Preface   The world of fragrance is highly varied and fascinating. Of about 18000 plant species in India, about 1500 are aromatic, producing essential oil in one or another plant organ, may be root, leaves, flowers and some times bark or wood. In some cases, whole plant is aromatic. They are so diverse in their aroma owing to characteristic volatile oil constituents. It is practically impossible to precisely describe an aroma. Predominance of one or a few volatile constituents such as citral, citronellal and geraniol makes them so unique by imparting pleasing note to them. More than a hundred aromatic oils are in global trade. Essential oils and aroma chemicals derived from them are widely used in cosmetics and food industries. Most of them possess medicinal properties and are used in balms, ointments and skin care products. Their use in health and beauty care can be traced back to 1500 years before Christ. Incenses were used by ancient Egyptians as offering to God in sacred rites. Aroma chemicals were used in auspicious occasions and were presented as precious gifts to kings and emperors. Myrrh and frankincense were among the offering to infant Jesus by the Kings from the East. For Arabs, who developed distillation techniques, fragrances were an integral part of daily life and personal well being. In history, it was always associated with quality of life and expression of reverence. The essence obtained from aromatic crops is no longer an article of luxury but an essential requisite for personal and social hygiene and health care. This hand book on aromatic plants is intended to introduce this wonderful category of crops to undergraduates and to create awareness and interest among progressive farmers to undertake scientific cultivation in order to meet the growing demand for essential oils and natural aroma chemicals. The book is designed as a concise reference for students and a section of entrepreneurs and farmers. The introductory chapter deals with the importance of aromatic crops and their close association with human health and beauty care from time immemorial. History of development of cultivation and aroma based industries in different regions of the world is described to emphasize their significance, scope and role in increasing the quality of human life. Classification of aromatic crops based on their climatic requirement, growth habit and floral morphology elaborated in succeeding chapter will be of great interest to students as well as farmers engaged in their cultivation.

Aromatic plants synthesise and preserve a variety of biochemical products, many of which are extractable and useful as chemical feed stocks or as raw materials for various scientific investigations. Many secondary metabolites of plants are commercially important and find use in a number of perfumery, flavouring and pharmaceutical compounds. The characteristic property of the plant is due to a variety of complex chemical compounds and hence aromatic plants are generally referred to as ‘natural bio-chemical factories’ or ‘chemical goldmines’.  Not all these natural chemicals can be synthesised in laboratory. Aromatic plants possess odorous volatile substances, which occur as essential oil, green exudate, balsam and oleoresin in one or more parts, namely, root, wood, stem, foliage, flower and fruit.  The term essential oil is concomitant to fragrance or perfumes because these fragrances are oily in nature and they represent the essence or active constituents of plants. They are called volatile or ethereal oils as they evaporate when exposed to air at ordinary temperatures.

Though more than 1500 species contain volatile aromatic principles, only around 50 species serve as commercial source of essential oil and aroma-chemicals. Among these, aromatic crops under large-scale cultivation hardly exceeds two dozens. Important aromatic plants of world are classified according to economic part used, growth habit, habitat, crop duration and propagation method besides usual botanical classification.

Essential, volatile or ethereal oils are mixtures composed of volatile liquid and solid compounds which vary widely in regard to their composition and boiling points. Plants owe their fragrance to presence of traces of essential oils in different parts. Numerous fragrance materials are present in roots, stems, barks, leaves, flowers, fruits and heartwoods.      Several processes like distillation, enfleurage, maceration, expression, solvent extraction and fluid extraction are available for extraction of aroma principles. Application of these processes, either singly or in combination depends upon nature of material and essential oil or absolute intended to be recovered.

Essential oils are products of secondary metabolism and are secreted by specialized cells located in specified parts of most plants. By virtue of certain characteristic properties, they have wide spread use in perfumery, flavouring and medicine. Essential oils are variable mixtures of terpenoids. Since these oils are produced by plants, composition varies with species and variety of plant besides geography, climate and cultivation practices. Since, chemical components are highly reactive, physical and chemical environment to which oil is subjected to during the processes of its extraction, processing and storage have a great influence on final composition. Entire chain of activities from cultivation, extraction, processing, storage to packing has to be perfectly standardized and regulated to assure end product consistency. Being a valuable item of trade, this is important from the point of view of delivering desired activity as well as safety to consumer.

“The way to health is the way to have an aromatic bath and a scented massage everyday”                        Hippocrates Aromatherapy is the art and science of using fragrant volatile plant oils and herbs including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being of man by promoting natural healing and health. It is an emerging art of healing through essential oil, which has got therapeutic effect on body, mind and soul.  Essential oils give calmness, emotional and hormonal balance, stress relief and rejuvenation. Medicinal and spiritual properties of scented herbs were noted by ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. Embalming of body of Egyptian Pharaohs was a practice to purify body for afterlife, whereas Egyptian priests used oils and incense as healers. Books were written in ancient Arabia indicating uses and benefits of certain aromas. Perfumed mortar was used by Babylonians to build temples and mosques, for premises cleaning and cleansing aromas. Ancient Greek believed sweet smells were of divine origin and they used to take aromatic bath to drench them in purity. Aromatic bath and scented massage were ways to health for Romans.

Camphor plant is valued for presence of camphor in its wood and leaves. Camphor is chiefly a pharmaceutical product though it is used in preparation of artificial essential oils like lavender and lavendin.  It is used as incense and in balms of various kinds.  It is employed as a masking agent in perfumery and sometimes used to achieve lift in perfume blends. Redistilled brown oil is used directly in soap perfumes for a masking effect. Oil is a source of safrole which is a starting material for production of various perfumery chemicals. In 13th century, Marco Polo noted that camphor oil was highly valued by Chinese as a medicine, scent, and embalming fluid.

Ajowan is a profusely branched winter annual herb, seed oil of which is a major source of thymol, being present to extent of 35-60%. Ajowan oil is aromatic, stimulant and carminative.  It possesses antimicrobial activity. Ajowan seeds are employed either alone or in combination with spices and condiments. It is used in pickles, confectionery and beverages.  It is a good remedy for indigestion.  A paste of crushed fruit is applied externally for relieving colic pains.  It is also used in lotions and ointments.

Index A Aaraar 186 Abhal 186 Ajamoda 149 Ajamodhavoma 149 Ajmod 149, 158 Ajmoda 158 Ambrette 17, 18, 151, 152, 153, 154, 239 Apoorva Sakpaka 229 Apoorva Sampakamu 229 Aratta 174 Asamatavomam 149 Ayamodakam 149 B Babauitulasi 114 Babri 114 Babuna 68 Babuni ki phool 68 Babunphul 68 Bacha 213 Badi Ajmud 158 Banaj Wain 223 Banchi 76 Bantichettu 197 Barbari 114 Bhustarah 95 Bhutghata 158 Bhutulasi 114 Binda 151 Blue Gum Tree 84