OPTIMIZATION OF ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTION FROM Cymbopogon spp (LEMON GRASS) AND ITS APPLICATION IN PERFUME FORMULATION

Abstract

Most of the imported perfume products in our market today are synthetic and their usage over time result in skin irritation and other health effects which the cause is not easily known to end users. The present study focused on the yield optimization of the essential oil extraction from leaves of Cymbopogon spp, and its application in perfume formulation. The optimization is by applying two different techniques and identifying the technique with the greater efficiency in terms of yield at a given condition. The steam distillation yield 1.29% compared with 1.13% obtained via Enfleurage. This shows that for optimal yield, steam distillation is more effective in the extraction of essential oil from Cymbopogon spp plants than the enfleurage extraction. This is probably due to the loss of volatile components during the pounding process that preceded extraction. The compound with the highest area percentage in the GC-MS analysis of Cymbopogon spp was 1-Decanol, 2-hexyl- (3.8471%). Although for the purpose of perfume production, L-Menthol which also has a high area percentage (3.5439 %) is of utmost importance as the fragrance of Lemongrass oil extract and its peculiar flavour can be attributed to the abundant presence of levo-menthol. Levo-menthol is used for the treatment, control, prevention, and improvement of the following diseases, conditions and symptoms which includes; occasional minor irritation, Pain, Sore mouth, Sore throat and Cough. It can therefore be inferred that steam distillation at a defined conditions can be adopted as a better method for extraction of essential oil compounds from plants for the purpose of perfume making. Production of perfume using formulation ratio (4:3:3) of alcohol, essential oil from Cymbopogon spp and fixatives respectively gave a good organic perfume with almost zero side reaction response across the different chemistry of bodies and materials applied.