Overview - ISO 4733:2004 (Oil of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum)
ISO 4733:2004 specifies analytical and compositional criteria to assess the quality of oil of cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). The standard defines physical properties, chromatographic composition and test methods - with allowances for oils from major producing regions (Central America/Guatemala and India/Sri Lanka). Its purpose is to provide a reproducible quality specification for producers, traders and laboratories involved with cardamom essential oil.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Characteristics required to facilitate assessment of cardamom essential oil quality.
- Mandatory analyses:
- Gas chromatography (GC) to produce a normative chromatographic profile (ISO 11024-1 and ISO 11024-2). The profile identifies and quantifies characteristic components.
- Physical tests: relative density at 20 °C (ISO 279), refractive index at 20 °C (ISO 280), optical rotation at 20 °C (ISO 592), miscibility in 70% ethanol (ISO 875).
- Chemical values: acid value (max. 6, ISO 1242) and ester value (typical range 92–150).
- Representative component ranges (depending on origin):
- 1,8‑Cineole: typically ~23–35% (major component)
- Terpinyl acetate: ~32–45%
- Linalyl acetate, linalool, limonene, sabinene, α‑pinene: present in smaller but characteristic proportions
- Note: the standard gives region-specific min/max ranges for each component in the chromatographic profile.
- Appearance & odour: liquid, almost colourless to pale yellow; characteristic spicy, cineolic odour.
- Flashpoint: informative mean value given as +59 °C (measured with Grabner equipment); Annex B explains rationale.
- Sampling & test sample: follow ISO 212; minimum test sample volume 25 ml; sample preparation per ISO 356.
Practical applications & users
Who uses ISO 4733:
- Essential-oil producers and distillers for product specification and release testing.
- Quality control and analytical laboratories performing GC and physico-chemical testing.
- Flavor & fragrance formulators (perfumery, aromatherapy, food flavoring) requiring consistent raw-material specifications.
- Traders, importers and commodity buyers for contract quality acceptance.
- Regulatory, transport and safety officers for hazard information (flashpoint guidance) and proper labelling/packaging (see ISO/TR 210, ISO/TR 211).
How it’s used:
- Establishing supplier specifications and certificates of analysis (CoA).
- Routine QC testing to detect adulteration or batch-to-batch variation.
- Supporting product claims and regulatory compliance for essential oil ingredients.
Related standards
Keywords: ISO 4733, oil of cardamom, Elettaria cardamomum, cardamom essential oil, chromatographic profile, gas chromatography, essential oil quality, terpinyl acetate, 1,8‑cineole.