Available essential oils analysis tests

• Gas chromatography analysis – FID (Numerous constituents)
• Laboratory distillation
• Infrared spectroscopy
• Simple distillation - pilot scale
• Complex distillation - pilot scale
• Percentage component/oil in creams and lotions
• Gas chromatography-MS analysis and interpretation
• Other research and development on request

How to submit oil and foliage samples

Oil samples

• Use only glass containers as most oils dissolve plastic.
• Use a glass bottle with a hard plastic lid (childproof caps are best).
• Provide at least 2 ml of clear oil with no visible water or contaminants.
• Fill the bottle as full as possible to reduce oxidation in transit.

Foliage samples

• Pack leaf material into paper bags, paper envelopes or boxes. Do not use plastic bags as the material will sweat and go mouldy.
• For an individual tree test (extraction), provide one small sprig of mature leaf.
• For a plantation test (distillation), provide one 5cm sprig from each tree in the area, or from a statistically valid random tree sampling of the area. The total number of samples should weigh around 500 g to 1kg.
• For a seed tree test (distillation), provide up to 500 g of leaf material (100 g minimum).
• For a seedling cineole quality test (distillation) provide a sample of clippings from the first pruning cut, sent in a cardboard box (not a plastic bag). The ideal amount is 1-2 kg.

Where do I send my sample?

Chemical Ecology and Essential Oil Research Unit
Wollongbar Agricultural Institute
1243 Bruxner Highway
Wollongbar
NSW 2477