392 JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF COSMETIC CHEMISTS (b) Figure 15 Comparative chromatograms of two oils of lavendin "Abrialis" (see also Figs. 8b and 14c). Except with "Normal" and "Super" (in which Groups A--D differ considerably in size) these "formulae" are all distinct and selective. Naturally, it would need many samples, collected over a number of years, to provide conclusive evidence that such "formulae" always apply. Nevertheless I am confident that geographical and seasonal variations in an oil of a given strain will rarely, if ever, prove significant by comparison with the distinctions between it and an oil of another strain. Spike lavender gives some idea of the effect of environment on essential oils. The plant grows wild throughout Spain, and only wild flowers of the one species are gathered. Stills and

GAS-LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY AND THE PERFUMER 393 •"• ', .... '• "•i .... •t' " .... •'.•/•'"--?l•l - .,...:i'x•,.. Comparison chromatograms of oils of spike from four different regions of Spain- (a) Cuenca, (b) Murcia.