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The Michelia genus consists of approximately 45 species of evergreen and deciduous shrubs and trees distributed in southeast Asia. M. alba has small, white, very fragrant flowers with leaves similar to avocado. This fast-growing shade tree is popular in China, where it is used as a containerized plant or shade tree. It blooms during warm weather and is a member of the magnolia family. It is related to the banana shrub, M. fuscata. The flowers have been used to add a pleasing aromatic note to tea

The oil is prepared by water distillation, steam distillation or organic solvent extraction. The oil yield is generally 0.78 to 1.12% (v/w dry material). Only water distillation and steam distillation products are free from the reddish tinge of other extracted essential oil

The flower oil contains linalool 72.8% [(R) 75%; (S) 25%]; α-terpineol 6.04%; β-phenylethyl alcohol 2.58%; β-pinene 2.3%; methyl 2-methylbutyrate 1.46%; geraniol 1.239%; 1,8-cineole 1.03%. The leaf oil contains linalool 80.1% [(R) 95.3%; (S) 4.7%]; β-caryophyllene 3.0%; β-elemene 1.7%; caryophyllene oxide 1.68%; and nerolidol 1.19%.