What does Peppertree smell like?

Peppertree is a common name of Schinus molle, an evergreen tree in the cashew family. The essential oils of Schinus molle and of the related Schinus terebinthifolius have a very spicy, peppery, aromatic smell.

Peppertree

Scent

Red pepper oils have a fresh, peppery, warm, spicy odor. The odor of Schinus molle oil is described as peppery, woody, spicy, aromatic, juniper, mace, tropical, pine, balsamic and resinous. The steam-distilled berry oil has a fresh, spicy odor and flavor.

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Terroir & Chemotypes

The Full Story

What it is

Peppertree is a common name of Schinus molle, also called Peruvian pepper. Schinus terebinthifolia is called Brazilian peppertree. Both species belong to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. Schinus molle is native to an area from the Peruvian Andes to southern Brazil. Schinus molle is unrelated to black pepper (Piper nigrum).

Plant and fruit

The fruits of Schinus molle are round drupes 5-7 mm in diameter that turn from green to red, pink or purplish. The bark, leaves and berries are aromatic when crushed. The fruits are often sold as "pink peppercorns". Dried berries of the related Schinus terebinthifolia are sometimes also called pink peppercorns and are used as a culinary spice. Schinus molle is mainly planted as an ornamental tree.

Chemistry

Hydrocarbon monoterpenes are the main constituents of Schinus molle leaf and fruit oils, at 49.70% and 42.65% respectively. In one analysis of Schinus molle leaf oil, alpha-phellandrene is the main volatile chemical at 32.68%, followed by D-limonene (12.59%) and beta-phellandrene (12.24%). The fruit oil contains terpenic hydrocarbons such as limonene (4 to 9%) and myrcene (5 to 19%). The fruit oil also contains carvacrol, a phenolic compound, at 0.6 to 1%. Schinus molle fruit oil collected in Tunisia contained α-phellandrene at 46.52% and β-phellandrene at 20.81%.

Uses

Drinks and syrups have been flavored with extracts of Schinus molle. The tree has also been used for spice production.

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Did You Know?

Pink peppercorns are members of the cashew family and may cause allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people with a tree nut allergy. Like most other members of the Anacardiaceae, Brazilian pepper contains alkenyl phenols such as urushiol and cardol, which can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Red pepper oils from Schinus molle and Schinus terebinthifolia are obtained from the leaves and/or berries by steam distillation or CO₂ extraction. Schinus molle oil is also made by steam distillation of the fruits. In one study, the leaves were hydrodistilled for 2 hours in a Clevenger apparatus to obtain the essential oil. With a Clevenger apparatus and 1 hour of distillation, Schinus molle gave yields of 1.24% from leaves and 0.49% from fruits.

CAS: 68917-52-2
Botanical: Schinus molle
Appearance: Clear, mobile, pale yellow to yellow liquid
Synonyms: Peruvian pepper, American pepper, Peruvian peppertree, false pepper, pepper tree, California pepper tree

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Specific gravity: 0.85800 to 0.86900 @ 15.00 °C
Refractive index: 1.46800 to 1.47400 @ 20.00 °C

In Perfumery

Schinus molle is used as a raw material in perfumery. Red pepper oil is mainly used to create fresh, peppery top notes in perfume compositions. In cosmetic ingredient listings, the functions given for Schinus molle oil are skin conditioning and fragrance perfuming.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03lifting agent

04blender

05volume builder

06freshness

Available as

standard form