Lemon Aroma

#### Lemon Aroma. **Lemon**** ****Oil**** **"aromas" or "aroma distillates" are various products used by flavor houses; these products are usually manufactured by the individual houses according to their specific needs. In general, the "aroma" is a solution of an almost terpeneless, sesquiterpeneless lemon oil in diluted alcohol (about 50% up to 70% alcohol) or propylene glycol (80 or 90%). The terpenes are simply separated out of a lemon oil solution in the straight solvent by the addition of distilled water. It may not even be necessary to add water in the case of propylene glycol which is a poor solvent for terpenes. See general procedure under **Aroma**** **and **Aromadistillate**** **in Part One of this book. The **Aromadistillates **of **Lemon **are based upon an alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic extraction of the lemon peel. The alcoholic or hydro-alcoholic extract is adjusted to about 30 or 40% alcohol strength with distilled water, and the terpenes are separated. The alcohol-layer is then distilled slowly over a short column (packed) at atmospheric pressure. An all-glass still is preferred by most flavor extract manufacturers. Two layers are formed in the receiver: terpenes in the upper layer, since some terpenes will distil with water and will be insoluble in the low concentration of alcohol in the receiver. When the temperature at the top of the column is 100°C., the distillation is carried on only until the alcohol percentage in the receiver (or in the total distillate) is 60%, 50%, 45% or whatever the manufacturer has established as his standard prescription. The terpene layer is removed from the turbid hydro alcoholic aroma-solution. If lemon oil has been used in place of lemon peels, the amount of terpenes will be quite significant. The terpenes are dried, filtered and sold as **Lemon Oil, washed**. This product is occasionally used in perfumery. The aromatic hydro-alcoholic solution is now redistilled slowly until the desired strength of alcohol is attained in the second distillate which is clear and water-white. The **Lemon**** ****Aroma-Distillate**** **contains the most delicate and light-aromatic parts of the fragrance and flavor of the lemon oil. Aromadistillates are particularly useful in the creation of flavors for carbonated beverages. The actual flavor strength of aroma-distillates is comparatively low (about 5.0 to 25.0 mg% is **Minimum Perceptible**), but they are unquestionably superior as background and body-notes in the respective flavor types. The low flavor concentration also leads to the advantage of crystal clear solubility in the carbonated drink. **Lemon Aroma **and **Lemon Aroma-Distillate **are, when produced from the essential oil, all-year- round available materials. Aroma-distillates made from lemon peels (by far superior in flavor) are only available when fresh, ripe lemons are available. Aroma-distillates should be aged for at least one month at a uniform temperature of not more than 15° C. prior to use or sale. In this respect they are somewhat similar to the old-fashioned citrus-colognes, obtained by distillation of peel extracts.