Olibanum Oil

#### Olibanum Oil. An essential oil is obtained in a good yield by steam distillation of the crude botanical material (see **Olibanum**). The oil is distilled exclusively in Europe and the U.S.A., occasionally in India for local use. No oil is produced in the countries of origin of the botanical material (except the Indian production). The quality and age of the material is largely responsible for the quality of the resulting oil. A good distillation technique, i.e. experience with distillation of oleo-gum-resins, is also essential. As previously mentioned, dust and siftings from the screening of olibanum are generally not suitable starting material for production of the oil. It is true, however, that olibanum of excellent appearance (which is often preferred for **Incense **or **Frankincense**** **in Catholic churches) may not be a very good starting material for the distillation of essential oil. There is no strict correlation between color and perfumery value of olibanum. **Olibanum**** ****Oil**** **is a mobile liquid, pale yellow or pale amber-greenish in color. Its odor is strongly diffusive, fresh-terpeney, almost green-lemon-like or reminiscent of green, unripe apples (peel), but not terebinthinate. A certain pepperiness is mellowed with a rich, sweet-woody, balsamic undertone. Depending upon the method of distillation of the oil (time, vapor pressure, etc.) the odor is more or less tenacious with an almost cistus-like, ambre-type, balsamic dryout note. The residue from the distillation of olibanum oil is virtually odorless. It consists of resins and a small amount of water-soluble gum. The residue may be extracted with a hydrocarbon solvent to yield a *true *"olibanum resin". This material is not a commercial article, but it finds its way into commercial lots of olibanum resinoid as a "cutting" material, in other words, as a diluent. It improves the fixative value of the olibanum resinoid, but it impairs the odor value of the product. **Olibanum**** ****Oil**** **is used in fine perfumery for the notes described above and in the monograph on olibanum absolute. It gives delightful effects in citrus colognes where it modifies the sweetness of bergamot and orange oils. A similar effect is obtained in the rather difficult "fresh" perfume notes such as verbena, citrus, etc. where olibanum and citral form useful bases for further modifying work. Olibanum oil in itself is a base for all the "incense" or "olibanum" type perfumes and specialties, and it is an important ingredient in many Oriental bases, ambres, "powder" type perfumes, floral perfumes, citrus colognes, spice blends, violet perfumes, "men's fragrances", etc. Various specialties are based upon olibanum oil. The so-called "**Olibanol**" is, in some cases, a partially deterpenized olibanum oil (e.g. alcohol- washed, partially monoterpeneless). In other cases, the term "olibanol" just refers to a compound, suggestive of an olibanum modification. **Olibanum**** ****Oil**** **is available in quite sizeable quantities, and the main difficulty encountered by large-scale users is that of obtaining a uniform high quality of oil (or of the crude olibanum).