The Application of Infra-Red Spectrophotometry to the Examination of Essential Oils

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Abstract
Lavender oils in capillary films, in the range 5000 cm.−1 to 650 cm.−1 show peaks at 1310, 1220, 1085 and 855 cm.−1 of diagnostic value for cineole. A quantitative method based on the cineole peak at 1085 cm.−1 in carbon disulphide solution, and using an “Absorbancy Difference” method provides a truer assessment of the cineole content of lavender oils than do the methods currently described. The o-cresol method is inapplicable to oils containing cineole in the presence of esters, and alcohols. The cineole contents of English and spike lavender oils are lower than the published figures based on the formation of complexes. The official, French, English and spike lavender oils might be classified in the pharmacopoeias by their cineole content.