Linaloe

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Bursera delpechiana	Linaloe	Burseraceae
Linaloe is a large dioeciously tree whose wood as well as the berries and leaves yield essential oils which are used as the raw material for the extraction of linalool. Linaloe tree is a native of Mexico. Linaloe plant requires a dry tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 500‑1000 mm. It grows upto an altitude of 760 m. The tree is very hardy and it flourishes even on rocky soils. In deep sandy loam it attains good height with spreading branches. Well drained medium or light loamy soil with neutral pH is ideal for growing the crop. Water logging causes cracking of stems and finally wilting away to death. Seeds and sowing: The plant is propagated by stem cuttings and seeds. Stem cuttings are usually used as seeds do not germinate easily and germination is very poor. Cuttings of about 1 m length and 1‑3 cm diameter are first planted in nursery or poly bags. About 90% recovery is obtained. The rooted cuttings are transplanted to the main field after 4‑6 months in pits of 80 cm cube at a spacing of 6‑7 m. The plants establish in the field very quickly. They start shedding leaves during November and are completely bare of foliage till late March when new flushes appear. After cultivation: They are very hardy and once established do not need much care. No serious pests and diseases are noticed.

Country of Origin: Mexico
Extraction Method: Steam distilled

Harvesting and processing: Linaloe plant raised from cuttings set fruits the first year itself while those from seeds take about 5 years for fruit set. New flush of leaves along with flower buds appear in April. Berries start setting by May and mature by July August when they are harvested, dried and dehusked. One kg of dried husk is obtained from 5 6 kg of fully mature berries.
Almost all parts of the linaloe tree contain aroma. Mexicans distill the wood while Indians use the outer husks of berries. The husk oil yield is much less, 1.8% as compared to 2.5 3.0% obtained from the wood in Mexico. The berries can be steam distilled either fresh or dry. Fresh berries take about 5 hours while dry ones 20 25 hours for distillation. The still should not be filled up to the brim as the husks swell during distillation. Fresh fruits yield 1.5 2.5% oil while dried husks yield 8 12% oil. The wood oil is distilled from the wood of 40 60 years old trees which yield 7 12% oil while younger trees yield 2.5 3% oil. The seed oil produced in India is known as Mysore Linaloe oil or Indian Lavender oil. Leaf oil yield is 0.15 0.25%.
Chemical constituents: The approximate composition of the husk oil is methyl heptanol 1.5%, linalool 47.7%, linalyl acetate 40.8%, sesquiterpene and other viscous substances 8%. Mexican oil contains 60 75% linalool. the leaf oil has a sweet wafting odour and it contains 65 70% linalyl acetate.
Because of the stability to alkali, the oil is particularly useful in the manufacture of scents, cosmetics and soaps; transparent soaps. The berry oil resembles Bois de Rose and can be used as a fixative in perfuming lily, lavender, cananga and soaps.