Essential Oils - an Overview

ESSENTIAL OILS - AN OVERVIEW

CONTENTS

Essential oils

Bush relics

Oils & their uses

Around the country

Contacts

References

AN INDUSTRY LOST?

Essential oils are volatile materials that are obtained from plants (leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, wood and seed) usually by the process of steam distillation. They are used for various purposes in a wide range of products. Examples of the most common uses include flavourings and fragrances in food, soap, perfumes and lotions and for medicinal or health care purposes.

In Australia, native flora has been used for oil production with varying degrees of success. Species exploited include a small number of eucalypts, Melaleuca alternifolia and Leptospermum petersonii as well as understorey species such as Boronia. Generally, viable oil producing species are not suitable for timber production but trials for multi-use plantations have proved encouraging in Western Australia (Mallee Eucalypts) and New South Wales (Melaleucas).

Most of the world demand for eucalyptus oil is supplied by countries with plantations of eucalypts and low labour costs. Species that have been successfully cultivated for oil +/- timber production overseas include E. globulus, E. citrodora, E. dives, E. leucoxylon and E. radiata. These species produce oil of both the cineole and phellandra type. Leptospermum petersonii and Melaleuca cajaputi are also Australian natives being cultivated for oil production in Guatemala & Kenya and SouthEast Asia respectively.

BUSH RELICS

Remains of 'Eucy Stills' can be found in many parts of Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales. They are testament to an early essential oil industry producing a marketable product, from a renewable resource, with minimal technology.

Oil was discovered in the leaves of eucalypts soon after the arrival of the First Fleet but Joseph Bosisto is credited with establishing the first commercial still at Dandenong Creek in Victoria in 1852 (Boland, Brophy, House 1991).

Australia dominated the world eucalyptus oil market for over 80 years with very little change to the early primitive processing stills. The increasing popularity of wheat (which necessitated clearing of the oil producing mallees), success of essential oil industries from planted eucalypts in countries such as Spain and Portugal, and increased costs of labour in Australia, all contributed to a decline in the industry following the second world war.

The production of oil from Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil) followed a similar boom/crash pattern but for different reasons. The value of this oil in treating infection was discovered in the 1920's but demand decreased with the discovery of antibiotics. As 'natural' remedies were re-explored in the 1970's Tea Tree oil once again became popular. Unfortunately, this species has also now been planted overseas and prices for the Australian product is expected to fall when the oil from these plantations is put on the market.

OILS & THEIR USES (AT A GLANCE)

Adapted from Eucalyptus Leaf Oils: p14.

Fortunately for the industry this list is in a state of flux with discoveries of additional constituents and uses.

AROUND THE COUNTRY

N.S.W.

One of the two major distillers/exporters of essential oil on the east coast is G.R. Davis P/L who harvest natural and planted crops of Eucalyptus polybractea near West Wyalong.

Tea Tree oil from Melaleuca alternifolia is produced on plantations in the north of NSW and southern Queensland. The largest of these producers is Thursday Plantation near Ballina (Wrigley & Fagg 1993). Production of tea tree oil in 1996 was 250tonnes, 80% of which was exported to the United States (Taylor, 1996)

VICTORIA

Felton, Grimwande and Bickford P/L harvest natural stands of E. polybractea and E. viridis near Inglewood in Victoria. Harvesting is now mechanical and although the stills have 'stainless steel' condensers which have reduced labour costs, the distilling process remains virtually unchanged (Abbott, 1998).

TASMANIA

Oil from understorey species, Boronia megastigma (indigenous to WA) and Tasmania laceolata is produced by Essential Oils of Tasmania.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

There is an unconfirmed report of a small enterprise on Kangaroo Island producing oil from natural stands of E. cneorifolia.

QUEENSLAND

'Lemon-myrtle' (Backhousia citriodora), occurs mainly in the rainforests of coastal Qld. and was harvested for oil in the late 1800's. Today, a lack of stock is inhibiting the potential of this species although a breeding program is underway (Taylor2, 1996). Presently, a small amount of oil is produced from plantations of Backhousia citriodora.

Wood from the northern Qld. species Callitris intratropica is transported to southern Qld. for oil extraction.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) has been responsible for a potential resurgence of the eucalyptus oil industry by incorporating large scale 'oil mallee' plantings as part of the State Salinity Plan and sustainable agriculture movement. Species planted include Eucalyptus kochii, E. loxophleba ssp lissophloia, E. angustissima and E. polybractea.

The motivation for these extensive plantings came from the realisation that agricultural land was being lost to salt but much work is being done to transform the plantings into commercial success by facilitating extensive plantings in each area and developing bulk handling systems. The object is to produce oil at a competitive world price for the bulk market. Some consideration is also being given to the marketing of by-products of oil distillation. These include sterilised leaf mulch, panel board and possible energy production.

Broad acre, multiuse plantings such as those in Western Australia may be the catalyst for a resurgence of essential oil production from Australian native trees but market share may also be increased in niche areas, especially as research continues to identify medicinal uses for certain oils. Key programs include the development of high yielding stock, continued analysis of the chemical components of plant material and improvement in processing procedures to produce suitable grades of oil.

References

Abbott, P. (1998) The Eucalyptus Oil Industry.

Unpublished paper from Felton Grimwade & Bickford Pty. Ltd.

Boland, D. et. al. (1991) Eucalyptus Leaf Oils. Melbourne: Inkata Press Proprietary Ltd.

Taylor2, R. (1996) Lemon myrtle: the essential oil. In Rural Research, spring 1996, 172. Melbourne: CSIRO.

Taylor, R. (1996) Tea tree: boosting oil production. In Rural Research, spring 1996, 172. Melbourne: CSIRO.

Wrigley, J. W. & Fagg, M. (1993) Bottlebrushes, Paperbarks and Tea Trees and all other plants in the Leptospermum alliance. Melbourne: Angus and Robertson

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Date Last Modified: 23.10.98

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