Juniper Berry EO

Latin name :

Juniperus communis L

Botanical profile :

Juniper belongs to the Cupressaceae family and to the Juniperus genus.

Geographic origin :

It can be found in abundance throughout Europe but also in the USA as well as in Central Asia and North Africa. Cultivation for perfumes are mainly in Macedonia and Bulgaria.

Chemotypes :

Finally, there are other species of juniper, such as the dwarf juniper (Juniperus alpina), from the Alps and the Corsican montains, cultivated for its branches, the Himalayan juniper (Juniperus indica) or the thuriferous juniper (Juniperus thurifera), among others.

Extraction process :

The essential oil of the Juniperus Communis tree is in its branches and in its berries. The berries are harvested and processed from August to September during their third year, when the fruits change from a green to a blue-black colour. The fruits are collected by hand : branches are beated to make the fruits fall and afterwards, the berries are sorted. At the factory, the berries are dried on mats before they are extracted by steam distillation. The essential oil is collected by decantation in a florentine vase.
The extraction yield is between 0.8 and 1.6%. The volatile solvent extraction gives a resinoid with an amber and balsamic smell.

Major Components :

Alpha-Pinene (30-80%)
Bornyl Acetate + Terpinyl Acetate (≈30%)
Myrcene (10-12%)
Alpha-Muurolene (10-11%)
Beta-Farnesene (10-11%)
Sabinene (≈8-20%)