Abstract
The volatile compounds of Camellia flowers were studied. In order to directly analyze the naturally dispersing volatile compounds of fresh flowers, head space analytical techniques were mainly used. The results were as follows.
1. Linalool oxide (pyranoid, franoid), linalool, methyl benzoate, methyl salicylate, phenyl ethyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol and acetophenone were found in Camellia flowers.
2. The odors of Camellia flowers were classified into 4 types according to olfactory evaluations and head space analysis.
3. There were some relationships between classification of odor types and taxonomy, and acetophenone was found only in the C. sazanqua group. These resutls indicated that the C. vernalis group was produced by natural hybridization between C. japonica LINN. and C. sazanqua THUNB.
