Lindera chunii

No ethnobotanical data added yet. Help us by writing one.

Common products:
Leaf essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of fresh foliage, is the principal product. It is used as a fragrance raw material in perfumery, soaps and detergents. The oil also serves as a reference material for GC‑MS analysis of Lauraceae essential oil profiles. The oil is also investigated in academic studies for its chemotaxonomic significance within the Lauraceae family.

Industrial and craft applications:
The essential oil is incorporated into scented consumer products such as soap, laundry detergent, household cleaners, scented candles, incense sticks and room fresheners, where its eucalyptus‑type aroma provides a fresh note. The oil's stability at moderate temperatures makes it suitable for use in candle formulations where prolonged release is desired.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
Leaf oil of L. chunii is incorporated into cosmetic formulations such as creams, lotions and toiletries, typically at 0.1–0.5 % of the final product, in line with IFRA guidance. It imparts a fresh, eucalyptus‑like scent without contributing to the product's functional activity. Its low viscosity facilitates incorporation into water‑based formulations without requiring additional solubilizers.

Properties relevant to use:
The oil is dominated by monoterpenes: 1,8‑cineole (30–45 % of the oil), α‑pinene (5–10 %), β‑pinene (4–8 %), limonene (3–5 %) and minor sesquiterpenes (e.g., β‑caryophyllene). It is a clear to pale yellow liquid with a specific gravity of 0.920–0.940 at 20 °C, a refractive index of 1.470–1.485 and a boiling range of 170–180 °C. Steam distillation of fresh leaves yields approximately 0.3–0.5 % (w/w) oil. The oil exhibits a flash point above 70 °C, which is within industry safety limits for handling.

Standards and regulation:
The essential oil is listed in the International Fragrance Association (IFRA) List of Fragrance Materials. Its use complies with the IFRA Code of Practice and is regulated under the European Union Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009. Quality specifications are also aligned with ISO 3214 for essential oil testing. Safety data sheets (SDS) are typically prepared according to ISO 11014, detailing handling and storage procedures.

Sustainability and sourcing:
Lindera chunii occurs in southern China and northern Vietnam. Commercial material is currently wild‑harvested; an estimated 10 t of leaf material is collected annually from natural stands in Yunnan province. Sustainable harvesting practices, guided by the Chinese national standard GB/T 19620 for wild‑collected medicinal plants, have been adopted by local cooperatives to limit over‑harvesting and to support habitat conservation. Monitoring of population densities by local botanists has shown stable populations over the last decade, supporting continued low‑impact harvesting.

No known synonyms.

No subspecies added yet.

No variety added yet.

No subvariety added yet.

No forms added yet.

No germination or propagation data was added yet.

No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

No known contributors. Be the first!

In private collections	0
In public collections	0

You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.