G.C.C STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO) 
 
 
 
 
 
Second draft 
 
 
 
GSO/CD……/ 2012 
 
 
 
OIL OF BASIL  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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.  
 
ICS 67.200   
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  program of  committee TC No. 5" Technical Committee 
for Sector of Food and Agriculture Products " has prepared this gulf standard  " OIL 
OF BASIL " 
   
 
 ". 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 BASIL  
 
1- Scope  
This Gulf Standard specifies the general requirements and specifications for  
Basil  Oil (Ocimum basilicum L. ) of its two types (Linalol and Methyl chavicol)  
in order to facilitate assessment of its quality  
  
2- Complementary References  
  
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 f or 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 "Essential 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 chromatographic 
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 
oils"   
 
3- Definitions  
 
3.1 Basil  oil: 
 It is the  essential oil obtained by steam distillation of the leaves of (Ocimum 
basilicum L. ), of Lamiaceae Family.   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 4  
4- General Requirements  
4.1 It should be liquid.  
4.2 It should be  pale yellow to amber yellow .   
4.3 It should have the natural phys ical properties of Basil  oil. 
4.4 It should be free of  impurities.  
4.5 It should be free of  heavy metals , water, alcohol, paraffin , and others.  
 
4.6 The requirement of the Basil  oil, linalol type  
4.6.1  The relative density  at temperature 20oC is 0. 891 – 0.924  
4.6.2  The refractive index  at temperature 20oC is between 1. 470 – 1.488   
4.6.3  The optical rotation  at temperature 20oC should be between ( -13.5o) to ( -10o) 
4.6.4     The acid value  should not exceed 4 
4.6.5     The ester value  should be between 6 – 12 
4.6.6  One volume  of essential  oil should melt in 1 – 1.5 volumes of   ethanol   (80% 
concentration ) to  give a clear  solution  temperature 20oC. 
 
4.7 The requirement of the Basil  oil , Methyl chavicol  type: 
4.7.1 The relative density  at temperature 20oC is 0.948 – 0.970   
4.7.2  The refractive index  at temperature 20oC is between 1.51 0 – 1.520 
4.7.3  The optical rotation  at temperature 20oC should be between ( −1o) to (+2o) 
4.7.4  The acid value  should not exceed 3 
4.7.5  The ester value  should be between  4.5 – 5.5 
4.7.6  One volume  of essential oil should melt in 7 volumes of  ethanol   (80% 
concentration) and gives a clear  solution  at temperature 20oC. 
 
4.8 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.  
 
  
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 5  
Table (1): chromatographic profile  
Component  Min %  Max %  
1.8 Cineole  
Trans - Ocimene  
Camphor  
Linalol 
Terpinen – 4 – ol  
Methyl chavicol 
Methyl eugenol 
NOTE: the chromatographic profile is normative, contrary to typical chromatograms 
given for information in annex A  
 
4.9 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  and in conformity with the Gulf Standard mentioned in 
clause (2. 4)  
5.2  Transportation  
The transportation should be in means which protect the containers from 
damag e 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 statement  "Basil  oil" and its type.   
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 6 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  
7.1 The sample should be taken  according to the Gulf s tandard mentioned in 
clause s 2.6 and 2.7  
7.2 Minimum volume of final sample: 25 ml  
NOTE:  This volume allows each of the tests specified in this standard to be carried out 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  
 
 7  
ANNEX A  
(Informative)  
 
Typical Chromatograms of the analysis by gas chromatography of the 
essential oil of Basil , methyl chavicol type (Ocimum basilicum L.)  
 
Figure A -1: Typical chromatogram taken on an polar column  
 
 
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 8  
Figure A -2: Typical chromatogram taken on an polar column  
 
  
 
GSO STATNDARD                                                                             GSO……../2012  
 
 9 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 1108 12) 
concluded that it was difficult to recommend  a single apparatus for 
standardization purpose, given that:  
7.3 There is wide variation in the chemical composition of essential oils  
7.4 The volume of the sample needed for certain requirements would be too costly  for 
high-priced essential oils.  
7.5 As there are several different types 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  Basil  
The mean value is + 75oC