Chemical Properties
Powerful and penetrating, warm-herbaceous, the minty-camphoraceous odour of moderate to poor tenacity. Warm-herbaceous, bitter taste in concentrations lower than 10 ppm. Higher concentrations produce a pungent-bitter, herbaceous taste.
Definition
The monoterpenoid ketone Thujone is used sparingly in certain perfume formulations, often as a trace component of topnote compositions, and it blends very well with Oakmoss, Rosemary, Geranium, Galbanum and various green-herbaceous notes, and with certain Ambre-t ype fragrances. Herbs containing essential oils in which Thujone forms a major component have been under suspicion by the food authorities, and many products containing Thujone-beaning oils or extracts have been banned from food, beverages, etc. The toxicity of Thujone is roughly estimated at three times that of Nitrobenzene. However, it is not possible to compare the two since the effect of Thujone is entirely different, sometimes classified as “Curare-like” or paralyzing on the human CNS or heart system. The Thujone content of certain Artemisia species, used in “Absinth” alcoholic beverages, was responsible for banning certain brands of alcoholic beverages in the 1930s in France. Thujone is by some authorities considered the most toxic of all commonly occurring components of essential oils. Thujone is produced by isolation from various essential oils: Cedarleaf oil (Thuja oil), Tansy oil, Dalmatian Sage oil, etc.
