Abstract
This article is devoted to some aspects of the fragrant substances of plant origin applied in the food industry and perfumery as well. Since antiquity many extractive techniques have been developed to obtain essential oils. Some of them are still applied, but new ones, like microwave or ultrasound-assisted extractions, are more and more popular and they save time and cost. Independently of the procedure, the resulting essential oils are the source of many so-called isolates. These can be applied as food additives, medicines, or can be used as starting materials for organic synthesis. Some substances exist in very small amounts in plant material so the extraction is not economically profitable but, after their chemical structures were established and synthetic procedures were developed, in some cases they are prepared on an industrial scale. The substances described below are only a small fraction of the 2000–3000 fragrant molecules used to make our life more enjoyable, either in food or perfumes. Additionally, a few examples of allelopathic fragrant compounds, present in their natural state, will be denoted and some of their biocidal features will be mentioned as an arising “green” knowledge in agriculture.
Highlights
IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
How can the fragrant substances save the world? Since, by observing widespread use of toxic chemical solutions in agriculture [147,148], an evident negative impact on the many biocenosis all over the world, as well as the development of herbicide-resistant weeds, and human and animal health, the promotion of sustainable practices of local communities based on natural active compounds are highly appreciated and observed
Examples of essential oils with biocidal features presented above can become the driving force of the supply side in the agricultural industry, especially improving agricultural technology for the organic branch. This very short review gives a small glimpse into the application of fragrant substances of plant origin across a variety of industries
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Staszak studied “the geography of scents” and indicated that scents are as important to human beings as the perception of other senses in space [10] These considerations were taken up by other fragrance researchers, especially in the context of the city’s odour map [11,12,13]. It is an alternative method of healing and strengthening the body, using the olfactory channel to stimulate the brain in a different way than medications or physical therapies can [26] It happens that, in some cases (e.g., benzaldehyde 17), the same compound can be found as a food additive, a perfume ingredient or allelopathic substance—three functions within one structure. A few examples of allelopathic fragrant compounds, present in nature, will be denoted and some of their biocidal features will be mentioned
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