Chamomile, Roman
chamaemelum nobile
Note: top.
Aroma Family: fruity, herbaceous.
Aroma profile:
powerfully diffusive, fresh, sweet-warm fruity/herbal aroma with green apple peel and pear-like notes; has a beautifully balanced drydown.
rich, sweet, slightly-fruity, and herbaceous
Blends well with: geranium, and other florals
Source
Scientific name: chamaemelum nobile; anthemis nobilis
Distribution: roman chamomile is native to Western Europe and the northwestern Maghreb, but has been introduced to a variety of areas outside its native range, where it has become naturalised.
Description: chamaemelum nobile has daisy-like white flowers and procumbent stems; the leaves are alternate, bipinnate, finely dissected, and downy to glabrous. The solitary, terminal flowerheads, rising 20–30 cm (8–12 in) above the ground, consist of prominent yellow disk flowers and silver-white ray flowers.
Plant part: flower.
Extraction method: steam distillation.
Appearance: colorless to pale yellow, transparent, mobile liquid. Roman Chamomile oil can be very pale blue or green when first distilled, but this color usually fades over time.
Media
In one study major constituents are angelates and isobutyrates: isobutyl angelate (21.6%), 2-methylbutyl angelate (14.4%), 2-methyl-2-propenyl angelate (9.1%), 3-methylamyl angelate (8.4%), isoamyl angelate (5.5%), 2-methylbutyl isobutyrate (5.2%), 2-methyl-2-butenyl isobutyrate (5.1%), 3-methylpentyl isobutyrate (4.7%), isobutyl isobutyrate (3.6%), 2-methyl-2-butenyl angelate (2.3%).
In another study, the major components are En-yn-dicycloether (20.90%), β-Caryophyllene (19.17%) and Aristolene epoxide (7.39%).
The profile found in one is markedly different, where the main components of the oil of shade-dried flowers were isobutyl angelate (25.9%), 2-methylbutyl angelate (13%), propyl tiglate (12%), isoamyl angelate (6.6%) and 3-methylbutyl isobutyrate (5.2%).
One work studied the chemical composition of essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation from aerial parts of Anthemis nobilis collected at the full flowering stage at Constantine in Algeria. The main constituents were 3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl cyclopropane carboxylate (29.3%), vinyl-2,2-dimethylbutanoate (24.2%), glycidyl methacrylate (9.9%), 2-methylbutyl-2-methylbutyrate (9.1%), isobutyl isobutyrate (7.8%) and 3, 3, 4-trimethylhexane (6.2%).
This variability in chemical composition can be influenced by soil composition and geographical position.
Bibliography
Listening to Scent: An Olfactory Journey with Aromatic Plants and Their Extracts. Jennifer Peace Rhind. 2014. Singing Dragon.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism. Julia Lawless. 1995. Element Books.
Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin. Steffen Arctander. 1962. Allured.
Chemistry section: J. Essent. Oil Res., 15, 83-85, 2003; Appl. J. Envir. Eng. Sci. 5 N°4(2019) 342-348
Images: Wikimedia Commons