Changes on Aromatics of Double Disc Jasmine during Petal-opening

Aromatic compounds in the flowers of the double disc Jasmine (Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait) during the petal-opening stage were extracted, analyzed and identified by using the head space solid phase micro extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. There were 99 of the compounds identified by the test. They included 28 terrenes and derivatives, 7 hydrocarbons, 17 esters, 5 alcohols, 3 aldehydes and 3 phenol amines. Among them, linalool, benzyl acetate, fenchyl acetate, indole, methyl anthranilate, α-copaene, benzyl alcohol and benzyl benzoate were considered the major chemicals contributing to the fragrance of an excised flower. The dynamic aromatic changes of the flower during its petal-opening stage suggested 21:00 o’clock to be the optimum time for scenting jasmine tea.