Product Overview
Ribes nigrum – native to the British Isles[7] – is cultivated in Northern Europe, particularly in France, Holland, Belgium, and a few other countries in that part of the world. About 300 kilos of Black Currant buds, harvested in December, January and February, yield only 1 kilo of the absolute, an aspect that greatly affects production cost of this material.[8] Extraction takes place in France[9] for the fine perfumery industry, and thankfully for creative use by natural/botanical perfumers.
Although Black Currant Bud Absolute is soluble in alcohol, it is only partially soluble in fixed (carrier) oils.[10] It does impart its aroma to fixed (carrier) oils by gently heating both absolute and carrier oil separately before combining. When cooled, insoluble material will precipitate to the bottom, however the portion remaining will be highly aromatic. Please also see special use instructions to blend.
1 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Listening to Scent – An Olfactory Journey with Aromatic Plants and Their Extracts, 2014, p. 104.
2 Calkin, Robert and J. Stephan Jellinek. Perfumery – Practice and Principles, 1994, p. 79.
3 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 83.
4 Williams, David G. Perfumes of Yesterday, 2004, p. 311.
5 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Listening to Scent – An Olfactory Journey with Aromatic Plants and Their Extracts, 2014, p. 104.
6 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 217.
7 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Fragrance and Wellbeing, 2014, p. 263.
8 Naturals Compendium, International Flavors and Fragrances Inc., 2009, p. 26.
9 Arctander, Steffen. Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, 1960, p. 101.
10 Industry communication.