essential oil

Essential oils are odorous products obtained from natural raw materials such as leaves, fruits, roots and wood of many seasonal or perennial plants. They are generally of complex composition and contain alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, phenols, esters, ethers, and turpenes in varying proportions. An estimated 3,000 essential oils are known of which approximately 300 are of commercial importance. The majority of them are obtained from agricultural plants, but some 26 essential oils are collected in commercial quantities from wild sources. World total production of essential oils is estimated at about 100,000 to 110,000 metric tons. The major exporters of essential oils are the United States (US), the European Union (EU) and a number of developing countries, the most important of which are China, Indonesia, India and Brazil. In year 1998 the EU accounted for 52 per cent of the value of world exports, and the US for 13 per cent (UN's Yearbook1999). Developed countries are the main importers of essential oils, with the EU and the US accounting for 44 per cent and 8 per cent respectively in 1998 (UN's Yearbook 1999). Other big consumers are Japan, East European countries and China.