STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION  FOR  GCC  
(GSO) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Final  draft  
 
GSO5  / FDS ….: 2013  
  
 
 
Oil of lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
 
 Gulf technical committee for sector standards of  
Food and agriculture products 
 
 
This document is a draft Gulf standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, subject 
to alteration and modification, and may not be referred as a Gulf standard, until 
approved by the Board of Directors. 
 
 
ICS: 71.100.60  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreword 
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Organization which consists 
of the National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions 
is to issue Gulf Standards/ Technical regulations through specialized technical 
committees (TCs). 
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No.(5) “Gulf technical 
committee for sector Standards of Foods and Agricultural products” has prepared the 
Gulf Standard  for "  oil of lavender  "   . The draft Standard has been prepared by State 
of Qatar. 
This Standard has been approved  as a Gulf Technical Regulation  by GSO Board of 
Directors in its meeting No. (    ), held on     /    /     H,      /      /     G. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Gulf Standard                                                                                    GSO……/201 3  
 
Oil of lavender    
 
1-Scope:  
   
This Gulf Standard is concerned with specifies characteristics of lavender oil to 
facilitate assessment of its quality.  
 
2-Complementary references:  
 
2.1 GSO/ISO/TR  210, Essential oils — General rules for packaging, conditioning and storage  
2.2 GSO/ISO/TR  211, Essential oils — General rules for labelling and marking of containers  
2.3 GSO/ISO  212, Essential oils — sampling  
2.4 GSO/ISO 279, Essential oils — Determination of relative density at 20  °C — Reference 
method  
2.5 GSO/ISO  280, Essential oils — Determination of refractive index  
2.6 GSO/ISO  592, Essential oils — Determination of optical rotatio n 
2.7 GSO/ISO 709 Essential oils — Determination of ester value .  
 
2.8 GSO/ISO  875, Essential oils — Evaluation of miscibility in ethanol  
2.9 GSO/ISO  1242, Essential oils — Determination of acid value  
2.10 GSO/ISO  11024 -1, Essential oils — General guidance on chromatographic profiles — 
Part 1: Preparation of chromatographic profiles for presentation in standards  
2.11 GSO/ISO  11024 -2, Essential oils — General guidance on chromatographic profiles — 
Part 2: Utilization of chromatographic profiles of samples of essential oils  
 
3- Definitions:  
 
Oil of lavender:  
Is essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the recently cut flowering tops of 
Lavandula angustifolia Mill.,  
 
4- Characteristics:  
 
The following characteristics shall be met in essential lavender oil: 
4.1 It shall be oily texture liquid at 20°C. 
 
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Gulf Standard                                                                                    GSO……/201 3  
 
 
4.2 It shall be pale yellow.  
4.3 It shall have the characteristics taste and odour for la vender flowers.  
4.4 The relative density for the oil shall be range from 0.879 – 0.890 at 20°C. 
4.5 The refractive index for the oil shall be range from 1.455 - 1.466 at 20°C. 
4.6 The optical rotation for the oil shall be range from ( -11. 5°) to ( -7°) at 20°C. 
4.7  One volume of the oil shall be miscibility in not more than two volumes of 75% 
ethanol  at 20°C, except the France type ,it should be three volumes from it to 
obtained a clear solution.  
4.8 Acid value for the oil shall not exceed 1.2.  
4.9 Ester va lue for the oil shall be ranged  between 90 - 165 calculated as linalyl 
acetate.  
4.10 The characteristic component of the oil shall be according to what mentioned in 
Table No. (1), when determined these components by gas chromatography.  
 
 
Table No. (1)  
 
Characteristic component of lavender oil  
 
Component  Minimum %  Maximum %  
Linalyl acetate  25 46 
Linalol  20 45 
Cis-β- Ocimene  3 10 
trans -β- Ocimene  0.5 6 
 
 
4.11 The mean value for flash point is + 71°C obtained with Luchaire equipment.  
 
 
5- Sampling:  
  
Samples shall be taken according to Gulf Standard stated in Item (2.3), minmum 
volume for test sample shall not less than 25 ml.  
 Note: This volume allows each of the tests specified in this Gulf Standard to be 
carried out at least one.  
 
 
6- Methods of examination and test:  
 
6.1 Relative density for the oil shall be determined according to Gulf Standard stated 
in Item (2.4).  
 
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Gulf Standard                                                                                    GSO……/201 3  
 
 
6.2 Refractive index  for the oil shall be determined according to Gulf Standard stated 
in Item (2.5).  
6.3 Optical rotation  for the oil shall be determined according to Gulf Standard stated 
in Item (2.6).  
6.4 Miscibility in ethanol for the oil shall be determined according to Gulf Standard 
stated in Item (2. 8). 
6.5 Acid value for the oil shall be determined according to Gulf Standard stated in 
Item (2. 9). 
6.6 Ester value for the oil shall be determined according to Gulf Standard stated in 
Item (2.7). Test portion: 2 g.        Saponification time: 30 minutes  
                  Molecular mass of linalyl acetate: 196.29  
6.7 The characteristic component of the oil shall be determined according to Gulf 
Standards stated in Item (2.10. 2.11).  
 
7- Packaging, transportation and storage:  
 
   Packaging, transportation and storage shall be carried out according to Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2.1).  
 
8- Labelling:  
 
Labels on product label shall be complying with what mentioned in Gulf Standard 
stated in Item (2.2).  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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