Overview
ISO 3848:2016 - Essential oil of citronella, Java type - defines the quality characteristics and test requirements to assess the authenticity and commercial quality of citronella (Java) essential oil. The standard applies to oil obtained by steam distillation of aerial parts of Cymbopogon winterianus and provides normative guidance for laboratory analysis, sampling, packaging, labelling and storage to support consistent quality control and trade.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Specifies characteristics to facilitate quality assessment of citronella Java essential oil.
- Organoleptic and physical requirements:
- Appearance: clear, sometimes slightly opalescent, mobile liquid.
- Colour: pale yellow to pale yellowish brown.
- Odour: slightly sweet, floral, rosy, lemon-like.
- Physico-chemical tests (reference methods):
- Relative density at 20 °C: 0.880 to 0.902 (ISO 279).
- Refractive index at 20 °C: 1.4663 to 1.4770 (ISO 280).
- Optical rotation at 20 °C: between −5° and +1° (ISO 592).
- Miscibility in ethanol 80 % (v/v): clear solution with ≤2 volumes ethanol per 1 volume oil (ISO 875).
- Chromatographic profile (normative):
- Analysis by gas chromatography in accordance with ISO 11024. The standard lists representative components and acceptable area % ranges, including:
- Citronellal: 31.0–40.0%
- Geraniol: 20.0–25.0%
- Citronellol: 8.5–14.0%
- Limonene: 2.0–5.0%
- Geranyl acetate, citronellyl acetate, germacrene-D, elemol, eugenol, etc., with specified min–max ranges.
- Typical chromatograms for polar and apolar columns are provided in informative Annex A.
- Sampling and sample volume: Sampling per ISO 212; minimum test sample 50 ml.
- Flashpoint: Informative mean value about +81 °C (measured with Grabner Miniflash equipment; Annex B).
- Packaging and labelling: Follow ISO/TS 210 and ISO/TS 211.
Applications and users
ISO 3848:2016 is used by:
- Essential oil producers and distillers for product specification and batch release.
- Quality control and analytical labs performing GC profiling and physico-chemical tests.
- Buyers, formulators and R&D teams in perfumery, flavor, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and aromatherapy industries to verify raw material authenticity.
- Regulatory bodies, transport and safety officers requiring flashpoint and labelling guidance for safe handling and trade.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 3848:2016, essential oil of citronella Java type, citronella Java essential oil standard, gas chromatography, chromatographic profile, quality assessment, flashpoint.
