ICS 71.100.60  
 
Reference number  
DRS xxx: 2022 
© RSB 2022 
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS 
494  
 
First edition  
2022-mm-dd 
 
Essential oil of Tagetes minuta  (L.)  
 
   
DRS  494: 202 2 
 
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    ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
editio n 
 
© RSB 2022 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized 
in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without 
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ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS  494: 202 2 
 
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 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  2 
4.1 Appearance  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
4.2 Colour  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............  2 
4.3 Odour  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  2 
4.4 Specific requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  2 
The product shall comply with the specific requirements given in Table 1 when tested in  
accordance with the methods indicated therein.  ................................ ................................ ...... 2 
4.5 Chromatographic profile ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............  2 
5 Packaging and labelling ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............  3 
5.1 Packaging  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 3 
5.2 Labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........  3 
6 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 3 
 
 DRS  494: 202 2 
 
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    ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB,  in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task of technical committees is to prepare national standards. Final Draft Rwanda Standards adop ted 
by technical committees are ratified  by members of RSB Board of Directors for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
WD xxx was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 044, Essential oils.  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were r epresented on the Technical Committee on Essential oils  (RSB/TC 044) in 
the preparation of this standard.  
Ikirezi Natural products  
University of Rwanda - College of Sciences and Technology (UR -CST)  
Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda -FDA)  
Rwanda Forensi c Laboratory (RFL)  
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA)  
Standards For Sustainability (SFS)  
 
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat  
  DRS  494: 202 2 
 
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    ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 
 Introduction  
Tagetes minuta L ., commonly known as African marigold,  is reputed as a source of ‘Tagetes oil’ which is used 
in food, flavoring, pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetic industry.  T. minuta  is used in indigenous medicines 
as a natural source of raw material due to its anti -microbial, anti -inflammatory, anti -fungal and insecticidal and 
acaricidal activities.  
Although T. minuta can be harvested from the wild and provides an income to collectors, it is also grown 
commercially in South Africa, France and North America for its essential oil. In Rwanda, T. minuta is collected 
on fallowed farms. The oil has a wild -citrus -like smell and has a yellowish to reddish amber colour.   
Leaves, stalks and flowers are picked when plants are in seed, mechanically chopped and the oil is then steam -
distilled. Initially the oil has a w ild unpleasant smell, but after 12 months of maturity, it achieves a pleasant 
sweet -fruity (mango -like) smell and attains a stable composition. During maturation, the oil thickens and the 
colour darkens. The aroma of the oil develops further in the followi ng 5 years, after which the oil quality 
deteriorates.  
Although Tagetes Oil is not a popular fragrance oil, it is used in some perfumes. It can be blended with massage 
oil or used in the bath where it can assist with wounds, cuts, coughs, chest infections, parasitic and fungal 
infestations.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRS 494: 2022 
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    ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 
 Essential oils of Tagetes minuta  (L.)  
1 Scope  
This working draft specifies certain characteristics of the essential oil of Tagetes minuta, L.  in order to facilitate 
the assessment of its quality . 
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that  some or all of  their content constitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition  cited applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
RS ISO 212, Essential o ils — Sampling  
RS ISO 279, Essential oils  — Determination of relative density at 20 ºC — Reference method  
RS ISO 280, Essential oils — Determination of refractive index  
RS ISO 592, Essential oils — Determination of optical rotation  
RS ISO 875, Essential oils — Evaluation of miscibility in ethanol  
RS ISO 1242, Essential oils — Determination of acid value   
RS ISO / TR 210, Essential oils — General rules for packaging, conditioning and storage  
RS ISO / TR 211, Essential oils — General rules for labe lling and marking of containers  
RS ISO 11024 (all parts), Essential oils — General guidance on chromatographic profiles  
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the following terms and definitions apply . 
3.1 
essential oil of Tagetes minuta  
essential oil  extracted from the leaves, sta lks and flowers, picked when the seeds are just starting to form . DRS 494: 2022 
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 4 Requirements  
4.1 Appearance  
The product shall be cl ear, mobile liquid  
4.2 Colour  
yellow to reddish -amber  
4.3 Odour  
sweet, fruity almost citrus -like smell  
4.4 Specific requirements  
The product shall comply with the specific  requirements given in Table 1 when tested in accordance 
with the methods indicated therein.  
Table 1— Requirement for the essential oil of Tagetes minuta  
S/N Parameters  Requirements  Test methods  
i.  Specific gravity at 20 ºC, 0.868 - 0.885  RS ISO 279  
ii.  Refractive index 20 ºC, d20 1.498 - 1.525  RS ISO 280  
iii.  Optical rotation, 20 ºC 8.121 - 18.365  RS ISO 592  
iv.  Miscibility in ethanol 90% (volume 
fraction), at 20 ºC 12 mL are required to obtain a clear 
solution with 1mL of tagetes oil  RS ISO 875  
4.5 Chromatographic profile  
Carry out the analysis of the essential oil by gas chromatography. Determine the chromatographic profile in 
accordance with the RS ISO 11024 (all parts). Identify in the chromatogram obtained the representative and 
characteristic components shown in Table 2. The proportions of these components, indicated by the integrator, 
shall be as shown in Table 2. This constitutes the chromatographic profile of the ess ential oil.  
Table 2— Chromatographic profile  
Component s 
 Min. 
% Max. 
% 
Dihydrotagetone  7.5 43 
D- limonene  6.4 13.1 DRS 494: 2022 
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 β- ocimene  15 55 
Trans - tagetone  7.8 16.8 
Ocimenone  7.4 32.2 
Cis- tagetone  5.6 16.8 
Cis-tagetenone  11.7 32.9 
 
5 Packaging and labelling  
5.1 Packaging  
The essential oil shall be packaged and stored in accordance with RS ISO/ TR 210  
5.2 Labelling  
The essential oil shall be labelled and marked in accordance with RS ISO /TR 211  
6 Sampling  
Sampling shall be performed in accordance with RS ISO 212.  
Minimum volume of test sample: 50mL.  
Note  This volume allows each of the tests specified in this Rwanda Standard to be carried out at least once.  
 
 
 DRS 494: 2022 
 
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