Oakmoss Absolute Co-Distillates

#### Oakmoss Absolute Co-Distillates. One of the best ways to obtain a good yield of essential oil of oakmoss and, at the same time, produce a colorless distillate is co-distillation of an oakmoss absolute with an odorless, high-boiling solvent, e.g. ethylene glycol, glycerine, isopropyl myristate, etc. The distillation is usually carried out in a comparatively small still, preferably all-glass, and at the best possible vacuum, short column and quick distillation. Molecular distillation is performed by certain manufacturers of these special oakmoss products, e.g. the "anhydrols" (reg. trade name of L. Givaudan & Cie., Geneva). Anhydrols are glycol-extracted or isopropyl myristate-extracted oakmoss products which are distilled in a molecular still. Other products are obtained by special extraction, followed by co-distillation with the high-boiling solvent. It is quite common in these cases *not** *to soak the lichen prior to extraction. In fact, some manufacturers claim that it is preferable to extract the absolutely *dry lichen.* **Oakmoss Absolute Co-Distillates **are pale yellow or almost colorless, oily or viscous liquids, having various types of oakmoss odor. The odor strength also varies according to the amount of odorless solvent left in the distillate. These products are not replacements for oak- moss absolutes, nor for the essential oil of oak-moss since few or none of them have this type of odor. Rather, they are new types of oakmoss products, offered with the advantage of great solubility, no color, comparatively great strength, uniform quality, and a reasonable cost compared to that of pure oil of oakmoss. The co-distillates find application in all kinds of fougères, colognes, chypres, modern blends, aldehydic bases, bouquets, forest notes, tabac perfumes, "men's fragrances", etc. They generally cause less trouble in aerosol perfumes than do the extracted oakmoss products.