Lippia Daunensis Oil

#### Lippia Daunensis. For many decades, Italian scientists and botanists have investigated the flora of East Africa, particularly that of Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Somali- land. They found the labiate **Lippia**** ****Daunensis **among the more interesting perfume plants. A comprehensive report on the findings and the results of the analytical work with respect to this and other East African plants can be found in the Italian periodical: Rivista Italiane Essenze, Profumi, Vol. 38, 1956, page 506. The author has no personal experience with the essential oil of **Lippia Daunensis**, but finds it interesting enough to warrant mention since various other Lippia species have attained a degree fame: **Lippia**** ****Citriodora**—see: **Verbena**** ****Oil,**** **and **Lippia**** ****Daunensis**** **(East African carvone source). The two oils are described in this book. Lippia daunensis oil is steam distilled from the flowering tops of the plant which grows wild and very abundantly in Somaliland. The oil is yellow and its odor reminded the author of the above Italian periodical of tagette ("marigold") and wormwood, later, also of tobacco. It apparently has a dark-foliage type of Compositae-fragrance. Other authors may have confused this oil with the Kenya oil of **Lippia Carviodora **(see monograph). Oil of **Lippia**** ****Daunensis**** **may very well find a future in the African perfume industry, but the oil does apparently not present odor characteristics of sufficient interest to the European and American perfume houses.