Jasminum sambac is a highly valued species of flowering plant recognized globally for its intense and sweet aroma. It is known by various common names, including Arabian Jasmine, Mogra, and Sampaguita. Its powerful fragrance has made it a celebrated ingredient in traditional cultures and modern industries.
Botanical Identity and Physical Characteristics
The plant is scientifically classified as Jasminum sambac, belonging to the Oleaceae family, also known as the olive family. Unlike the common jasmine, Jasminum officinale, the Sambac species has simple, ovate leaves that are typically arranged in opposite pairs or in whorls of three along the stem. It grows as an evergreen shrub or a scrambling, woody vine, reaching heights between one and three meters.
The flowers are the plant’s most notable feature, presenting as small, waxy, white blooms in clusters of three to twelve. They typically open at night, releasing their full, intoxicating fragrance as the sun sets. Buds are carefully harvested just before they open, as the peak aroma is contained within the unopened flower.
Historical Significance and Traditional Use
Originating likely in the foothills of the Himalayas, Jasminum sambac was widely cultivated across South and Southeast Asia, eventually spreading to the Middle East and beyond. The plant holds deep cultural significance in many of these regions, far surpassing its ornamental value. In the Philippines, the flower is known as Sampaguita and serves as the national flower, symbolizing purity and devotion.
In India and Indonesia, the flowers are routinely used for religious offerings, ceremonial garlands, and hair adornments. A primary traditional application involves using the fresh flowers to scent green tea leaves, creating the world-renowned Jasmine tea. The tea leaves absorb the flower’s volatile oils over several successive nights, yielding the classic, delicately floral beverage.
Essential Oil Extraction and Modern Applications
Capturing the delicate fragrance of the Sambac flower for industrial use requires a specialized technique due to the low yield and the fragile nature of its aromatic molecules. Simple steam distillation, the method commonly used for many botanicals, cannot effectively extract the full range of scent compounds from this flower. The required process is solvent extraction, which uses a chemical solvent like hexane to wash the aromatic oils from the freshly picked blossoms.
This initial extraction results in a waxy, semi-solid substance known as a “concrete,” containing fragrance molecules and plant waxes. The concrete is then subjected to a second extraction using pure alcohol to separate the fragrant oil from the non-aromatic waxes. The resulting viscous, concentrated liquid is called an “absolute,” which is the perfume-grade material. The massive quantity of flowers needed—often over seven million blossoms for a single kilogram of absolute—contributes to its exceptionally high market value.
In modern perfumery, Jasminum sambac absolute is highly prized, frequently serving as a heart note that provides a rich, sweet, and intensely floral character to fine fragrances. Beyond scent, the oil is employed in clinical aromatherapy for its recognized mood-enhancing properties. Its aroma has been associated with reducing stress, easing anxiety, and promoting feelings of well-being.
Key Aromatic Compounds and Scent Profile
The unique, complex scent of Jasminum sambac is determined by a distinct blend of volatile organic compounds. Among the most abundant molecules are Linalool and Benzyl Acetate, which provide the primary sweet, fresh, and deeply floral notes. Linalool, a monoterpene alcohol, contributes a light, clean, and slightly woody floral aroma. Benzyl acetate provides a sweet, fruity-floral scent that is strongly reminiscent of the fresh flower.
The compound Indole is a significant contributor to the flower’s profile, responsible for the heavy, slightly animalic, or indolic note that distinguishes this jasmine from lighter varieties. Indole adds depth and warmth, lending the scent a more narcotic and heady quality. Other molecules, such as Methyl Anthranilate, introduce an element of grape or orange blossom to the overall aroma.