EXTRACTION AND FORMULATION OF PERFUME FROM LEMONGRASS LEAVES

 

EXTRACTION AND FORMULATION OF PERFUME FROM LEMONGRASS LEAVES

Perfume extraction refers to the extraction of aromatic compounds from raw materials, using methods such as distillation, solvent extraction, expression  or enfleurage.  The  extracts  are  either  essential  oils,  absolutes,  concretes,  or butters,  depending  on  the  amount  of  waxes  in  the  extracted  product.  Heat, chemical solvents, or exposure to oxygen in the extraction process denature the aromatic compounds, either changing their odour, character or rendering them odourless. In this work three methods, solvent extraction, hydro distillation and enfleurage methods were used to extract essential oil from lemongrass. Solvent extraction method yielded 2.08%, enfluerage method yielded 1.96% and hydro distillation methods yielded 0.95% essential oil respectively. From the analysis solvent extraction gave the highest yield because of the less exposure air and heat  and  this  conform  the  literature  value.  The  extracted  essential  oil  was formulated into perfume using a fixative and carrier solvent.