Vetiver oil is obtained by steam distillation of washed and sun-dried rootlets and rhizomes from Vetiveria zizanioides
in approximately 1.0 to 1.5% yields. The oil has a characteristic, sweet, earthy, woody odor that varies somewhat, depending on the
source.
Herbaceous plant having thin rhizomes and rootlets; it grows wild or cultivated in various tropical countries—southern
India, Indonesia, Ceylon, the Philippines, East Africa and Central America. The fibers of the grass are woven into fragrant matting
with an aromatic, balsamic odor. The largest and industrially most important cultivations of vetiver are found in Réunion Island, Java,
Haiti and southern India. The parts used are the rhizomes and rootlets. Vetiver has a sweet, heavy, rich, woody, earthy odor and an
asparagus, green-pea flavor.
Vetiver oil is produced by steam distillation of the roots of the grass Vetiveria
zizanioides (L.)Nash (Poaceae), which grows wild or is cultivated inmany tropical
and subtropical countries.Theoil is a brown to reddish-brown, viscous liquid with
a characteristic precious-wood and root-like, long-lasting odor.
The tenacity of the highly complex vetiver oil is attributed to its high sesquiterpene
content. The ketones α-vetivone (1–6%) and β-vetivone (2–5%), which usually form up to 10% of the oil, as well as khusimol
(5–18%) and isovalencenol (1–16%), are the main constituents.
The oil contains a considerable number of bi- and tricyclic primary, secondary,
and tertiary sesquiterpene alcohols called vetiverols or vetivenols. These alcohols, as well as their acetates, are valuable fragrance
materials. Since several varieties of vetiver grass exist and since fresh as well
as air-dried roots are distilled under conditions that vary with the producer,
the quality of the commercial oils differs considerably. Oil yields are up to 3%.
150–200 t are produced annually.
The oil is a viscous, light-brown to dark-brown liquid.
vetiver oil (Vetiveria zizanioides)(khus-khus) is considered stimulant and tonic, and used in perfumery as well as in cosmetics. The oil, which has an aromatic to harsh woodsy odor, is produced from the roots of a fragrant grass.
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Vetiveria zizanoides, Gramineae.
Essential oil composition
The main constituents include vetiverol (a mixture of sesquiterpene alcohols), vetiverone (sesquiterpene
ketone mixture), vetiveryl esters and palmitic and benzoic acids.
Khusimol, sesquiterpene alcohol isolated from the root of V. zizanioides was found to competitively inhibit the binding
of vasopressin to rat liver V1a receptors.*
