A plant native to Central America, tuberose is cultivated for ornamental purposes (white, lily-like, paired flowers) and
for extractive purposes (solitary flowers), especially in France and Morocco. The flowers, harvested between mid-August and the end
of September, are not distilled because of the low yields and the deterioration of the fragrance of the raw material. Extraction of the
flowers is carried out exclusively by enfleurage or by the use of volatile solvents. The production of tuberose derivatives is extremely
low, less than 5 kg per year. The only part used is the flower. Tuberose has an intense, sweet, floral odor particularly agreeable on
dilution.
Tuberose derivatives contain the following constituents: methylbenzoate, methyl anthranilate, benzyl alcohol, butyric
acid, probably phenylacetic acid, methyl salicylate, eugenol, geraniol, nerol and farnesol. The presence of a ketone (C13H20O) is
somewhat controversial.
