The volatile oil is obtained by the steam distillation from the wood of Amyris balsamifera L. The yield is approximately
2.5 to 3.0%. Amyris oil has a wood-like odor reminiscent of sandalwood with a burning taste. It is used as a fixative in perfumery
and in flavors, such as Oriental specialties and liqueurs
Amyris oil is obtained by steam distillation of the wood from the tree Amyris
balsamifera L. (Rutaceae), which grows in the Caribbean (Haiti) area and around
the Gulf of Mexico. It is a pale yellow to amber, slightly viscous liquid with a mild
wood odor.
d2020 0.946–0.978; n20D 1.505–1.510; [α]20D+10° to+60; solubility: 1 vol in 1 vol
of 90% ethanol at 20°C; solutions sometimes become opalescent on dilution; acid
number: max. 3.0; ester number (after acetylation).
It is a clear, pale-yellow liquid. It is soluble in most fixed oils and usually in mineral oil. It is
soluble in an equal volume of propylene glycol, the solution often becoming opalescent on further dilution. It is practically insoluble
in glycerin.
The oil is sometimes incorrectly called West Indian sandalwood oil. However,
its composition and odor are different from those of the oils obtained
from sandalwood species. The major components of amyris oil are sesquiterpenoids
such as elemol [639-99-6], ??-eudesmol [473-15-4], and epi-??-eudesmol
[15051-81-7]. Annually～50 t are produced.
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Amyris balsamifera, Rutaceae.
Essential oil composition
The essential oil has the following constituents: alcohols: valerianol 21.5%; elemol 9.1%; cadinol
50.1%; β-eudesmol 7.9%; γ-eudesmol 6.6%; 10-epi-γ-eudesmol 9.7%; α-eudesmol 4.8%; 7-epi-α-eudesmol1 0.7%; dridemol 1.1%.
Terpenic hydrocarbons: cadinene 10.7%; curcumene 1.5%; β-sesquiphellandrene 4.7%; β-bisabolene 0.8%; α-zingiberene 2.4%;
seline 3,7(11)-diene 2.5%. Carbonyl and lactonic compounds: α-agarofuran 0.5%; bisabolone 0.9% (CoE, 2000).
