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The growing demand for natural, sustainable personal care products has driven interest in perfumes formulated with plant-based essential oils and natural fixatives. This study aims to develop and evaluate base-note perfumes using essential oils extracted from three Indonesian aromatic leaves—lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), basil (Ocimum basilicum), and kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix)—combined with jasmine (Jasminum sambac) oil as a fixative. Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation, and three formulations were prepared, each containing a 30:70 blend of essential oil to ethanol. The perfumes underwent organoleptic testing by 15 trained panelists, along with evaluations of fragrance longevity (over 12 hours) and stain effects on paper substrates. Among the formulations, the blend of kaffir lime and jasmine (Formula 2) exhibited the highest average scores across sensory parameters, including fragrance intensity and freshness. It also retained a perceptible aroma for more than 12 hours and showed minimal staining. The results indicate that natural perfumes made with local essential oils and jasmine fixatives can meet consumer expectations for quality and performance. This study highlights the potential of Indonesian aromatic plants in sustainable perfumery and suggests avenues for future innovation in natural fragrance design.

Citrus hystrix DC., commonly known as kaffir lime, is a citrus plant widely distributed in Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Thailand, India, and China. Its leaves are traditionally used as food flavoring and herbal medicine due to their distinctive aroma and therapeutic potential. This study was conducted to identify the presence of secondary metabolite compounds in kaffir lime leaves through qualitative phytochemical screening. Fresh leaves were extracted and tested using standard phytochemical methods with specific reagents to detect alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, saponins, steroids, and terpenoids. The screening process was carried out through colorimetric reactions that indicate the presence of specific metabolite groups. The results showed that kaffir lime leaves positively contain several classes of secondary metabolites, including alkaloids (brownish-black precipitate with Bouchardat reagent), flavonoids (red color with Mg and concentrated HCl), saponins (stable foam formation after shaking with HCl), steroids (green color with acetic anhydride), terpenoids (reddish-purple color with concentrated H2SO4), and tannins (greenish-black color with FeCl3). The findings confirm that kaffir lime leaves are rich in bioactive compounds that may contribute to pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and therapeutic properties. These results support the traditional use of kaffir lime leaves as natural medicine and highlight their potential as a source of natural bioactive compounds for further pharmaceutical and nutraceutical development. This study provides preliminary scientific evidence and encourages more detailed quantitative and isolation studies on the active components of Citrus hystrix.

Skin that is prone to bacterial infections requires proper care using products containing antibacterial agents. One potential alternative is kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix), which are known to contain antibacterial compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the formulation of liquid soap containing kaffir lime leaf extract and to determine the optimal concentration for inhibiting bacterial growth. An experimental laboratory design was applied, and the antibacterial effectiveness was tested using the disk diffusion method against two test bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Statistical analysis was performed using One-Way ANOVA, followed by Scheffe’s post-hoc test to identify significant differences among treatment groups. The results indicated that the liquid soap containing kaffir lime leaf extract exhibited good physical quality and met standard parameters, including organoleptic evaluation, pH, viscosity, and foam height tests. Antibacterial testing showed that the highest inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus was observed at a 15% concentration with a zone diameter of 18.28 mm (strong category), while the highest inhibition zone against Escherichia coli was also at a 15% concentration with a diameter of 19.03 mm (strong category). The One-Way ANOVA results showed a significance value (p < 0.05), indicating a statistically significant difference among treatments for both bacterial species. These findings suggest that liquid soap formulated with kaffir lime leaf extract, particularly at a 15% concentration, has strong antibacterial activity and potential as an effective skin care product. Further studies are recommended to evaluate safety, stability, and long-term effectiveness.