| Chemical Properties |
Wintergreen essential oil is water steam-distilled from leaves charged into the still and allowed to macerate for several hours to hydrolyze the gaultherin glucoside (methyl salicylate + glucose). Distillation lasts from 5 to 6 hours and yields approximately 0.7% essential oil. The oil is often adulterated by intentionally co-distilling sweet birth (Betula lenta) bark. FCC (1996) has described wintergreen oil as obtained from the leaves of G. procumbens and bark of B. lenta. The oil has a strong, sweet, aromatic odor reminiscent of methyl salicylate, its main constituent. |
| Physical properties |
Wintergreen oil is a colorless, yellowish or reddish liquid. It boils with decomposition between 219 to 224°C. It is soluble in alcohol and in glacial acetic acid, and it is very slightly soluble in water. |
| Definition |
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Gaultheria procumbens, Ericacenae or Betula lenta, Betulaceae. |
| Essential oil composition |
The oil contains approximately 98% methyl salicylate. |
