Overview
ISO 9842:2024 - Essential oil of rose (Rosa x damascena Miller) - specifies quality characteristics and test methods for rose essential oil produced from Rosa x damascena cultivated in Turkey, Morocco and Bulgaria. The standard supports consistent quality assessment, batch release and safety information by defining physical properties, chromatographic profiles and sampling, and by referencing established test methods (gas chromatography and ISO test methods for density, refractive index, optical rotation and freezing point).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and origins: Applies to rose essential oil (Rosa x damascena) cultivated in Turkey, Morocco and Bulgaria.
- Physical characteristics: Required measurement conditions at 25 °C include:
- Relative density: ~0.8480 to 0.8800 (at 25 °C)
- Refractive index: 1.450 to 1.468 (at 25 °C)
- Optical rotation: −6° to −1.8° (at 25 °C)
- Freezing point: +16 °C to +23.5 °C
- Chromatographic profile (GC):
- Gas chromatography per the ISO 11024 series; Annex A provides typical chromatograms and operating conditions (polar and apolar columns).
- Table of representative components with country-specific percentage ranges - key markers include citronellol (20–47% depending on origin), geraniol, nerol, methyleugenol, hydrocarbons (nonadecane, heptadecane, heneicosane), and traces of ethanol and 2‑phenylethanol.
- The chromatographic profile is a required specification (used to verify authenticity and origin).
- Flash point: Informative values given in Annex B; varies with ethanol content - approx. +37 °C (≈7% ethanol) to +67 °C (≈2.5% ethanol). Pensky‑Martens apparatus referenced.
- Sampling and packaging: Sampling per ISO 212 (minimum test sample 25 ml). Packaging, labelling and storage align with ISO 210 and ISO 211.
Practical applications and users
- Quality control laboratories and producers: batch testing, acceptance criteria and stability checks.
- Perfumery and cosmetics manufacturers: specification compliance and raw material selection.
- Importers/exporters, regulatory authorities and customs: verifying origin, authenticity and safety classification.
- Transport, insurance and safety officers: use flash point and labelling guidance for handling and shipment.
- Analytical labs: use GC chromatographic profile to detect adulteration and verify origin (Turkey, Morocco, Bulgaria).
Related standards
ISO 9842:2024 is a practical reference for anyone involved in the production, testing, trade or regulatory oversight of Rosa x damascena rose essential oil, providing standardized metrics and GC-based profiles to ensure product quality and consistency.
