Pine Oil is a derivative of turpentine obtained by steam distillation of the species Pinus.
Pine Oil has a strong piny odor and is miscible with alcohol. Pine Oil contains alpha-terpineol plus other cyclic terpene alcohols and terpene hydrocarbons. Pine oil is used in a variety of household cleaners, desinfectants, metal floatation reagents and solvents.
Pine oil is a phenolic disinfectant. It is generally effective against numerous bacterial strains and enveloped viruses. Pine oil is not generally effective against non-enveloped viruses or spores. Pine oil will kill the causative agents of typhoid, gastroenteritis, rabies, enteric fever, cholera, several forms of meningitis, whooping cough, gonorrhea and several types of dysentery. Pine oil is also effective against several of the leading causes of food poisoning. Pine oil is not effective against spore related illneses such as tetanus or anthrax or against non-enveloped viruses such as poliovirus, rhinovirus, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.Pine oil disinfectants are relatively inexpensive and widely available. They have a relatively low human toxicity level. They also have a low corrosion level and limited persistence.