Clove Stem Oil

#### Clove Stem Oil. This oil is steam distilled from the stems upon which the clove buds grow (see **Clove Bud Oil).**** **Prior to distillation, the stems are sun-dried but not pulverized; the distillation takes place only in Zanzibar. The entire output of clove stems (3000 to 5000 metric tons per year) is distilled on the spot at the Clove Growers Association's modern distillery in Malindi, a Zanzibar port. There are 12 stainless steel steam stills which operate in shifts of 6, around the clock every day of the year. The exhaust stems are mixed with coconut shells and used as fuel in the fireplaces under the steam generators. All clove stem oil on the market is derived from this distillery. Accordingly, clove stem oil is one of the most uniform of all the essential oils on the market. Since the stems are distilled and then destroyed by law, there is no possibility of producing an experimental, water-distilled clove stem oil. It would be interesting to see, if this oil should have odor qualities similar to those of a water distilled clove bud oil. Zanzibar **Clove Stem Oil **is—when fairly fresh and well stored—a pale yellow to straw yellow colored liquid of strong spicy, somewhat woody, but quite pleasant odor. The odor is not very different from that of eugenol (which is sweeter and less woody). The annual production is about 225 to 250 metric tons, all of which is exported, mainly to Europe and the U.S.A. Part of the oil is redistilled by the buyers, part is used as such in perfumery and flavor work. Some clove stem oil is used for the isolation of eugenol, production of eugenol-derivatives, vanillin, etc. Freshly redistilled clove stem oil is almost colorless. It finds use in perfumery for its spicy note in Oriental bases, spicy after-shave fragrances and other "men's odors", and in flavor work as a low-cost replacement for the more delicate and true-to- nature clove bud oil. Redistilled clove stem oil contains 90 to 96% eugenol, but does not present the sweet-floral, fruity-fresh notes found in the water-distilled clove bud oil. The exceptionally low **Minimum**** ****Perceptible **of the redistilled stem oil (0.04 to 0.06 mg%) may be due to the absence of the odor-depressing caryophyllene. The redistilled stem oil then performs almost like a pure eugenol. It has power, but no bouquet, no typical clove nuances.