Cestrum Nocturnum Oil

#### Cestrum Nocturnum. This small shrub belongs to the same botanical genus as do the potato and the tobacco plants. It is grown as an ornamental and fragrant shrub in many parts of India, in China and in other parts of the Far East. The local name for the shrub in India is "rajanigandha" which means "night queen", not to be confused with the famous cactus of the same nickname. The flowers of cestrum nocturnum are, like many other long-tubed flowers, particularly fragrant at night in order to attract certain night- butterflies and moths who are able to reach the honey with their very long trunk. The flowers are white with pale green tubes. The author has no experience with the use of this oil in perfumery since the samples which the author received during the past 6 years have been either too small, too old or, in cases, they were merely "attars" and not true essential oils. Judging from the extremely heavy isoeugenol-like, faintly carnation-like, woody-warm, yet strongly floral odor, the essential oil of **Cestrum**** ****Nocturnum **could find use as a "new note" in many modern "warm-spicy" or aldehydic-floral perfume types. "Attars" of cestrum nocturnum flowers are prepared in India by co-distillation with sandalwood oil or by distilling the essential oil of cestrum nocturnum into a receiver with sandalwood oil or with a vegetable (fixed) oil. These "attars" find use in East Indian perfumery. Essential oils, absolutes or "attars" of **Cestrum**** ****Nocturnum**** **are not regularly available outside of the countries of origin.