Abstract
Aleppo pine is the most common conifer at low elevation around the western Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the French Mediterranean area. It has been appreciated since antiquity for its wood, resin, and edible seeds, and for medicinal uses. But it was progressively neglected since mid-20th century to the benefit of cheaper conifers woods and other building materials, chemical molecules replacing those extracted from resin and modern medicine. It was recently rehabilitated as building wood, but its other uses remain very limited in France. Along with Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropole, Provence Model-Forest initiated in 2022 the development of Aleppo pine use in cosmetics. These first trials were promising. In this study, we continue this work by testing the production of an essential oil and a hydrolat from needles, targeting a valorisation of logging remainders. Different methods and extraction times were tested. Products obtained were analysed to assess their chemical composition, and detect potentially interesting or toxic compounds. The results were promising, showing potential uses in perfumes, food aromas, or cosmetics, but require a confirmation by a study at larger scale. More broadly, protecting and managing Mediterranean forests require an optimal valorisation of many species; thus, the multiple potential uses for each of them must be considered.