Plant Description
Litsea Cubeba (May Chang) essential oil is also commonly referred to by the tree’s botanical name: Litsea. The essential oil is steam distilled from the seeds of a small tropical tree native to native to Vietnam, China and other parts of Southeast Asia. Also known as mountain pepper, exotic verbena, and tropical verbena, the tree is known for its scented flowers and foliage, and small berries shaped like peppers. The aroma is often compared to Lemongrass, though it is considered by many to be finer, and may be the better choice from a purely aromatic standpoint.
To produce may chang fruit oil, the harvested fruit and followed by a process of hydrodistillation (boiling the plant material in water and collecting the condensed vapour). This essential oil has some antimicrobial and antifungal properties, and can be used in the creation of fragrances for its sweet-lemongrassy aroma.
Litsea Cubeba oil properties:
Appearance: Clear, Mobile Liquid
Colour: Pale yellow
Specific gravity at 20℃: 0.865 – 0.910
Refractive Index at 20℃: 1.470 – 1.490
Optical rotation at at 20℃: + 1 to +35
Main components: Geranial: 30 to 45%, Neral: 23 to 37%, Limonene: 3 to 20%