Overview
ISO 3760:2002 specifies quality characteristics and test requirements for oil of celery seed (Apium graveolens L.). The standard defines physical, chemical and chromatographic parameters used to assess celery seed essential oil quality for commercial trade, formulation and safety classification. It is intended to harmonize testing and help laboratories, producers and buyers evaluate authenticity and consistency.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Physical properties
- Density (relative to water at 20 °C): 0.867 – 0.908
- Refractive index at 20 °C: 1.478 – 1.488
- Optical rotation at 20 °C: +48° to +78°
- Colour and appearance: very mobile, clear, colourless liquid
- Chemical limits
- Acid value (index d’acide): maximum 6
- Ester index (indice d’ester): 20 – 70
- Solubility
- Miscibility with 90% ethanol at 20 °C: clear solution achievable using no more than 6 volumes of ethanol per 1 volume of oil
- Chromatographic profile (normative)
- Gas chromatography (GC) required to identify characteristic constituents and ensure each falls within specified ranges. Key markers include:
- Limonene (major component): ~58–79%
- β‑pinene: 0.5–2%
- Myrcene: 0.3–1.4%
- **β‑selinene: typically ~5–20% (may be
