2008

NPC Natural Product Communications Vol. 3

No. 8
1361 - 1366
Composition of Essential Oil from Lavandula angustifolia and
L. intermedia Varieties Grown in British Columbia, Canada
W. Alexander Lane and Soheil S. Mahmoud*

Unit of Biology and Physical Geography, University of British Columbia, 3333 University Way,
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, V1V 1V7

[email protected]

Received: April 9th, 2008; Accepted: June 9th, 2008

Lavender essential oils have been used since antiquity as natural active constituents in products designed for dealing with a
broad range of issues including those related to human hygiene, health and personal care, and those concerned with organic
agriculture and pest management. The recent and rapidly growing public interest in “natural products” has renewed attention to
these plants. Here we report on the composition and insect repellent properties of the essential oils obtained from 12 varieties
of the two most commonly cultivated lavender species (L. angustifolia and L. intermedia), grown in an experimental plot in the
Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. For comparison, we also analyzed oil composition for three additional lavender
oil samples. Our results demonstrate that the locally grown plants produce essential oils that are similar to those found in other
parts of the world in terms of the overall olfactory properties, and in that they contain the same constituents found in
comparable lavender oils. Some of these oils, including those extracted from Premier, Grosso, Hidcote Giant, and Mailette
exhibited potent insect repellent properties.

Keywords: Lavandula, essential oil, insect repellency.

Lavenders (Lavandula) are perennial members of the myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, (Z)-β-ocimene,
Lamiaceae family (mints). Approximately 25 species (E)-β-ocimene, camphor, linalool, linalyl acetate,
are cultivated for their essential oils that are widely (E)-caryophyllene, terpinene-4-ol, lavandulyl acetate,
added to cosmetic and personal care products. lavandulol, α-terpineol, and borneol [2]. The relative
Lavender oils are also finding increasing applications abundance of these compounds varies considerably
in pharmaceutical formulations and over the counter among lavender species and determines the quality of
medicines. There is evidence that lavender essential the essential oil. This composition chiefly depends on
oil has strong antimicrobial properties against plant genotype, but can also be influenced by
a variety of microorganisms [1a]. For example, developmental and environmental cues [3].
L. angustifolia essential oil was shown to inhibit the
growth of Acinetobacter baumanii, Aeromonas It is estimated that over 2000 metric tons of lavender
sobria, Candida albicans and Escherichia coli [1b]. oils are produced annually worldwide, supporting a
As well, vapors of lavender essential oil (linalool, multi-billion dollar industry [4]. There are more than
45.4%; linalyl acetate, 41.5%; β -caryophyllene, 800 lavender farms operating in North America,
5.2%) were found to significantly inhibit mycelial including the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia
growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes [1c]. (B.C.), Canada. Most of these farms grow a few
Similarly, potent insect repellency against tobacco varieties of L. angustifolia and L. intermedia.
aphid (Myzus persicae) has been documented [1d]. Currently, there is overwhelming public acceptance
More recently, L. angustifolia essential oil was found and support for natural products and for preventative
to be effective at immobilizing human lice and dust alternative medicine. Lavender farming is also
mites [1e]. The antimicrobial and insect repellent benefiting from this trend and is rapidly growing in
properties of lavender essential oil are very diverse. this part of the world, creating a need for systematic
The oil is a complex mixture of over 50 mono- (C10) studies evaluating the quality and bioactivity of
and sesquiterpenes (C15), including α- and β-pinene, lavender oils produced in the area. Given that there
1362 Natural Product Communications Vol. 3 (8) 2008 Lane & Mahmoud

are substantial differences between the essential oil focused our composition analysis on 15 compounds
profiles of different lavender varieties it would be which make up the bulk of lavender essential oil
logical to assume that the biological properties differ (Table 2). The compounds focused on in this study
as well. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed include β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole,
the composition of essential oil from locally grown (Z)-β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene, camphor, linalool,
L. angustifolia and L. intermedia varieties, and linalyl acetate, (E)-caryophyllene, terpinene-4-ol,
evaluated their repellent properties against the house lavandulyl acetate, lavandulol, α-terpineol, and
fly (Musca domestica). borneol.

Essential oil composition analysis Oil composition in L. angustifolia varieties

Most lavender oils marketed in North America Metabolite profiles of L. angustifolia essential oil
are extracted from different varieties of either produced at both B.C. locations (UBC-Okanagan
L. angustifolia or L. intermedia. Typically, L. campus and OK-Farms) are similar to those reported
angustifolia oils are rich in linalool and by the ISO (Table 2) and other literature [4]. The
linalyl acetate, and contain little camphor. Most levels of most of the constituents, including β -pinene,
L. intermedia oils are also rich in linalool and (Z)-β -ocimene, (E)-β -ocimene, camphor, linalool,
linalyl acetate although they also contain a high lavandulol acetate, and lavandulol were within the
concentration of camphor, which imparts an off odor ranges defined by the ISO. Likewise, β -pinene and
to the oil reducing its market value. Essential oil camphor were characteristically absent, or low from
composition (i.e., linalool and camphor levels) in all oils, and (Z)-β -ocimene and (E)-β -ocimene were
Lavandula is chiefly determined by plant genotype. found at expected levels of 4% to 15%. Linalool was
However, it has been demonstrated that the most abundant compound found in all samples,
environmental and developmental cues can also making up 17% to 43% of all reported components.
significantly influence oil composition and yield [5]. Finally, lavandulol and lavandulyl acetate were
It is, therefore, important for lavender farmers to present at the reported range (up to 9%, Table 2). It
identify those varieties that perform well in a given should be noted that there are minor discrepancies
region. In order to identify L. angustifolia and between the data reported by the ISO, and those
L. intermedia varieties that can survive the rather published elsewhere [4]. For example, oils produced
harsh winters of the Okanagan Valley of B.C., and in B.C. contained 1,8-cineole and borneol at levels
produce marketable essential oils, we grew 12 similar to those found in the ISO report, while
lavender varieties (11 commercial varieties and one terpinene-4-ol in the same samples was found to be
unique Lavender Lady clone, L.L. clone, produced in more representative of other reports [4].
our laboratory), in an experimental plot at the
UBC-Okanagan campus. Towards the end of the Despite the described similarities, oils obtained from
second growing season, we extracted essential oil B.C. grown lavenders (UBC-Okanagan campus and
from the flowers of these plants by simultaneous OK-Farms) proved somewhat unique in composition.
steam distillation / solvent extraction (SSDSE), and For example, both myrcene and limonene were found
studied their mono- and sesquiterpene content by to be more abundant in the B.C. essential oil
gas chromatography / mass spectrometry (GC/MS) compared with either ISO standards or published
analyses (Table 1a, b). To investigate regional literature (Table 2). Similarly, B.C. grown lavender
differences that may affect essential oil content, we oils contained higher concentrations of α–terpineol,
also evaluated the composition of three additional than reported in the literature [2,4]. In contrast, Royal
essential oils acquired from a local commercial Purple, L.L. clone, and OK-Farms English lavender
lavender farm (OK-Farms, Kelowna, B.C.). These were the only B.C. grown varieties that did not
were described as ‘OK-Farms English’ and ‘OK- produce this compound. Additionally, linalyl acetate
Farms Super’, which were produced at the OK-Farms concentrations were notably lower in the B.C. grown
facility, and a Super essential oil that was produced lavenders as compared with international claims [4].
by a farm in France (French Super). We recorded linalyl acetate levels of around 6% to
17% of the oil, while other reports indicated high
In order to be consistent with international standards concentrations (up to 50% of the oil) of this
as defined by the International Organization for metabolite in typical L. angustifolia essential oils
Standardization (ISO), as well as frequently cited [2,4]. We also noted significant differences in the
literature for evaluating lavender essential oil, we abundances of certain compounds between different
Lavandula essential oil Natural Product Communications Vol. 3 (8) 2008 1363

Table 1a: Chemical composition of different varieties of L. angustifolia essential oils: Royal Velvet, Royal Purple, Munstead, Bowles, Premier, Hidcote, Lady,
and L.L. clone were grown at the UBC Okanagan experimental farm; OK-Farm English was acquired from the OK-Farms (Kelowna, B.C.). Values represent
content % (v/v) ± standard deviation (n = 4) ‘RT’; retention time, ‘n.d.’; not detectable.
Royal Royal OK-Farm
Compound RT Munstead Bowles Premier Hidcote Mailette Lady L.L. clone
Velvet Purple English
β-Pinene 6.81 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 2.2±0.01 n.d.
Myrcene 8.21 9.7±0.1 9.8±0.3 9.3±0.02 5.6±0.4 12.9±0.5 12.5±0.2 11.9±0.02 10.8±0.05 6.4±0.01 12.8±0.2
Limonene 8.87 2.7±0.1 3.0±0.01 4.0±0.09 2.2±0.0 3.8±0.03 3.7±0.2 3.2±0.02 3.9±0.03 1.3±0.01 7.4±0.1
1,8-Cineole 9.03 5.1±0.2 8.2±0.1 6.9±0.1 3.7±0.2 3.8±0.2 6.8±0.5 n.d. 5.7±0.03 2.7±0.03 n.d.
(Z)-β-
Ocimene 9.71 7.7±0.2 12.3±0.3 6.5±0.03 14.3±0.4 9.7±0.3 8.5±0.5 4.3±0.02 7.7±0.03 11.4±0.05 2.6±0.05
(E)-β-
Ocimene 10.07 7.8±0.2 6.1± 0.3 6.3±0.02 6.4±0.2 9.7±0.4 9.4±0.5 8.0±0.02 7.2±0.03 4.6±0.0 7.6±0.1
Camphor 15.25 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Linalool 15.72 41.4±0.1 26.6±0.2 37.9±0.2 27.7±0.6 17.9±0.8 19.2±0.6 43.7±0.3 30.3±0.4 47.8±0.3 34.3±0.7
Linalyl acetate 15.92 6.1±0.4 6.6±0.5 6.2±0.2 0.6±0.7 14.5±0.3 10.5±0.3 7.8±0.1 7.4±0.2 n.d. n.d.
(E)-
Caryophyllene 16.62 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.7±0.8 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Terpinene-4- 16.72 4.1±0.07 7.2±0.1 3.5±0.05 19.0±0.7 2.5±0.3 2.0±0.2 n.d. n.d. n.d. 0.6±0.5
ol
Lavandulyl
acetate 16.86 2.3±0.07 1.4±1.1 7.1±0.05 2.8±1.0 6.5±0.1 9.4±0.5 n.d. 7.7±0.1 n.d. n.d.
Lavandulol 17.98 2.1±0.04 2.1±0.5 2.4±0.02 5.1±0.1 0.5±0.8 n.d. n.d. 2.5±0.1 1.8±0.05 n.d.
α-Terpineol 18.30 3.3±0.9 n.d. 2.8±0.02 0.5±0.5 3.7±0.7 3.0±0.4 5.6±0.1 4.2±0.05 n.d. n.d.
Borneol 18.37 0.4±0.6 2.2±1.1 n.d. 1.4±0.4 n.d. 2.4±0.4 3.0±0.04 1.7±0.09 1.6±0.0 2.7±0.04

Table 1b: Chemical composition of different varieties of L. intermedia essential oils: Hidcote Giant, Grosso, Super, grown on the University of British
Columbia Okanagan campus; OK-Farms Super, produced by and acquired from OK-Farms; French Super, originating from France, but acquired from OK-
Farms. Values represent content % (v/v) ± standard deviation (n = 4) ‘RT’; retention time, ‘n.d.’; not detectable.

Compound RT Hidcote Giant Grosso Super OK-Farms Super French Super

β-Pinene 6.81 0.6±0.5 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Myrcene 8.21 4.0±0.02 8.5±0.1 9.5±0.05 13.8±0.2 16.8±0.1
Limonene 8.87 1.4±0.01 2.0±0.06 2.7±0.02 2.4±0.05 2.5±0.04
1,8-Cineole 9.03 17.1±0.8 10.7±0.2 13.1±0.06 4.8±0.06 5.2±0.04
(Z)-β-Ocimene 9.71 7.8±0.08 3.4±0.08 3.5±0.02 3.1±0.05 4.0±0.02
(E)-β-Ocimene 10.07 12.2±0.1 4.4±0.07 6.2±0.02 8.0±0.2 9.8±0.09
Camphor 15.25 13.3±0.1 10.8±0.1 5.5±0.04 2.1±0.01 4.8±0.04
Linalool 15.72 23.8±0.09 30.6±0.6 28.3±0.2 35.2±0.4 25.2±0.06
Linalyl acetate 15.92 0.3±0.4 8.3±0.6 10.0±0.3 11.6±0.8 12.2±0.07
(E)-Caryophyllene 16.62 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
Terpinene-4-ol 16.72 4.1±0.1 3.3±0.06 n.d. n.d. 0.5±0.8
Lavandulyl acetate 16.86 n.d. 3.7±0.08 3.4±0.01 1.8±0.2 2.7±0.2
Lavandulol 17.98 1.6±0.05 n.d. n.d. n.d. n.d.
α-Terpineol 18.30 0.4±0.4 3.3±0.2 1.6±0.07 n.d. n.d.
Borneol 18.37 6.4±0.3 4.1±0.1 8.7±0.03 9.2±0.1 4.6±0.03

varieties of the species examined. For example, but no detectable lavandulol. Also of note is Mailette,
linalool is least abundant in Premier, and most which produced an essential oil of lowest chemical
abundant in our L.L. clone (17.9% and 47.8%, diversity in that only 8 detectable compounds make
respectively). Interestingly, the inverse is true for up the bulk of the essential oil. Typically, 12 to 15
linalyl acetate, which is all but absent in the L.L. mono- and sesquiterpenes make up the bulk of the
clone, and the highest in Premier, at 14.5%. Myrcene essential oil in other varieties.
levels also appear to be affected in these varieties in
that myrcene makes up approximately 13% of the Oil composition in L. intermedia varieties
Premier essential oil, but only 6.4% of that found in
The essential oils from L. intermedia varieties
the L.L. clone. As well, Premier is the only L.
grown in the two locations in B.C. contained all the
angustifolia variety which produces essential oil
expected monoterpenes, most present at the expected
containing detectable levels of (E)-caryophyllene
levels. For example, linalool was the most abundant
(0.7%). Other distinctive varieties include Bowles,
component at 23% to 35% and terpinene-4-ol
which has over twice as much terpinene-4-ol (19%
was either characteristically low or undetectable in
vs. 7%), and lavandulol (5% vs. 2.5%) than any other
all samples tested. Similarly, limonene was
L. angustifolia derived essential oil, and Hidcote
consistently low (1.4% to 2.4%) in all samples (Table
which has high levels of lavandulyl acetate (9.4%),
1b). However, a few monoterpenes were present at a
1364 Natural Product Communications Vol. 3 (8) 2008 Lane & Mahmoud

Table 2: Metabolite abundances for L. angustifolia and L. intermedia as Likewise, we compared the essential oils derived
defined by ISO 3515:2002 [2a], ISO 8902:1999 [2b] and Lis-Balchin [4].
Values represent content % (v/v). from Super lavender that was grown at two different
locations in B.C., as well as in France. In general, the
ISO ISO Lis-Balchin Lis-Balchin
Compound L. L. L. L. three essential oils were found to be very similar in
angustifolia intermedia angustifolia intermedia
composition suggesting that oil production in this
β-Pinene n.d. n.d. 0.2-0.3 0.6-0.9
Myrcene n.d. n.d. 0.4-1.3 1.2-1.5
genotype may be less affected by environmental
Limonene 0.3-1.0 0.5-1.5 2.1-3.0 0.9-1.5 factors than other lavender varieties. However, minor
1,8-Cineole 0.5-3.0 4-7 1.0-17 10 differences were observed. For example, the UBC-
(Z)-β-Ocimene 1.0-10 0.5-1.5 1.0-17 1.0-3.0
Okanagan Super lavender oil contained somewhat
(E)-β-Ocimene 1.0-6.0 trace-1 1.0-17 1.0-3.0
Camphor 0-1.2 6-8 0 12
higher levels of 1,8-cineole, lavandulyl acetate and α-
Linalool 20-45 24-35 10-50 20-23 terpineol than the others.
Linalyl acetate 25-47 28-38 12-54 19-26
(E)-Caryophyllene n.d. n.d. 3.0-8.0 2.7-6.0 To address the lower than expected concentrations of
Terpinene-4-ol 0-8 1.5-5.0 n.d. n.d.
linalyl acetate levels in B.C. grown lavender oils, we
Lavandulyl acetate 0-8 1.5-3.0 0.1-14 0.5-0.8
Lavandulol 0-3 0.2-0.8 0.1-14 0.5-0.8
analyzed two other L. angustifolia essential oil
Α-Terpineol 0-2 n.d. n.d n.d. samples that were produced in two different regions
Borneol n.d. n.d. 1.0-4.0 2.9-3.7 of France (unpublished data). As with the B.C.
produced oils, linalyl acetate made up at most 13% of
somewhat different concentration than reported by the detected compounds and was generally one third
the ISO. For example, β -pinene was found to be very as abundant as linalool (unpublished data). These
low or undetectable in all samples, while camphor results suggest that the low linalyl acetate levels are
was reasonably abundant (2% to 13%), as expected. likely to be due to a detection limitation, possibly due
Myrcene was more abundant than the expected 0% to to product breakdown, rather than a regional bias.
1.5% reported in the literature. Also, 1,8-cineole was
more abundant in the UBC-Okanagan samples Insect repellency trial
compared with ISO, OK-Farms samples and the Insect repellent properties of various plant essential
French Super essential oil (Table 1b). In addition, oils have been well documented [1a, 6]. Given the
(Z)-β -ocimene, and (E)-β -ocimene were both more differences between essential oils of different B.C.
abundant than expected (3% to 12% vs. 0.5% to 3%). grown lavenders, we set out to test them for insect
As with the L. angustifolia samples, linalyl acetate repellant properties. We conducted a feeding study
concentrations were well below expected levels, and whereby starved house flies were given the
roughly one third as abundant as linalool. Lavandulol opportunity to feed on sugar cubes treated with
acetate, α-terpineol and borneol were all more various lavender essential oils. The number of flies
abundant in B.C. produced essential oils compared on the test sample after one hour was determined to
with ISO reports (Table 2). Finally, lavandulol made be a measure of insect repellency and significant
up 1.6% of the Hidcote Giant essential oil but was differences in repellence of test samples were
not detectable in all other L. intermedia samples. As determined (p<0.05) (Table 3). In summary, the
anticipated, essential oil composition varied among average number of flies feeding on each essential oil
various L. intermedia varieties. For example, Hidcote treatment ranged from 0 to 6.75. The number of flies
Giant produced the greatest amount of β -pinene, 1,8- landing on sugar cubes treated with Premier lavender
cineole, (Z)-β -ocimene, (E)-β -ocimene, camphor, and essential oil was significantly lower than numbers
terpinene-4-ol, whilst having the lowest landing on the pentane control following one hour of
concentrations of myrcene, limonene, linalool, linalyl exposure. Specifically, no flies were found on the
acetate, lavandulyl acetate, lavandulol, and α- sugar cube treated with the Premier essential oil,
terpineol (Table 1b). In addition, Grosso essential oil compared with an average of 6.75 that were found
has twice as much α-terpineol as any other essential feeding on the control treatment. Essential oils
oil presented and the oil produced by Super lavender obtained from Hidcote Giant and Grosso also
had a greatly reduced camphor content compared exhibited potent repellent properties (0.25 flies were
with either Grosso or Hidcote Giant (2% v 10% and found on treated sugar cubes) compared with the
13%, respectively). These findings confirm previous control. Some lavender essential oils were virtually
observations [4], and reflect the influence of a plant’s ineffective in this study. For example, oils obtained
genotype on essential oil composition. from Munstead and Royal Velvet demonstrated
Lavandula essential oil Natural Product Communications Vol. 3 (8) 2008 1365

Table 3: Average number (± SE) of house flies present following Experimental

treatment with various Lavender essential oils. Mean values
accompanied by the same letter(s) are not significantly different. Plant cultivation: The L. angustifolia varieties
Cultivar # of flies selected for this study were: Royal Velvet, Royal
Control 6.75±2.87ac
Royal Velvet 4.75±1.47abc Purple, Munstead, Lavender Lady, Bowles, Premier,
Royal Purple 4.25±1.84abc Hidcote, and Mailette. The L. intermedia varieties
Munstead 6.25±1.03abc
Bowles 2.25±0.85abc tested were Hidcote Giant, Grosso and Super
Premier 0.00±0.00b Lavender. In addition we analyzed a unique Lavender
Hidcote 2.25±0.48abc
Mailette 0.75±0.25abc
Lady clone (L.L. clone) generated in our lab during a
Lady 1.00±0.41abc previously described experiment [9]. Four replicate
Hidcote Giant 0.25±0.25ab
Grosso 0.25±0.25ab
plants of each variety were field grown at the
Super 0.75±0.47abc Kelowna campus of the University of British
Columbia (UBC-Okanagan). All stock plants were
virtually no repellent activity, with over 4 flies placed in the field during the spring of 2005 and
feeding on the treated sugar cubes. irrigated regularly throughout the growing season.
Following the second season of growth, flowers were
Based on our data, Premier lavender has the best harvested from each variety at a standardized harvest
insect repellent properties with zero flies present time, defined as when two thirds of all flowers on a
following one hour of exposure. This result was plant were open, as dictated by local industry
found to be significantly lower than the average of practices. All flower samples were frozen and stored
6.75 flies attracted to the non-essential oil control. at -80°C until essential oil extraction and analysis
Hidcote Giant and Grosso also show promising was conducted.
repellent properties, with an average of 0.25 flies per
treatment. In contrast, Munstead and Royal Velvet Three other essential oil samples were acquired from
appear to have the least repellency against house flies Okanagan Lavender Farms (Kelowna, B.C. Canada).
with averages of 6.75 and 4.75 flies each. These These samples were identified as: Okanagan
results suggest that the essential oil obtained from Lavender Farms ‘English Lavender’ (OK-Farms
Premier (and perhaps others) may be a good English) and Okanagan Lavender Farms L.
“natural” candidate for potential use as an insect intermedia ‘Super’ (OK-Farms Super), which were
repellent in organic farming, or for incorporation into produced by OK-Farms, and L. intermedia ‘Super’
common household products. Although there is France (French Super), which was supplied by
evidence suggesting that high concentrations of OK-Farms, but produced in France.
certain lavender essential oils or their constituents
can cause skin irritations [7], these oils are typically Essential oil analysis: Essential oil was extracted by
considered ‘safe’ [8], and are extensively used in simultaneous steam distillation / solvent extraction
personal care products such as soaps, shampoos, and (SSDSE), as previously described [9]. Prior to
perfumes [4]. More work is required in order to extraction, 1mg of menthol (which is not present in
substantiate the repellent properties of Premier lavender) was added to each sample as an internal
essential oil against species other than M. domestica standard for quantification purposes. Essential oil
tested here. samples were diluted 10,000-fold in analytical grade
n-pentane (Sigma) prior to injection (1 µL), and
The data presented here confirm that a plant’s analyzed using a Varian GC 3800 gas
genotype can have a significant influence on essential chromatographer coupled to a Saturn 2200 Ion Trap
oil composition. We saw sizable differences between mass detector. The GC/MS system was equipped
different varieties tested at our experimental plots, with a 30 m x 0.25 mm capillary column coated with
while oils produced at the OK-Farms site remained a 0.25 µm film of acid-modified polyethylene glycol
similar. As well, we saw both similarities and (ECTM 1000, Alltech, Deerfield, IL). The
differences between essential oils produced in the temperature program was initiated at 40°C for 3min,
Okanagan valley of B.C., and regions of France. As a increased to 170°C at 7°C/min, and to 230°C at
preliminary test of biological activity, feeding trials 30°/min. The carrier gas (helium) flow rate was set to
revealed that the L. angustifolia ‘Premier’ essential 1mL/min. To improve the reliability of results,
oil had significant insect repellent properties against essential oil samples were replicated 4 times with
M. domestica, with Hidcote Giant and Grosso average relative abundance and standard deviation
lavender extracts showing promising effects. for each compound then being calculated. Unless
1366 Natural Product Communications Vol. 3 (8) 2008 Lane & Mahmoud

otherwise stated, oil constituents were identified by Three h prior to the introduction of treatments, all
comparing their retention times and mass spectra to food and water was removed from the cage and its
those of authentic standards in our collection and surfaces wiped with a moist paper towel before
those in the National Institute of Standards and reintroduction of clean water. One hundred micro
Technology Mass Spectra Library (NIST). liter aliquots of essential oil diluted in n-pentane
Quantification values for detected compounds are (1:1000) were placed on sugar cubes, which were
percentages based on the 15 most abundant peaks for then placed in a circular manner within the test cage
each chromatogram. after the described starvation period. In total, 11
essential oils were tested, including Royal Velvet,
Fly repellency test: All insect trials (blind tests) Royal Purple, Munstead, Bowles, Premier, Hidcote,
and the related statistical analyses were preformed Mailette, Lavender Lady, Hidcote Giant, Grosso, and
as a service by Ecorational Technologies Inc. Super. The L.L. clone was excluded from this study
(Aldergrove, B.C., Canada). The fly repellency as sufficient amount of the oil was not available.
trial was replicated four times and data obtained n-Pentane without essential oil was used as the
was subjected to Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) control treatment. The numbers of flies present on
and mean comparisons using Tukey-Kramer HSD each treated sugar cube following one hour was
(F Ratio=3.4402, Prob. > F = 0.0003, p < 0.05, recorded at the end of the observation period.
n = 4). Repellency tests were conducted on 300,
5 - 7 day old house flies (Musca domestica) starved Acknowledgments - We would like to thank Astrid
of their regular adult food for three h. The adult flies Boeckelmann for her assistance with the essential oil
employed in the study were reared from eggs analysis. This work was supported by grants from
collected from gravid females using larval rearing Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
media comprising of a mixture of water, molasses, of Canada, Investment Agriculture Foundation of
wheat bran and skim milk powder. The required age British Columbia, Canada Foundation for Innovation,
of flies was obtained by placing 500 pupae in the test British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund,
cage (1.5m X 0.5m X 0.5m) with excess flies and UBC Okanagan.
removed or added as needed after adult emergence.

References
[1] (a) Cavanagh HM, Wilkinson JM. (2002) Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytotherapy. Research, 16, 301-308. (b)
Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV. (1999) Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and other plant extracts. Journal of Applied
Microbiology, 86, 985-990; (c) Nishiyama Y, Uchida K, Hasumi Y, Yamaguchi H, Abe S. (2006) The vapor activity of oregano,
perilla, tea tree, lavender, clove, and geranium oils against a Trichophyton mentagrophytes in a closed box. Journal of Infection and
Chemotherapy, 12, 349-354; (d) Hori M. (1998) Repellency of rosemary oil against Myzus persicae in a laboratory and in a
gcreenhouse. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 24, 1425-1434; (e) Williamson EM, Priestley CM, Burgess IF. (2007) An investigation
and comparison of the bioactivity of selected essential oils on human lice and house dust mites. Fitoterapia, 78, 521-525.
[2] (a) ISO 3515: 2002 (2002) Oil of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.); (b) ISO 8902:1999 (1999) Oil of Lavandin Grosso
[Lavandula angustifolia Miller X Lavandula latifolia (L.f.) Medikus], French type.
[3] Lawrence, BM (2004) Progress in essential oils: Lavender oil. Perfumer and Flavorist, 29, 70-91.
[4] Lis-Balchin, M (2002) Lavender: The genus Lavandula, CRC Press, Taylor and Francis.
[5] (a) Sangwan, NS, Farooqi AHA, Shabih F, Sangwan RS. (2001) Regulation of essential oil production in plants. Plant Growth
Regulation, 34, 3-21; (b) Tsuro M, Inoue M, Kameoka H. (2001) Variation in essential oil components in regenerated lavender
(Lavandula vera DC) plants. Scientia Horticulturae, 88, 309-317.
[6] (a) Isman MB (2006) Botanical insecticides, deterrents, and repellents in modern agriculture and an increasingly regulated world.
Annual Review of Entomolology, 51, 45-66; (b) Chaieb K, Hajlaoui H, Zmantar T, Kahla-Nakbi AB, Rouabhia M, Mahdouani K,
Bakhrouf A. (2007) The chemical composition and biological activity of clove essential oil, Eugenia caryophyllata (Syzigium
aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): a short review. Phytotherapy. Research, 21, 501-506; (c) Cloyd RA, Chiasson H (2007) Activity of an
essential oil derived from Chenopodium ambrosioides on greenhouse insect pests. Journal of Economical Entomology, 100,
459-466
[7] (a) Sugiura M, Hayakawa R, Kato Y, Sugiura K, Hashimoto R. ( 2000) Results of patch testing with lavender oil in Japan. Contact
Dermatitis, 43, 157-160; (b) Prashar A, Locke IC, Evans CS. (2004) Cytotoxicity of lavender oil and its major components to
human skin cells Cell Proliferation, 37, 221-229
[8] Tisserand R, Balacs T. (2000) Essential Oil Safety: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. London: Churchill Livingstone.
[9] (a) Falk L, Lane A, Boeckelman A, Mahmoud SS. (2008) An efficient method for the micropropagation of lavenders: regeneration
of a unique mutant. Journal of Essential Oil Research (in press); (b) Gershenzon J, McConkey ME, Croteau RB. (2000)
Regulation, of monoterpene accumulation in leaves of peppermint. Plant Physiology, 122, 205-214.