Coconut Absolute

#### Coconut Absolute. **Coconut Absolute **is one among a great number of natural perfume materials which are not commercially available but nevertheless are used and appreciated by many perfume houses. The material may accordingly serve in this book as an example of the group of raw materials which are "made on our own premises", as the individual perfume houses would probably say. See also **Linseed Oil Absolute, Cypress Absolute, Lemon Aroma Distillate, Lupulin Distillate**, etc. **Coconut**** ****Absolute**** **is produced by extraction of the comminuted endosperm of **Cocos**** ****Nucifera**, the coconut. Flaked or "grated" coconut meat may be used, but in order to obtain the full and natural gamut of volatile and alcohol extractive matter, it is adviseable to start from the "deoleated" coconut. When coconut meat is expressed hydraulically the oil will contain the volatile substances. The crude coconut oil is subsequently steam distilled in order to recover these odorous components. An essential oil of coconut is produced this way. However, the so-called **Coconut**** ****Absolute**** **is prod- used by alcohol extraction of the crude coconut oil. The alcohol is distilled off under gentle vacuum. A somewhat different coconut absolute is obtained by alcohol extraction of the press-cake of "deoleated" coconut meat. This type of coconut absolute has a "heavier", more nutty type of odor and a darker color. **Coconut Absolute **is usually a pale yellow, dark yellow or brownish yellow colored viscous liquid or a low-melting solid, waxy mass. It has a peculiar fruity-fatty, very fresh and light, yet tenacious odor. Only upon extreme dilution (about 1.0 mg% or lower) the nutty and typical fragrance appears. Coconut Absolute is an interesting material in the hands of the experienced and artistic perfumer for his work in unconventional perfumery. Floral fragrances such as jasmin, lily-of-the- valley, lily, lilac, ylang-ylang, etc. and in particular gardenia as well as fruity notes may be excitingly lifted or modified with this unusual perfume material. It blends well with ambrette seed oil, clove bud oil, cognac oil, neroli oil, sweet orange oil, etc. and with amyl cinnamic aldehyde, decylpropionate, cyclamal, isoeugenol, linalool, methyl nonyl acetaldehyde, trimethyl undecylic aldehyde, etc. Coconut absolute is rarely, if ever, used in flavors although it definitely has a delicate mellowing effect upon synthetic coconut flavors; its flavor strength is comparatively small and it has only little diffusive power. Besides, natural coconut meat flakes or "grated" coconut meat is used extensively "as is" in the candy industry, for baked goods, foods, etc.