Monday, July 30, 2012

Monkey Monday: Curious Isolates


I'm currently reading Shelley Waddington's book "Perfuming with Natural Isolates" - which I highly recommend to anyone who's interested in broadening their knowledge of the natural raw materials and understanding the depth of their chemical makep; and for those wishing to include natural isolates for special effects in a perfume composition while keeping their commitment to using solely natural raw materials.

The world of chemistry is fascinating and vast, and it's exciting to always make new discoveries - big or small - about the characteristics of the fragrant raw materials I work with on a regular basis. Smelling the isolates on their own sheds new light on subject, and brings forth aspects that were before either vague, subtle or completely hidden from my nose. Truly incredible learning curve.

There are also some curious facts about isolates, so we'll dedicate today's Monkey Monday giveaway for you to answer correctly the following five isolate-related questions:
1) What is the name of the molecule that gives spearmint its characteristic scent?
2) What's the common isolate for these three oils: Hay Lime and Tonka Bean?
3) What isolate is used to produce the drug Ecstasy?
4) What's a characteristic molecule that's common to orange blossom, tuberose and ylang ylang?
5) What does citral smell like? And what plant(s) essential oil(s) has/have the highest citral content?

Answer as many as you can to increase your chance to win (you will be entered the number of times you answer correctly, so even if you know only one answer, you will get entered).
Among those who answer correctly, there will be a lucky draw on Friday at noon to win a 1/4oz bottle of Go Ask Alice - an all natural perfume from En Voyage Perfumes.

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9 Comments:

At July 30, 2012 5:55 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, that was a fun bit of research. I'm confident I got all 5 (only one off the top of my head), but as I was a lucky Monkey Monday winner a mere two weeks ago I'll leave the field to others.

Thanks again -- Treazon is gorgeous! It has distracted me from sampling the others so far, although the Olympics Orchids ones are scenting my living room without even being opened yet.

-- Lindaloo

 
At July 30, 2012 11:08 PM, Blogger nekosan said...

Ooooh, I love these research questions. =D

1) R-(–)-carvarvone
(While L-(+)-carvcarvone smells like caraway! Enantiomers are so cool!)
2) coumarin
(Which I came across last week and is a precursor to Coumadin.)
3) safrole
4) methyl anthranilate
It's also used as a bird repellant. =O
This one took me the longest, and I'm not sure I'm right.
5a) Lemon. (The name certainly implies citrus!)
5b) Lemon myrtle, May Chang (litsea cubeba), lemongrass, lemon tea tree oils have high citral content. Wikipedia lists: lemon myrtle (90-98%), Litsea citrata (90%), Litsea cubeba (70-85%), lemongrass (65-85%), lemon tea-tree (70-80%), Ocimum gratissimum(66.5%), Lindera citriodora (about 65%), Calypranthes parriculata (about 62%), petitgrain (36%), lemon verbena (30-35%), lemon ironbark (26%), lemon balm (11%), lime (6-9%), lemon (2-5%), and orange.

 
At July 31, 2012 10:10 AM, Anonymous cheesegan said...

I was also a lucky Monkey Monday winner, so I will decline to enter this contest, but I like this game, so here's my guesses just for guessing sake.

1. What is the name of the molecule that gives spearmint its characteristic scent? L-Carvone

2) What's the common isolate for these three oils: Hay Lime and Tonka Bean? Coumarin

3) What isolate is used to produce the drug Ecstasy? Safrole

4) What's a characteristic molecule that's common to orange blossom, tuberose and ylang ylang? Indole

5) What does citral smell like? And what plant(s) essential oil(s) has/have the highest citral content? Lemons. Lemon Myrtle, Lisea citrata, Litsea cubeba, Lemongrass


Thanks againfor L'amour Immortelle, it's lovely.

 
At July 31, 2012 11:40 AM, Blogger Ayala Moriel said...

Thank you for everyone guesses! Would be great to have some new contestants - please don't be shy to take a guess and comment!

 
At July 31, 2012 11:54 AM, Anonymous BridgetTheodore said...

I guess I'll take my stab at this! I have not been a winner yet...

1- carvone
2- coumarin
3- safrole
4- methyl anthranilate (also found in rotting flesh...ewww!)
5- lemon?

Hope I got them right!

 
At July 31, 2012 4:51 PM, Blogger yash said...

my guesses would be:
1. carvone
2. courmarin
3.safrole
4.Methyl anthranilate
5. citral has a strong lemon odor
. lemon myrtle, litsea citrata,litsea cubeba, lemongrass, lemon tea tree, clove basil, lindera
citriodora...
keeping my fingers crossed

 
At July 31, 2012 7:36 PM, Blogger Michael said...

Well its been a while since I entered for a Monkey Monday, though I have been thuroughly enjoying the posts!

Since I have read and really enjoyed Shelley's book as well, here's my shot at it.

1) What is the name of the molecule that gives spearmint its characteristic scent?

l-carvone

2) What's the common isolate for these three oils: Hay Lime and Tonka Bean?

Coumarin

3) What isolate is used to produce the drug Ecstasy?

Safrole

4) What's a characteristic molecule that's common to orange blossom, tuberose and ylang ylang?

Methyl Anthranilate

5) What does citral smell like? And what plant(s) essential oil(s) has/have the highest citral content?

Lemon peel with green nuances, and Lemon Myrtle is one of the highest, as well as Listea Cubeba, lemongrass, citronella, many others.

Thank you so much!

Michael

 
At July 31, 2012 10:57 PM, Blogger nekosan said...

Argh, spell-check mangled some of my answers. :(
1) should read R-(-)-carvone (aka l-carvone).
While the other enantiomere is S-(+)-carvone (aka d-carvone).

 
At July 31, 2012 11:39 PM, Blogger Ayala Moriel said...

nekosan, it's just another system for the same thing (different isomer of the same molecule).

 

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