Overview
ISO 9842:2003 - Oil of rose (Rosa × damascena Miller) specifies quality characteristics and testing requirements for rose essential oil cultivated in Turkey, Morocco and Bulgaria. The standard defines physical properties, a normative gas‑chromatographic profile, sampling volume and cross‑references to specific ISO test methods to facilitate consistent assessment of rose oil quality for trade, production and regulatory use.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Applies to essential oil from Rosa × damascena Miller (Rosaceae) grown in Turkey, Morocco and Bulgaria.
- Physical properties (required ranges):
- Relative density at 20 °C (d20): minimum 0.848, maximum 0.880.
- Refractive index at 20 °C: minimum 1.4520, maximum 1.4700.
- Optical rotation at 20 °C: between −5° and −1.8°.
- Freezing point: between +16 °C and +23.5 °C.
- Ester value: minimum 7; maximum 24.
- Chromatographic profile (normative): Gas chromatography must identify representative components and their proportion ranges (Table 1). Key marker compounds include citronellol, geraniol, nerol, β‑phenylethanol and paraffinic hydrocarbons (heptadecane, nonadecane, heneicosane). Component ranges differ by origin (Turkey, Morocco, Bulgaria, and “peasant” type).
- Sampling and sample size: Minimum test sample 25 ml (ISO 212 referenced).
- Flashpoint (informative): Provided as guidance - varies with ethanol content (approx. +37 °C for ~7 % ethanol to +67 °C for ~2.5 % ethanol); mean for “peasant” oil ≈ +37 °C (Pensky‑Martens apparatus noted).
- Referenced test methods: ISO 279, 280, 592, 709, 1041, 11024‑1/2, ISO/TR 210/211 for sampling, packaging and labelling.
Applications and users
ISO 9842:2003 is used by:
- Essential‑oil producers and distillers for batch specification and quality control of rose oil.
- Analytical laboratories performing GC profiling and physicochemical testing.
- Perfumery and cosmetics manufacturers specifying raw material quality for fragrances and formulations.
- Importers/exporters, regulators and customs for conformity checks and trade documentation.
- Transport and insurance stakeholders assessing flashpoint and safety characteristics.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 9842:2003, oil of rose, Rosa damascena, rose essential oil, chromatographic profile, relative density, refractive index, ester value, flashpoint, GC analysis.