Melaleuca Viridiflora Oil, Variety "A"

#### Melaleuca Viridiflora, Variety "A". Years ago, before the sesquiterpene alcohol **Nerolidol **was prepared synthetically, considerable time and energy was spent in the search for natural sources of this fine perfume material. Apart from cabreuva oil (see this monograph) only one essential oil yielded sufficient nerolidol to make isolation profitable: the oil of **Melaleuca Viridiflora**, variety "A". The ordinary melaleuca viridiflora tree yields **Niaouli Oil **(see this monograph). The fact that the two trees are physiological forms of the same botanical specimen means that the selection of the correct form requires expert botanical assistance. This explains the failure in the production of the above oil. **Melaleuca Viridiflora**, variety "A" grows in southeastern Australia among many other melaleuca species. Distillation of the leaves of this particular tree gives an oil consisting of about one-third linalool and two-thirds of **Nerolidol**. The latter can be separated in a fairly pure state by fractional distillation. In New Caledonia, the melaleuca viridiflora tree seems to grow only as the "type" which yields **Niaouli**** ****Oil.**** **Accordingly, the niaouli oil is not produced in Australia, but only in New Caledonia. The oil of melaleuca viridiflora, variety "A" is a pale yellow or almost water-white, somewhat oily liquid of soft, sweet-balsamic, woody and slightly floral odor. On drying out, it shows not only great tenacity, but also a very pleasant, floral-woody body, although of very faint odor. This oil is only occasionally available upon request with due notice to the Australian producers. With the appearance of low-cost synthetic nerolidol (1960-price is about $ 14.— per lb.) it seems conceivable that the oil of melaleuca viridiflora, variety "A" may disappear from the perfume market. The oil has little value and no particularly interesting notes to offer as such in perfumery. See also the monograph on: **Cabreuva**** ****Oil,**** ****Niaouli**** ****Oil**** **and **Oleo**** ****Vermelho**.