# Comprehensive Analytical Profiling for Sustainable Jewelry: A Multi-Technique Characterization of Essential Oil-Modified Rosin

## TL;DR

This study explores using essential oils to reduce the strong smell of rosin, a natural resin from pine trees, to make sustainable jewelry while analyzing its chemical makeup.

## Contribution

A multi-technique analytical approach was used to modify rosin with essential oils and characterize its chemical profile for sustainable applications.

## Key findings

- The core composition of rosin, dominated by abietic acid, remained stable after modification with essential oils.
- MINT-modified rosin had a 2.57-fold higher total VOC signal compared to EUC-modified rosin, with monoterpenoids making up 87.62% of its VOC profile.
- Multivariate analysis linked specific VOCs like menthone and eucalyptol to distinct scent profiles in modified rosin samples.

## Abstract

Rosin, a renewable natural resin derived from pine trees, is a promising biomass material for sustainable product development, though its distinct intrinsic odor limits broader use. This study implemented a comprehensive analytical strategy to mitigate the odor by incorporating essential oils (EOs)—eucalyptus (EUC) and peppermint (MINT)—and to conduct a multi-analytical characterization of the modified rosin jewelry. By integrating complementary analytical techniques, including LC-Q/TOF-MS for non-volatile components and GC-Q/TOF-MS for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), we achieved a systematic chemical profiling of the materials. The core composition of rosin, dominated by abietic acid (>48%), remained stable across all samples. The incorporation of EOs significantly altered the VOC profiles: The total VOC signal (summed peak area) in MINT-modified rosin was 2.57-fold that of the EUC-modified sample, with monoterpenoids comprising 87.62% of its VOC signature. Eucalyptol and limonene were tentatively identified as the major components in the EUC sample, whereas menthone, menthol, and limonene predominated in the MINT sample. Multivariate statistical analysis highlighted that variations in specific VOCs—particularly menthone, menthol, eucalyptol, and allo-ocimene—were closely associated with differences in the scent profiles of each modification. This work illustrates how a multi-technique analytical strategy can both guide and assess the functional modification of sustainable biomass materials. The findings offer a practical approach to improving rosin’s functional properties while providing a methodological framework for the integrated characterization of complex biomaterials, supporting the development of eco-friendly products aligned with green chemistry and sustainable design principles.