Comparative composition of decanted and recovered essential oils of <i>Eucalyptus citriodora</i> Hook

Abstract

Abstract The chemical composition of decanted (obtained directly by steam distillation of the leaves) and recovered (extracted from distillation water using hexane) essential oils of Eucalyptus citriodora were examined. The decanted oil was richer in citronellal (70.3%), citronellol (8.8%), citronellyl acetate (1.3%) and β ‐caryophyllene (2.6%). The recovered oil was richer in isopulegol (53.0%), borneol (10.0%), menthol (5.3%), neral (6.9%), geraniol (1.4%) and eugenol (4.6%). Citronellal, the major constituent of the decanted oil, was absent in the recovered oil. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.