ISO 25157:2013

Overview - ISO 25157:2013, Essential oil of rose (Chinese Kushui)

ISO 25157:2013 specifies quality characteristics for the essential oil of rose, Chinese Kushui type (Rosa sertata × Rosa rugosa), cultivated mainly in China. The standard provides objective criteria and test-method references to facilitate consistent quality assessment, laboratory testing, packaging/labeling and trade of this rose essential oil.

Key topics and technical requirements

The standard defines organoleptic, physical and chromatographic requirements, and refers to established ISO test methods:

• Appearance & colour: liquid or partly crystallized; light yellow to yellow-brown.
• Odour: characteristic, full-bodied floral/rose.
• Relative density (d20): 0.880 – 0.930 (see ISO 279).
• Refractive index (n20): 1.4680 – 1.4798 (see ISO 280).
• Optical rotation (20 °C): between −10.3° and −0.5° (see ISO 592).
• Freezing point: 11 °C – 14 °C (see ISO 1041).
• Ester value: 18 – 24 (see ISO 709).
• Chromatographic profile (GC): normative profile obtained by gas chromatography (ISO 11024). Key components and proportion ranges include:
  • Citronellol: 40.0 – 50.0%
  • Geraniol: 6.0 – 18.0%
  • Nerol: 2.0 – 5.5%
  • Citronellyl acetate: 2.5 – 4.5%
  • Linalool: 1.0 – 3.5%, plus other markers (farnesol, eugenol methyl ether, paraffins etc.).
• Flashpoint (informative): mean value reported as +61 °C (semi‑automatic closed cup test; see Annex B and ISO/TR 11018).
• Sampling: comply with ISO 212; minimum test sample 25 ml.
• Packaging & labelling: in accordance with ISO/TR 210 and ISO/TR 211.

Applications and practical value

ISO 25157:2013 is used to:

• Guide quality control and acceptance criteria in production and distillation facilities for Chinese Kushui rose oil.
• Support laboratory testing and method selection (GC profiling, density, refractive index, optical rotation).
• Enable buyers, traders and regulators to verify authenticity, detect adulteration and ensure consistent product specifications in supply chains.
• Provide safety/transport information (flashpoint guidance) for logistics and insurance.

Who should use this standard

• Essential oil producers and distillers (Rosa sertata × Rosa rugosa)
• Analytical laboratories and QC teams performing GC and physico‑chemical tests
• Importers, exporters and commodity traders of rose oil
• Cosmetic and fragrance formulators specifying raw material quality
• Regulatory and safety officers handling classification, labeling and transport

Related standards

ISO/TR 210, ISO/TR 211, ISO 212, ISO 279, ISO 280, ISO 592, ISO 709, ISO 1041, ISO 11024, ISO/TR 11018, ISO/TR 21092.

Keywords: ISO 25157:2013, essential oil of rose, Chinese Kushui, Rosa sertata × Rosa rugosa, chromatographic profile, gas chromatography, quality assessment, citronellol, geraniol.