Wintergreen essential oil is water steam-distilled from leaves charged into the still and allowed to macerate for several
hours to hydrolyze the gaultherin glucoside (methyl salicylate + glucose). Distillation lasts from 5 to 6 hours and yields approximately
0.7% essential oil. The oil is often adulterated by intentionally co-distilling sweet birth (Betula lenta) bark. FCC (1996) has described
wintergreen oil as obtained from the leaves of G. procumbens and bark of B. lenta. The oil has a strong, sweet, aromatic odor reminiscent
of methyl salicylate, its main constituent.
Wintergreen oil is a colorless, yellowish or reddish liquid. It boils with decomposition between
219 to 224°C. It is soluble in alcohol and in glacial acetic acid, and it is very slightly soluble in water.
Extractives and their physically modified derivatives. Gaultheria procumbens, Ericacenae or Betula lenta, Betulaceae.
Essential oil composition
The oil contains approximately 98% methyl salicylate.
