oil, etc. in candy or chewing gum. However, here again its poor availability prevents extensive use of this magnificent material. See also **Flouve**** ****Oil**, **Hay**** ****Absolute,**** ****Magnolia.**