Overview
ISO 3054:2017 specifies quality requirements for the essential oil of lavandin Abrial (Lavandula angustifolia Mill. × Lavandula latifolia Medik.), French type - also marketed as oil of lavandin abrialis. The fourth-edition standard (2017) defines organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics, a normative chromatographic profile, sampling minimums, and guidance on packaging and labelling to facilitate consistent quality assessment and trade.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Identity and scope: Oil obtained by steam distillation of freshly cut flowering tops of the lavandin Abrial clone, principally produced in France.
- Organoleptic properties: Clear mobile liquid, pale yellow, characteristic lavender odour with slight camphoraceous note.
- Physico-chemical tests:
- Relative density at 20 °C: 0.887 to 0.897 (ISO 279).
- Refractive index at 20 °C: 1.4600 to 1.4660 (ISO 280).
- Optical rotation: between −5° and −1.5° (ISO 592).
- Miscibility in ethanol: For 1 volume oil, a clear solution must be obtained using no more than 4 volumes of 70% ethanol (test at 20 °C, ISO 875).
- Acid value: Maximum 1.0 (ISO 1242).
- Chromatographic profile (normative): Gas chromatography per ISO 11024 is required to identify representative components and their proportion ranges. Major constituents include:
- Linalool: 28.0–38.0%
- Linalyl acetate: 19.0–29.0%
- Camphor: 7.0–11.0%
- 1,8‑Cineole: 6.0–12.5%
- Others: (E)- and (Z)-β‑ocimene, limonene, β‑caryophyllene, borneol, lavandulol, lavandulyl acetate, terpinen‑4‑ol.
- Flashpoint (informative): Mean values reported as +74 °C (Setaflash) and +77 °C (Luchaire); given for safety/transport considerations (see ISO/TR 11018).
- Sampling & sample volume: Sampling per ISO 212; minimum test sample 25 ml.
- Packaging & labelling: Requirements per ISO/TS 210 and ISO/TS 211.
Applications and who uses it
- Essential oil producers and distillers (quality control and specification compliance).
- Analytical laboratories performing gas chromatography and physico-chemical testing.
- Traders, importers/exporters and buyers who need consistent quality criteria for commercial transactions.
- Transport, insurance and safety services (flashpoint and handling information).
- Perfumery, cosmetics and aromatherapy manufacturers looking for standardized raw-material specifications.
Related standards
- ISO/TS 210, ISO/TS 211 (packaging & labelling)
- ISO 212 (sampling)
- ISO 279, 280, 592, 875, 1242 (density, refractive index, optical rotation, miscibility, acid value)
- ISO 11024 (chromatographic profiles)
- ISO/TR 11018, ISO/TR 21092 (flashpoint guidance, characterization)
Keywords: ISO 3054:2017, essential oil of lavandin Abrial, lavandin abrialis, gas chromatography, chromatographic profile, linalool, linalyl acetate, flashpoint, essential oils quality.