Turpentine EO

Latin name :

Pinus sylvestris

Botanical profile :

Turpentine is the resin of the Scots pine, of the Pinaceae family and the genus Pinus.

Geographic origin :

Native to Asia and Europe, Scots pine is grown in Russia, Canada, France and the USA.

Chemotypes :

Scots pine has two different chemotypes: one is ssp. sylvetris and the other contains δ-3-Carene.
Other pines are commonly used in perfumery including:
The longleaf Indian pine from the Himalayas (Pinus roxburghii); the black pine (Pinus nigra), whose two subspecies are the laricio pine of Corsica and Calabria, and the black pine of Austria; the Swiss pine (Pinus cembra); the mountain pine (Pinus montana); the maritime pine (Pinus pinaster); the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) are pines originating in Eurasia, such as the Sylvester pine.
The white pine (Pinus strobus), the red pine (Pinus resinosa), the jack pine (Pinus divaricata) and the western yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) are pines from North America.
The difference made between a pine (genus Pinus) and a fir (genus Abies) lies in the arrangement of their needles: the needles of the pine inserted in groups of two, three or five, and the needles of the fir are arranged one by one to the twigs.

Extraction process :

The Sylvester pine can measure up to 40 meters high and has a bare trunk which facilitates the collection of its resin. The Sylvester pine resin is collected by incision of the tree. This resin is actually a means of defence for the tree and is secreted as soon as an aggression is inflicted on it. The resin flows out after a voluntary incision of the tree. Then, it is filtered and steam distilled. The essential oil is separated by decantation of the water at the refrigerant outlet.
The resin yield varies according to the chemotypes and the geolocation of the tree. The extraction yield of the essential oil is between 13 and 25% which explains it low cost.

Major Components :

Alpha-Pinene (75-85%)
Beta-Pinene (1-3%)
Camphene (5-15%)
D-Limonene (5-15%)
Delta-3-Carene
Terpinolene