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Our subject is the future supplies of natural raw materials for the essential oil industry. We might divide these raw materials roughly into three groups: 1) those that serve as raw materials in the production of isolates, competing head-on with synthetics and including citronella, lemongrass, menthol, and clove leaf; 2) those that can be replaced by synthetic oils, such as anis, rose, fir needle, geranium, citrus oils, sandalwood mint oils, and floral extractives; 3) those that are not threatened by replacements–at least for the present– including cedarwood, eucalyptus, guaiaewood, lavandin, ocotea, petitgrain, patchouli, vetivert, and ylang. From candles to body sprays, air fresheners to ice cream, vanilla’s increasing ubiquity has made it a key flavor and fragrance component. This growing popularity, then, gives rise to a whole series of issues involving commercial markets, sourcing, regional variations in product, extraction, analysis and authentication, and synthesis, among many others. 
