| Abstract
| - The compositions of the essential oil and the aromatic water of costmary (Balsamita suaveolensPers.) cultivated in Tuscany were investigated. They represent the main ingredients of sometraditional preparations sold commercially. The essential oil as such and the n-hexane extract ofthe aromatic water were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Both samples were found to be rich inmonoterpenes. Eighty-five compounds were identified, accounting for 95.1 and 95.4% of the essentialoil and n-hexane extract of aromatic water, respectively. Carvone was the main compound (43.5%in the essential oil and 74.9% in the n-hexane extract of aromatic water). In addition, solid phasemicroextraction was used to sample the volatile organic compounds emitted from the fresh plantand from the aromatic water, and carvone was again the main component, amounting to 46.2 and41.3%, respectively. Keywords: Balsamita suaveolens Pers.; Chrysanthemum balsamita L.; costmary; essential oil;aromatic water; SPME analysis
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