Production of Liquid and Vaporized Perfume from Thymus Vulgaris Oil Extracted Via Microwave-Assisted Extraction (mae)

ABSTRACT Thymus vulgaris has gained tremendous popularity as an ornamental, culinary and therapeutic herb, and its use in the making of perfume fragrance was well supported in this research. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using Microwave-Assisted extraction (MAE), an innovative extraction method for producing both liquid and vaporized perfumes. The process involved subjecting Thymus vulgaris plant material to microwave energy, enhancing the extraction efficiency and preserving the aromatic compounds. The study delved into the optimization of MAE parameters, including extraction time, quantity control, and solvent selection, to maximize the yield of Thymus vulgaris essential oil. The extraction had a percentage yield of 3.06% per 250g of ground thyme. The physico-chemical analysis revealed that the essential oil had an acid value of 4.59 mgKOH/g, a moisture content of 24.20g, a peroxide value of 2.8 mEq/kg, a refractive index of 1164.59, a moderate pH value of 6.28, and a viscosity of 2.14 mpa-s. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that Thymol, γ-Terpinene and p-Cymene are predominant in the oil with a percentage abundance of 32.18%, 12.97% and 11.22% respectively. The subsequent formulations of both liquid and vaporized perfumes were explored, incorporating the unique aromatic profile of Thymus vulgaris oil. The outcome provided insights into the effectiveness of MAE in extracting Thymus vulgaris oil and the potential of utilizing this oil in perfume production which not only contributed to the understanding of microwave- assisted extraction but also to the development of unique and eco-friendly Thymus vulgaris- based perfumes.