Odour
Intensely sweet, rich and spicy-aromatic, warm odor, reminiscent of celery, angelica, tonka, etc., with a slightly musky-woody undertone. Much "heavier" in type than the essential oil, presenting little or no "lift" or topnote, yet has comparatively good diffusive power.
Flavour
More pungent than the oil, with reduced topnote effect influencing the overall flavor. Minimum Perceptible close to 0.008 mg%. Suggested use level 0.03 to 0.10 mg%.
Notes
Superior as a flavor material compared to steam distilled oil. Various solvents produce different quality extracts - petroleum ether yields less but lighter colored extract. Benzene must be completely removed before food use. Power easily underestimated, requires great experience.
Full Arctander text
#### Lovage Oleoresin
See also **Lovage**** ****Oil**. Quite frequently, lovage extracts are sold under the label, "**Lovage**** ****Oil**."
The yield is higher, and the product is superior as a flavor material when lovage roots are
extracted rather than steam distilled. There seems to be a tendency towards general acceptance of lovage extracts as "lovage oil". In all cases, unless otherwise stated, the **Root**** **is the botanical starting material. By extraction of the roots with petroleum ether, ethyl alcohol, rectified gasoline, benzene or acetone, various extracts are produced. Petroleum ether yields less extract, but a lighter colored one. Benzene must be removed completely from the extract prior to its being used in food.
**Lovage Oleoresin **is usually a very viscous, dark brown or dark amber colored liquid of intensely sweet, rich and spicy-aromatic, warm odor, reminiscent of celery, angelica, tonka, etc., with a slightly musky-woody undertone. Although quite similar to the essential oil in odor characteristics, the extract is much "heavier" in type, presenting little or no "lift" or topnote, yet, it has comparatively good diffusive power. (Compare angelica root oil and angelica root absolute). The flavor of lovage oleoresin is more pungent than that of the oil and, here again, the reduced topnote effect influences the overall flavor effect.
In perfumery, **Lovage**** ****Root**** ****Oleoresin**** **or **Lovage**** ****Root**** ****Absolute**** **is used sparingly in heavy, Oriental bases, fougères, spice blends, new mown hay bases, etc.
In flavors, it may replace the root or the abandoned tincture in the flavoring of meat sauces, seasonings, pickles, salts, etc. The suggested use level is about 0.03 to 0.10 mg%, and the **Minimum**** ****Perceptible**** **is close to 0.008 mg%. These figures vary considerably according to the type of oleoresin, type of solvent used, etc. The power of this material is easily underestimated, and great experience is needed to enjoy fully the effects of this extremely tenacious odor and powerful flavor in perfume and flavor creation.
**Lovage Oleoresin **and **Lovage Absolute **are occasionally adulterated with the materials mentioned under **Lovage**** ****Oil**** **(see following monograph). The annual production is very limited, but it has been steadily increasing beyond the 100-kilo mark.