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The leaf oil (ho leaf oil) contains up to 80% linalool; the oil does not contain free crystalline camphor. The oil is steamdistilled from the leaves and has a sweet, floral, delicate odor reminiscent of linalool. Also see Camphor, Tree.

The oil is obtained by steam distillation of chipped wood using rudimentary stills with a perforated bottom to avoid prolonged contact of the material with the boiling water; this results in extensive hydrolysis of the ester content (linalyl acetate). The essential oil is obtained in high yields (8% or more). The oil has a pleasant, rose-like slightly camphorous odor. An essential oil is also steam-distilled from the fruits in approximately 3% yields. The oil differs in chemical composition from linaloe wood oil for its content of dextrorotatory linalool.

The wood oil is a colorless to yellow liquid. It is soluble in propylene glycol and most fixed oils. It is soluble in mineral oil, but becomes turbid on dilution. The oil is insoluble in glycerin.

Found in the leaves of the tree Cinnamomum camphora L. Nees & Ebermeier (Fam. Lauraceae) (Fenarolis Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1971).

Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Cinnamomum camphora, Lauraceae, ho-sho

By steam distillation of the leaves of Cinnamomum camphora Sieb. (Fenarolis Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, 1971).