Roman Chamomile Oil

#### Chamomile Oil, "Roman". Occasionally called "chamomile oil", the **Roman Chamomile Oil **is distilled from the ligulate florets of **Anthemis**** ****Nobilis**, a plant which is related to the "true" chamomile (see monograph **Chamomile Oil, "German"**), but which looks more like the wild chrysanthemum. **Anthemis**** ****Nobilis**** **is cultivated in England, Belgium, France, and Hungary for the purpose of collecting flowers (flower heads). Distillation is by steam and takes place mainly in England. Other flowers are sold to pharmaceutical houses. The yield of essential oil is very small. **Roman Chamomile Oil **is a pale blue, mobile liquid (when fairly fresh) of sweet herbaceous, somewhat fruity-warm and tealeaf-like odor. The odor is extremely diffusive but it has little tenacity. The flavor of the oil is somewhat bitter, chemical or medicinal, but also fruity-herbaceous, warm. **Roman Chamomile Oil **and **German Chamomile Oil **are, if distilled in the same way, somewhat similar, and they do contain the same odor and flavor principles. The oils are distinguished analytically by the fact that they present the highest ester value of all essential oils known (the ester value is about 300). This is due to a very high content of the butyl-, amyl- and hexyl esters of tiglic and angelic acids. The ester content is about 85%. These esters are responsible for the peculiar odor of the chamomile oils. The pale blue color of **Roman**** ****Chamomile**** **oil is due to the presence of a hydrocarbon, **Chamazulene**** **which is high boiling and thus present only in traces in the "Roman" chamomile oil. See also **Chamomile**** ****Absolute **under **Chamomile Oil, "German"**. "Roman" chamomile oil is rarely used in flavor work (occasionally in certain types of alcoholic beverages), but more frequently, although very sparingly, in perfumes. It imparts a warm, yet fresh note and a natural depth which is difficult to obtain by other means. Roman chamomile oil blends well with amyl cinnamic aldehyde, bergamot oil, jasmin bases, labdanum products, neroli oil, sage clary oil, or absolute, oakmoss products. etc., but it is mainly a trace additive, independent of the "body" materials in the perfume. The oil is sometimes preferred over the "german" chamomile oil because of the much paler color of the "Roman" oil. However, both oils fade on ageing. This color change will tell the perfumer about the age of the oil, but it has no direct connection with the odor of the oil. Roman Chamomile Oil is produced in limited quantities only. Some years, the production has been lower than 100 kilos. It rarely exceeds 500 kilos.