Buchu - Reconstitution

This essential oil is steam distilled from the dried leaves of Barosma Betulina, a herb that grows abundantly in the wilds of South Africa. Tinctures, oleoresins, and other extracts are produced for pharmaceutical purposes. Only a small fraction of the harvested buchu leaves is used for essential oil distillation, which takes place almost exclusively in Holland, England, and the United States, and rarely in the growing regions.

Buchu Leaf Oil is a yellow to brownish-yellow liquid that can be oily or somewhat viscous, depending on the oil's age and the dryness of the plant material before distillation. Its aroma is very distinctive: strong, bitter-sweet, minty-camphoraceous, root-like, penetrating, and somewhat medicinal, reminiscent of cough preparations. One of the main constituents of the oil is Diosphenol, a terpenoid phenol responsible for its antiseptic properties. A significant content of menthone in the oil likely contributes to its minty odor and cool flavor.

Buchu leaf oil is occasionally used in chypre bases and certain types of colognes for its power, diffusion, and freshness. In flavors, it may be employed for gooseberry and other "tart" profiles. Due to its highly distinctive aroma, this oil is always used in minimal quantities within formulations—a low-percentage item, if you will. It is not practical to specify a precise use level as the flavor profile of this oil evolves significantly upon dilution.