Гальбанум

Galbanum is the gum resin of Ferula gummosa, a perennial herb of the family Apiaceae that is also known under the synonym Ferula galbaniflua. It is native to Iran and Turkmenistan. Galbanum-yielding plants grow plentifully on the slopes of the mountain ranges of northern Iran. Ferula rubricaulis Boiss., which grows in southern Iran, also yields galbanum. Ferula galbaniflua is also widespread in Turkey and Lebanon. Two commercial types are distinguished: Levant galbanum, which is soft, and Persian galbanum, which is hard. The resin contains approximately 15 to 26% essential oil. The annual yield of gum is about 50 tonnes.

Galbanum occurs usually in hard or soft, irregular, more or less translucent and shining lumps, or occasionally in separate tears, of a light-brown, yellowish or greenish-yellow colour. It has a disagreeable, bitter taste. The gum contains about 8% terpenes, about 65% of a resin which contains sulfur, about 20% gum, and a very small quantity of the colorless crystalline substance umbelliferone. It also contains α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, cadinene, 3-carene, and ocimene. Galbanum, a sticky tar-like resin, can be made into a powder by drying, low boiling, or adding a diluent.

Galbanum oil has the CAS number 8023-91-4. It contains about 75% monoterpene hydrocarbons and about 10% sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Among the monoterpene hydrocarbons are α-pinene at 5–21%, β-pinene at 40–70% and 3-carene at 2–16%. The oil also contains a fairly large number of terpene and sesquiterpene alcohols and their acetates. Minor components, with entirely different structures and low odor threshold values, contribute strongly to the characteristic odor.

Galbanum is frequently adulterated with pine oil. The debut of galbanum in fine modern perfumery is generally thought to be the origin of the Green family of scents. A ferula called narthex, or giant fennel, shares the galbanum-like scent and has long, straight, sturdy hollow stalks segmented like bamboo. The Latin name ferula derives in part from ferule, a schoolmaster's rod.

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