Birch Sweet Essential Oil
Birch is a graceful tree about 25m high, which has a pyrmidal shape while young. It has bright green leaves and a dark reddish-brown aromatic bark, which his broken into plates or patches. Native to southern Canada and south-eastern USA; produced mainly in Pennsylvania.
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| Botanical Name: | Betula lenta L. |
| Family: | Betulaceae |
| Synonyms: | Betula, capinefolia, southern birch, mahogany birch, mountain mahogany, sweet birch, black birch, cherry birch, spice birch. |
| See Also: | Birch White Birch Tar |
| Parts Used: | Inner Bark macerated in warm water. |
| Extraction Method: | Steam Distillation. |
| Appearance: | Colourless to pale yellow clear liquid |
| Aroma Description: | Intense sweet-woody aroma, nearly fruit-like. |
| Perfume note: | Top to Middle |
| Consistancy: | Thin |
| Strength of Initial Aroma: | Medium |
| Blends well with: | Benzoin, jasmine, sandalwood, rosemary and mint oils. |
| Historical Uses: | Wintergreen and Sweet Birch oil, both nearly identical in chemical composition and aroma are both traditional folk remedies. Both Native Americans and early settlers used to cut the inner layer of the Birch bark in strips and eat it. It was also used to make tea that was considered a general stimulant. |
| Modern Uses: | Limited use as a fragrance component in cosmetics and perfumes; extensively used as a flavouring agent, especially ‘root beer’, chewing gum, toothpaste, etc., (usually very low-level use). Methyl Salicylate is now commercially produced and known under the name Aspirin etc. Limited use as a counter-irritant in anti-arthritic and antineuralgic ointments and analgesic balms. |
| Cautions: | Methyl salicylate, the major constituent, is not exactly toxic but can be very harmful in concentration. Possible skin irritant. Avoid during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Not to be used on babies or small children. |
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