Bitter Almond Essential Oil
The Almond is a small deciduous tree, native to central Asia and perhaps the Mediterranean, is now cultivated principally in the Middle East, Italy, Spain, and in California. It closely resembles the peach, of which it may be an ancestor, except that the fruit is fleshless. In the Middle East the tree breaks into sudden bloom in January, and in Syria and Palestine it has come to symbolize beauty and revival. The rod of Aaron in the Bible bore almonds.
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| Botanical Name: | Prunus dulcis var. amara (DC.) Buchheim |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Synonyms: | Prunus amygdalus var. amara, amygdalus communis var. amara, amara dulcis, prunus communis |
| See Also: | |
| Parts Used: | Kernels |
| Extraction Method: | Steam Distillation, |
| Appearance: | Colourless liquid |
| Aroma Description: | Marzipan odour |
| Perfume note: | |
| Consistancy: | Thin |
| Strength of Initial Aroma: | |
| Blends well with: | |
| Historical Uses: | |
| Modern Uses: | Rectified bitter almond oil is used for flavouring in some confectioneries. |
| Cautions: | Contains prussic acid, aka. hydrocynaic acid or cyanide - a well known poison. Benzaldahyde is moderately toxic. No use in therapy. |
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