Jasmin

The jasmines form a genus of shrubs and vines in the olive family, Oleaceae. The genus contains around 200 species native to tropical and warm temperate regions of Asia, Africa, and Oceania. Jasmines are widely cultivated for the characteristic fragrance of their flowers. Most of the jasmine used by the global perfume industry is grown in Shubra Beloula, a village in Egypt.

Jasminum grandiflorum, known as Spanish jasmine, is native to South Asia, the Arabian peninsula, East and Northeast Africa and the Yunnan and Sichuan regions of China. It is a scrambling deciduous shrub growing to 2-4 m tall, with white flowers. Two subspecies are recognised: subspecies floribundum in the African and Arabian parts of the natural range, and subspecies grandiflorum for South Asian plants, cultivars and naturalised populations. Jasminum sambac is a small shrub or vine growing up to 0.5 to 3 m in height. It is the national flower of the Philippines, where it is known as sampaguita. Cultivated plants generally bear no seeds and are propagated by cuttings, layering and other asexual methods.

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Chemistry

In Jasminum grandiflorum, benzyl acetate makes up 23.7%, benzyl benzoate 20.7%, phytol 10.9% and linalool 8.2%. Isophytol accounts for 5.5%, geranyl linalool for 3.0%, methyl linoleate for 2.8% and eugenol for 2.5%. Benzyl acetate, a constituent of jasmin, is an organic ester with a sweet, floral, fruity aroma reminiscent of jasmine. It is a characteristic constituent of jasmine scent, making up to approximately 20-30% of the total emission in the headspace or extract. The aroma of Jasminum sambac is caused by a variety of compounds, including benzyl alcohol, methyl benzoate, linalool and benzyl acetate. In methanol extracts of open Jasminum sambac flowers, the abundant constituents were α-farnesene, linalool, germacrene, benzyl acetate and other benzoic acid esters. In jasmine absolute the volatile compounds are enriched in benzyl acetate, linalool and (E,E)-α-farnesene. Benzyl acetate is the predominant benzenoid ester in jasmine flowers, accounting for almost 90% of the volatile benzenoids and phenylpropanoids, although the composition varies with species, cultivation practices and season. The structure of the jasmonate plant hormones was worked out after methyl jasmonate was isolated from the oil of Jasminum grandiflorum. Jasmonates occur throughout the plant kingdom and act in plant responses to heat and cold stress.

Sources and cultivation

Egypt leads the world in grandiflorum jasmine with 60% of the market share, and India holds the remaining 40%. The worldwide production of grandiflorum jasmine concrete is around 16 MT. The Egyptian partners of one supplier grow jasmine in the Nile delta, where rich soils allow record flower yields. One supplier's joint venture in India has built a direct sourcing network with jasmine farmers in Tamil Nadu. It is offered as an alternative to the Egyptian quality, with slightly different olfactory facets.