ISO 20809:2017

Overview

ISO 20809:2017 specifies quality characteristics for the essential oil of cypress (Cupressus sempervirens L.) to facilitate consistent assessment and trade. The standard defines physicochemical limits, a normative gas‑chromatographic profile, sampling volume, and references for packaging, labeling and storage. It is intended for producers, quality-control laboratories, traders and regulators involved with cypress essential oil.

Key Topics and Requirements

• Identity: Essential oil obtained by steam distillation of branches and leaves of Cupressus sempervirens L.
• Physicochemical properties:
  • Relative density (20 °C): 0.863 to 0.885 (ISO 279)
  • Refractive index (20 °C): 1.468 to 1.478 (ISO 280)
  • Optical rotation: +15° to +30° (ISO 592)
  • Peroxide value: 0 to 20 mmol/l (ISO 18321)
  • Appearance / Odour: clear mobile liquid, pale yellow to yellow; characteristic terpenic, fresh, sweet.
• Miscibility in ethanol:
  • With 90% ethanol: max 8 volumes ethanol per 1 volume oil for a clear solution (ISO 875)
  • With 95% ethanol: max 2 volumes ethanol per 1 volume oil for a clear solution
• Chromatographic profile (normative):
  • Gas chromatography per ISO 11024. Key components and proportion ranges (examples):
    • α‑Pinene: ~40–60% (Spanish type) up to 65% (French type)
    • δ‑3‑Carene: Spanish 16–27%, French 12–25%
    • Limonene, β‑Pinene, Myrcene, Terpinen‑4‑ol, Cedrol, Germacrene‑D, α‑Terpinyl acetate, etc., with defined minimum/maximum percentages
  • Typical chromatograms and column/operating examples are given in Annex A.
• Flash point: Informative mean value +48 °C (Pensky‑Martens) provided in Annex B.
• Sampling & packaging:
  • Sampling per ISO 212; minimum test sample 50 ml.
  • Packaging, labelling and storage per ISO/TS 210 and ISO/TS 211.

Applications and Who Uses ISO 20809

• Essential oil producers and distillers: to verify product meets recognized quality criteria before sale.
• Quality control and analytical laboratories: to perform standardized GC profiling and physico‑chemical testing.
• Buyers, traders and exporters/importers: to assess authenticity, batch acceptance and compliance for commercial transactions.
• Regulatory bodies and transport/insurance companies: to document hazard information (e.g., flash point) and ensure proper labeling and handling.
• Product formulators (cosmetics, aromatherapy, fragrances): to confirm ingredient specifications for formulation and safety data.

Related Standards

• ISO 11024 - chromatographic profiling guidance
• ISO 212 - sampling of essential oils
• ISO/TS 210, ISO/TS 211 - packaging, conditioning, labelling and storage
• ISO 279, ISO 280, ISO 592, ISO 875, ISO 18321 - methods referenced for specific tests

Keywords: ISO 20809, essential oil of cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, cypress essential oil quality, gas chromatography, chromatographic profile, refractive index, relative density, optical rotation, peroxide value, flash point.