According to the Encyclopedia Britannica:
“The term Ester was introduced in the first half of the 19th century by German chemist Leopold Gmelin.”
Esters are a class of organic compound that occur in many forms in nature. These include plant and animal fats, as well as being principal compounds associated with the flavour and fragrance profiles of most fruits.
As man-made chemical (synthetic) technologies have advanced, Ester products have been developed for various applications ranging from plastics to products for flavouring and fragrancing. Through esterification, the process of chemical synthesis of Esters, products are produced which mimic and enhance those found in nature. Over time, this allowed for the creativity within the flavour and fragrance industry to thrive into what it is today. Esters are an integral part of the flavour and fragrance industry.
We describe some of these Esters below:
- Ethyl Butyrate: Ethyl Butyrate is found naturally in many fruits such as apples, apricots and plums, and bananas. This Ester is mainly used in the health industry in pharmaceutical products and in the food industry as a flavouring agent.
- Amyl Butyrate: This Ester is also known as Pentyl Butyrate. Naturally it is found in bananas, apples and apricots. It is colourless to a pale yellow with a fruity flavouring. It has a sweet aroma and taste. Its sweet, fruity aroma has made it one of the preferred Esters for use in fragrances and fragranced products in the beauty industry. It is also commonly used in the food industry as a flavouring agent.
- Neryl Acetate: This Ester is a chemical compound that can be found in citrus oils. It has a floral, citrus aroma and taste and is used equally popular in the food and beauty industries as a flavouring and fragrance agent.
Established in 1983, the Clive Teubes Group has been producing, distributing and exporting superior quality products to both local and international markets for more than three decades. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, its offerings include: Esters, Essential Oils, Natural Extracts, Citrus Oils, Flavours & Fragrances, Indigenous Oils, Exotic Oils, Special Extracts, and Aromatics. For more information please request a product brochure from deliwe@teubes.com or visit www.teubes.com.