Volatile Oils Characteristics

Volatile oils are odoriferous liquid of complex mixture that vary in chemical composition. They are colorless, lipid soluble, have characteristic odor, high refractive index, and are lighter than water with some exceptions.

Volatile oils evaporate and change to gas when exposed to air at ordinary temperature, distributing their odor everywhere.

The sources of volatile oils include plant sources, such as oil of citrus and ginger oil, and animal sources, such as musk oil, cevits scent, and ambergris.

<p>Oil of wintergreen, oil of almond, and oil of mustard are exceptions to the characteristic odor of volatile oils, as they are produced by enzymatic hydrolysis of glucoside.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Musk oil is the dried secretion of musk deer, obtained from the sexual organs of male deer for reproduction. It is commercially used in Asia.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Colorless</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Hydrolysis (oxidation) or resinification</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They evaporate and change to gas</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Lipid soluble and miscible with organic solvent</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Oil of wintergreen, oil of almond &amp; oil of mustard</p> Signup and view all the answers