Odor: leathery and amber notes that are more powerful than in the resinoid

Use: This shrub, native to the Mediterranean, exudes a very fragrant glutinous gum called labdanum. The plant produces this substance chiefly in the summer when the sun’s rays are at their peak during July and August. It allows the plant to protect itself from excessive water evaporation that would cause wilting, then death. Cistus perfumes our scrublands with a powerful, characteristic amber odor. The only plant to have amber notes similar to those of ambergris, it is also known as “vegetable ambergris,” which comes from Cistus labdaniferus var maculate, found mainly in southern Spain, in Andalusia. Our cistus fields are in the Almaden de la Plata nature reserve near Seville. The young leafy twigs, heavy with gum, are sickle-harvested, while the cistus plant itself is left intact to generate new growth the following year. The branches are grouped in small bundles before being transported to our production unit in the very midst of the cistus fields. The labdanum is collected through immersing the young branches in hot carbonated water for several minutes; the bundles are then removed from the tank, leaving the plant debris. Adding acid to neutralize this debris precipitates the gum. The so-called “raw” gum is then dewatered and dried to obtain a moisture content of less than 10%. The labdanum absolute is obtained through ethanol extraction of the labdanum resinoid, followed by glazing. The absolute, fully soluble in ethanol, has leathery and amber notes that are more powerful than in the resinoid.

Odor: SWEET, BALSAMIC, WOODY

Odor: BALSAMIC, WOODY, ANIMAL

Odor: AMBER-LIKE

Odor: Labdanum profiles are usually more intense, longer-lasting, with leathery dry-down and animalic notes

for fragrance

Odor: Labdanum profiles are usually more intense, longer-lasting, with leathery dry-down and animalic notes

Use:  LABDANUM ABS gives an ambery, warm and leathery effect.

Odor: characteristic

Use: Adam Michael has this to say “The opening notes of Labdanum Absolute are heavy-resinous-pine, amber, floral, light-woody, balsamic with a Mediterranean citrus melody. The heart notes are sweet woody, rich amber balsamic, sweet soft lemony, cough medicinal with a note comparable to the taste of eating black coloured wine gums. The base notes are warm, heavy amber, floral, pine shavings, woody. This absolute is produced by solvent extracting the Spanish labdanum gum-resin.”

Odor: BALSAMIC, WOODY, ANIMAL

Odor: Balsamic Resinous Gourmand

Use: Labdanum is a gum secreted by cistus shrubs that allows them to be more resistant to the dry season: a resinous film covers the entire shrub and prevents it from drying out. Its amber scents, rarely found in plants, make it a much sought after ingredient. Labdanum is traced as far back as the 5th century B.C. when it was collected by combing the beards of goats and sheep that had been wandering around the resinous cistus shrubs.

For fragrance use

100% Pure & Natural, Kosher

Odor: Ambery/vanillic, woody, leather

Pure & Nat on benzyl benzoate

Odor: characteristic

Use: Labdanum Absolute originates from the resin of Cistus ladanifer, whereas Cistus oil is steam distilled from the flowers, leaves, and sometimes branches. This Labdanum Absolute is a semi-viscous substance that often times must be liquefy by using a warm water bath in order to pour. The floral, sweet, resinous, warm aroma is perfect for perfume bases.