Comprehensive authenticity assessment of lavender oils using multielement/multicomponent isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis and enantioselective multidimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

delta(13)C(V-PDB), delta(2)H(V-SMOW) and delta(18)O(V-SMOW) multielement isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis of linalool and linalyl acetate, the main components of lavender oils, is reported. Self-prepared and commercially available lavender oils, as well as samples of linalool and linalyl acetate labelled as synthetic and natural products respectively, were investigated. Multielement/multicomponent isotope ratio mass spectrometry analysis and-as far as possible-in conjunction with enantioselective analysis is judged to be the most comprehensive basis of authenticity assessment in flavour and essential oil analysis.