هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية 
G.C.C STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
 
Final  Draft  
 
 
 
GSO/ FDS ……/ 2012  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OIL OF CINNAMON LEAVES  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by:  
Gulf technical committee for sector standard of food and agricultural products  
 
 
 
 
 
 
This document is a draft Gulf Standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, subject to 
Alteration and modification, and may not be referred it as a Gulf Standard, until approved by 
the Board of Directors.   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 2  
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  progr am of committee TC No. 5" Technical Committee for 
Sector of Food and Agriculture Products " has prepared this gulf standard    
 
The Draft Standard has been prepared by ( State of Kuwait ).  
 
The draft Standard has been prepared based on relevant  ,International  and National foreign 
Standards and references.  
 
This standard has been approved as a Gulf (Technical Regulation) by GSO Board of Directors  
in its meeting No.(       ),held on                                 /     /             H ,      /     /    
 
 
   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 3 OIL OF CINNAMON LEAVES  
 
1- Scope  
This Gulf Standard specifies the general requirements and specifications for  Cinnamon Leaf  
Oil – Sri lanka Type  (Cinnamomum zeylancium Blume)  in order to facilitate assessment of its 
quality  
  
2- Complementary Reference   
2.1 GSO 9 "Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs"  
2.2 GSO 21 " Hygienic Regulations for food plants and their personnel".  
2.3 GSO 150 " Expiration periods of  food products ".  
2.4 GSO ISO/TR 210  "Essential oils – General rules for packaging, conditioning and 
storage"  
2.5 GSO ISO TR/211 "Essential oils – General rules for labeling and marking of 
containers"  
2.6 GSO ISO 212 "Essential oils: Sampling"  
2.7 GSO ISO 356 "Essential oils: preparation of test samples"  
2.8     "Essential oils: Determination of relative density  at 20oC–reference method"  which will 
be adopted by GSO  
2.9     "Essential oils: Determination of refractive index"  which will be adopted by GSO  
2.01   "Essential oils: determination of optical rotation"  which will be adopted by GSO . 
2.10 GSO ISO 875 "Es sential oils – Evaluation of miscibility in Ethanol"   
2.02 GSO ISO 1242 "Essential oils – determination of acid value"  
2.03 GSO ISO 709 "Essential oils –  Determination of ester value"  
2.04 GSO ISO 11024 -1 "Essential oils - general guidance on chromatograph ic profiles – part 
1: preparation of chromatographic profiles for  presentation in standards"  
2.15 GSO ISO 11024 -2 " Essential oils - general guidance on chromatographic profiles – part 
2: Ultilization of chromatographic profiles of samples of essential oil s"   
 
3- Definitions  
3.1 Cinnamon leaf  oil: 
 It is the  essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of  (Cinnamomum  
zeylancium  Blume) , of Lauraceae  Family, growing mainly in Sri lanka  
 
4- General Requirement  
4.1 It should be clear, mobile  liquid.  
4.2 It should be  light to dark amber .   
4.3 It should have spice–like odour and the natural phys ical properties of Basil  oil. 
4.4 It should be free of  impurities.   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 4 4.5 It should be free of  heavy metals , water, alcohol, paraffin .. 
4.6 The relative density  at temperature 20oC is 1.0370 – 1.0530  
4.7 The refractive index  at temperature 20oC is between 1.5270 – 1.540 0   
4.8  The optical rotation  at temperature 20oC should be between ( -2.5o) to ( +2o) 
4.9  It shall  not be necessary to use more than two volume s of ethanol  (70% concentration  
– volume fraction  ) to  give a clear  solution  at temperature 20oC with 1 volume of 
essential oil, sometimes with opalescence on dilution . 
4.10 The phenols content in the oil should be between 75 – 85 %  
4.11 the Carbonyl con tent in the oil should not exceed 7% as cinnamic aldehyde   
4.12 Chromatographic Profile:  
Analysis of the  essential oil shall be carried out by gas chromatography. In the 
chromatogram obtained, the representative and characteristic components shown in 
Table (1) shall be identified. The proportions of these components, indicated by the 
integrator, shall be as shown in Table (1). This constitutes the chromatographic profile 
of the essential oil.  
Table (1): chromatographic profile  
Component  Min %  Max %  
Trans – Cinnamic aldehyde  0.8 0.5 
Eugenol  71.1 83.1 
Trans – Cinnamyl acetate  0.0 0.8 
Eugenyl acetate 0.3 3.1 
Benzyl benzoate 2.1 4.1 
NOTE: the chromatographic profile is normative, contrary to typical chromatograms 
given for information in annex A  
 
4.13 Flashpoint  
 Information on the  flashpoint is given in annex B  
 
5-  Packaging, Transportation and Storage   
Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in clause (2. 4), the 
following should be taken in consideration:  
5.1 Packaging:  
Oils should be packed in containers made from suitable, healthy materials and do not 
affect the properties and quality of the oils, and it should be  hermetically sealed . 
  
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 5 5.2  Transportation  
The transportation should be in means which protect the containers from damage and 
pollution . 
5.3 Storage  
The container should be kept in a cool place away from light and heat sources.   
 
 
6- Labeling  
Without prejudice to what mentioned in Gulf Standard stated in clause s (2.1) and 
(2.5) , the following shall be declared on the label:  
 
6.1 Name of the producer , address and its brand if  any. 
6.2 The product Name  "oil of cinnamon leaves " 
6.3 The net weight.  
6.4 Production and Expiry date  as mentioned in GSO standard in clause 2.3  
6.5 Country of origin  
 
7- Sampling  
- The sample should be taken according to the Gulf s tandard mentioned in clause s 
2.6 and 2.7  
- Minimum volume of final sample: 25 ml  
NOTE:  This volume allows each of the tests specified in this standard to be carried ou t at least once . 
8-   Testing Methods  
Tests shall be according to the GSO standards of examining and testing methods 
mentioned in clauses (2.8) ,(2.9), (2.10), (2.11) , (2.12), (2.13) , (2.14), (2.15) . 
   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 6  
ANNEX A  
(Informative)  
 
Typical Chromatograms of the analysis by gas chromatography of the essential 
oil of cinnamon leaves , Sri lanka  type (Cinnamomum zeylancium Blume)  
 
Figure A -1: Typical chromatogram taken on an polar column  
 
 
 
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 7  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Figure A -2: Typical chromatogram taken on an polar column  
 
  
 
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 8 ANNEX B  
(Informative)  
FLASHPOINT  
 
B.1  General Information  
For safety reasons, transport companies, insurance companies, and people in charge of 
safety services require information on the flashpoints of essential oils, which in most 
cases are flammable products.  
A comparative study on the relevant methods  of analysis (see ISO/TR 110812) 
concluded that it was difficult to recommend  a single apparat us for standardization 
purpose, given that:  
o There is wide variation in the chemical composition of essential oils  
o The volume of the sample needed for certain requirements would be too 
costly for high -priced essential oils.  
o As there are several different ty pes of equipment which can be used for the 
determination, users cannot be expected to use one specified type only.  
Consequently, it was decided to give a mean value for the flashpoint in an informative 
annex in each gulf standard, for information, in order  to meet the requirements of the 
interested parties.  
The equipment with which this value was obtained should be specified.  
For further information see ISO/TR 110182 
 
B.2 Flashpoint of oil of cinnamon leaves  
The mean value is + 88oC 
Obtained with "Luchaire" equipment