This part of ISO 11024 describes general guidelines on the determination of the chromatographic profile of an essential oil by gas chromatography on a capillary column. The chromatographic profile is one of the specifications which enables assessment of the quality of an essential oil in the same way as the physico-chemical characteristics. It is determined at the time of finalizing the standard on the essential oil. It is not a determination of the true concentration of the components, it is only an evaluation of its relative proportions. NOTE Refer also to ISO 11024-2 for use of chromatographic profiles of samples of essential oils.