Boronia

Harvesters travel to Western Australia’s coastal heath in early summer, when Boronia megastigma blooms at peak fragrance. Workers cut the blossoms by hand, avoiding bruising, and transport them in insulated crates to the extraction facility within hours. There, the petals undergo cold‑solvent extraction: hexane washes the material at 25 °C for twelve hours, dissolving the aromatic oils while leaving waxes behind. The solvent‑oil mixture is filtered, then the hexane evaporates under reduced pressure, leaving a thick, amber‑gold absolute rich in terpenes and phenolic compounds. Some producers supplement the process with supercritical CO₂ extraction, which captures lighter volatiles and yields a clearer, slightly less viscous product. Each batch is tested by gas‑chromatography to verify the presence of key markers such as β‑ionone and linalool, ensuring consistency for perfumers. Because the flower yields only 2‑3 % oil, the industry limits harvest to sustainable quotas, preserving wild populations while supporting licensed farms.