ABSTRACT
The annual production of lavender oil has been estimated at 462 tonnes (Lawrence, 1992). It is not surprising therefore that our knowledge of the phytochemistry of Lavandula is centred on the essential oils (mono-and sesquiterpenoids) present in the genus. Studies of the volatile constituents of the commercially important species, L. angustifolia and L. latifolia, and their hybrid has revealed the presence of well over 150 chemicals, many of them as trace components. The substances which contribute most to the characteristic lavender scent are described here under the terpenoid heading. One intriguing structure reported from the cultivated lavender plant could, however, be considered as an alkaloid. This is the substance 2-N-phenylaminonaphthalene, the structure of which was confirmed by synthesis (Papanov et al., 1985). This would seem to be the only account of an alkaloid-like substance in Lavandula. However, simple organic bases such as stachydrine and betonicine have been described as occasional constituents of the family, the Labiatae, to which Lavandula belongs (Hegnauer, 1966).
