Leptospermum Citratum Oil

#### Leptospermum Citratum. **Leptospermum**** ****Citratum**** ****Oil**** **is obtained from a shrub belonging to the so-called "**Ti-trees**" (or "tea-trees"). See also the monographs on **Melaleuca Oils**. The shrub originated in Australia, and is now cultivated in Kenya, Belgian Congo and in the Union of South Africa. The essential oil is steam distilled from the small leaves of this slowly growing shrub; the yield of oil is not very large. Consequently, the farmers are not overly enthusiastic in undertaking the cultivation of this bush which does not yield a reasonable amount of leaves until it is about 10 years old. The production of this essential oil is still at the "few-tons-per-year" level, with an estimated annual production of 15 metric tons. by far, the greatest amount comes from Eastern Belgian Congo and East Africa. **Leptospermum Citratum Oil **is a yellowish to dark olive or brownish yellow liquid with a very strong, fresh, sweet, yet somewhat sharp or pungent odor, reminiscent of lemongrass, lemon petitgrain and Java citronella oils in a sweet, well-balanced mixture. About 80 to 88% of the oil is made up of citral and citronellal, the former being slightly larger in quantity. However, it is not at all possible to achieve anything like the odor effect of **Leptospermum Citratum Oil **by simply mixing these two aldehydes in the calculated proportions. The power and diffusiveness of this oil is simply striking. It is an excellent base for detergent or soap-flake perfumes of the citronella- or lemongrass-lemon type. In minute quantities, it will impart a sweet freshness to colognes, fougères, lavenders for soap, air fresheners, etc. The oil is quite stable in soap when correctly blended and fixed. **Leptospermum Citratum Oil **is difficult to obtain in ton-lots, and it is therefore frequently adulterated. Very logically, lemongrass oil, citronella oils (Java or Formosa types), eucalyptus citriodora oil, etc. are commonly used as adulterants; all of these reduce the strength of the true oil. It is interesting to observe that the "inevitable" methyl heptenone is present in this oil only in traces, judging from the odor. This makes the **Terpeneless**** ****Leptospermum**** ****Citratum**** ****Oil**** **a very pleasant smelling perfume material. By cautious "stripping" of the natural oil under good vacuum, 10 to 15% by weight is removed as top fractions. The distillation is discontinued. A little citral is lost, but the terpeneless oil turns out with a clean-sweet, intensely fresh odor, and even a pleasant taste. It apparently becomes more stable in respect to oxidation, and its area of application is greatly enlarged. As mentioned above, even if there is a strong demand, an increase in the production of this oil is only possible after many years of plantation work and the use of valuable soil. On the other hand, if there weren't a certain demand, the oil would definitely disappear from the market and we would be one highly interesting perfume material poorer. Once this oil is used in a formula, it is hard to replace.