The plant grows in the parts of southern India. India is the only producer
and exporter of Davana oil. Davana can be cultivated as an irrigated crop
throughout Andhra Pradesh in well-drained light to medium textured soils of
neutral PH.
Description of Davana essential:
A tall aromatic perenniel shrub villous throughout, often gregarious,lower
leaves ovate in outline deeply pinnatisect with small stipule like lobes at
the base, white-tomentose beneath, uppermost smaller, flowers in subglobose
heads. Oil is admired for its long-lasting, sweet, balsamic and fruity
aroma. It is used in fragrance blends and perfumes. Davana oil is very dark
green or brownish green in color. It's odor is sharp, penetrating, bitter
green, foliage like and powerfully herbaceous with a sweet balsamic,
tenacious backnote.
Appearance : Viscous liquid
Aroma : Sharp, Penetrating, Bitter-green, Foliage like
and powerfully herbaceous with a sweet balsamic, tenacious undertone.
Color : Reddish yellow
Chemical constituents: Davana oil has various chemical
compounds that include crystalline petacyclic alcohol, fernenol, cymene,
azulene, thuzone, linalool, thujyl alcohol, amyrin, sitosterol and
stigmasterol.
Extraction: Davana Oil is obtained by steam distillation
of the overground parts of the flowering herb.
Cosmetics and Toiletries:
Davana oil with its fine cognac aroma, is often used in male toiletries. As
it has good skin conditioning properties, it is a good post shaving oil. But
it is reputed to be the second most potent aphrodisiac essential oil after
agarwood. It stimulates the endocrine system, improves hormonal balance, and
is soothing to dry, chapped skin.
Pharmaceutical Uses:
Davana is popular in the perfume industry where it is capable of making a
scent unique to the individual. It also has some history in aromatherapy as
being a fantastic aphrodisiac and as an agent to combat anxiety. Davana is
also regarded as being anti-infectious, soothing to dry rough skin, and
stimulating to the endocrine system.
Flavor industry:
It is extensively used in flavorings of food, liquor and pastry industries.
Davana twigs are used to add an element of freshness and sweet
fragrance to garlands and bouquets.
