Labdanum Absolute - Clear


Details

  • Botanical Name: Cistus ladaniferus (synonym of Cistus ladanifer L.)
  • Origin: Spain
  • Process: Solvent Extracted Absolute
  • Plant Part: Oleoresin
  • Cultivation: Wild Grown
  • Use: Natural Perfumery / Incense. Always dilute.
  • Note: Base Note, Outstanding Fixative
  • Aroma Families: Balsamic, Animalic
  • Aroma: Powerful, deep, rich, sweet balsamic aroma with a faint herbaceous nuance and a persistent ambergris-like backnote; extremely tenacious.
  • Contraindications: None known.



Product Name SKU Price Qty
  1. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 2 ml 490-002
    $6.25
  2. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 15 ml (1/2 oz) 490-015
    $19.50
  3. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 30 ml (1 oz) 490-030
    $31.75
  4. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 2 oz 490-9
    $54.00
  5. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 4 oz 490-10
    $94.00
  6. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 8 oz 490-11
    $166.50
  7. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 16 oz 490-12
    $296.00
  8. Labdanum Absolute - Clear 1 kg 490-25
    $573.25
  9. For larger sizes or quantities please contact us for pricing and availability.         

Overview

Labdanum Absolute - Clear

Labdanum Absolute – Clear is extremely tenacious and has a powerful, deep, rich, sweet balsamic aroma with a faint herbaceous nuance and a persistent ambergris-like backnote. It is used extensively in perfumery for its excellent fixative value and to impart a rich, suave sweetness and natural undertone. Perfumer Alec Lawless opined that "If you pick only one balsamic fixative, this has got to be it."1 It appears "among the main constituents of 33% of all modern quality perfumes and 20% of all quality fragrances for men"2 and is an essential component in chypre blends.3

Labdanum oleoresin is an exudation of Cistus ladanifer, a beautiful flowering shrub native to the Mediterranean region. Labdanum Absolute is obtained by solvent extraction of the resinous leaves and twigs – a world away from steam distilled Cistus essential oil. The increasing influence of changing climate conditions, such as chilly early spring weather coupled with soaring high summer temperatures, contribute to lower yields, reduced chemical complexity and rising costs. Thankfully, both Labdanum and Cistus extractions result in intense, powerful aromas that are typically used in very low percentages.

One historically interesting revelation about Cistus is that of ancient folks combing the sticky Labdanum resin from the beards and thighs of browsing goats!4 Later, those 'combs' – more like small rakes – were made of leather, which were then scraped of the resin for later distillation. One wonders if the ‘leather notes’ in historical descriptions of the Cistus/Labdanum aroma is a relic of that early practice.

PLEASE NOTE: Labdanum Absolute is intended for use in perfumery only. If you are interested in using Labdanum for aromatherapy applications, please see the high-quality Cistus essential oils that we offer. For a pre-blended and easy to use dilution of this oil, please see Labdanum Absolute, Clear – 10%.

For information regarding the use of Labdanum Absolute in natural perfumery, please see:


Aromatic Profile: Powerful, deep, rich, sweet balsamic aroma with a faint herbaceous nuance and a persistent ambergris-like backnote; extremely tenacious.


Appearance:  Medium to dark reddish brown, viscous (thick), soft, sticky substance (almost like honey in consistency). Will require special use instructions to blend.


Use: Natural Perfumery, Incense.


Blending Suggestions: Essential Oils, Absolutes and CO2 extracts are highly concentrated. For safety reasons, they must be diluted before use – this is standard protocol for aromatherapy and perfumery purposes. For how much to dilute, please see Dilution Solutions. This product is soluble in both fixed (carrier) oils and 190 proof alcohol; not soluble in water. For guidance on how to incorporate this product into the carrier of your choice, please see our FAQs section.

For a pre-blended and easy to use dilution of this oil, please see Labdanum Absolute, Clear – 10%.


Blends Well With: Bergamot and other Citrus oils, Boronia, Carrot Seed, Cedarwood (Atlas), Chamomile (Roman), Cinnamon and other spice oils, Clary Sage, Cypress, Elemi, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit, Helichrysum, Jasmine, Juniper Berry, Lavandin, Lavender, Lemon, Liquidambar (Styrax), Mimosa, Myrrh, Oakmoss, Opopanax, Orange (Sweet), Palmarosa, Patchouli, Pine, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Vetiver, Yuzu. Labdanum is "often called amber by perfumers because it resembles ambergris; [it is an] essential component in chypre blends [and] blends well with almost anything."5


Safety Considerations: None known.6 Dilute before using. A patch test should be performed before use for those with sensitive skin.


1 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 70.

2 Groom, Nigel. The New Perfume Handbook, 2nd ed., 1997, p. 178.

3 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 70.

5 Lawless, Alec. Artisan Perfumery or Being Led by the Nose, 2009, p. 70.

6 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 319.


The FDA has not evaluated the statements on this website. No claims are made by Eden Botanicals as to the medicinal value of any products from Eden Botanicals. The information presented here is for educating our customers about the traditional uses of essential oils and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. You are responsible for understanding the safe application of these products. If you have any questions, please call or email us for further information.

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Customer Reviews for Labdanum Absolute - Clear

Wonderful, deep and spicy Review by
Rating
5
This is my first experience with Labdanum so I really can't say anything about whether this particular type that EB carries is good or not, but this is a beautiful oil in it's own right. When I sniff it right out of the bottle it instantly reminds me of fig cookies my grandma made when I was a kid, mixed with a plastic like scent, not unpleasant at all though.

It really drew me in and I couldn't stop sniffing it. When I finally took it out to play around with it, I really fell for it. I put a little bit of the Labdanum on the back of my hand and then added a little Ylang Ylang (mainly because it was the first oil I pulled out of my box), just to see what would happen with an oil that I'm familiar with. And wow. That's when I could really see the beauty in it. The Ylang Ylang was the obvious note at first but in the dry down the Labdanum started to shine. What I was left with was this deep, rich, spicy and warm scent that I couldn't stop sniffing. It sort of made the Ylang Ylang more "quiet" and gave it this complex depth that is simply amazing. I can't wait to use it more. This was also my first purchase with Eden Botanicals and I'm impressed with this beautiful oil and shipping to Iceland was fast! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this oil, love it.
(Posted on 9/17/2019)
Excellent quality! Review by
Rating
5
Just like any other EO, quality is very hit & miss and is really in the nose of the beholder. For me, this oil is excellent. I use it as most others do, for a nice Amber like note for my blends. This is one of the better batches I've ever had. Excellent Amber notes among others that works extremely well with Rose, Sandalwood, Musk blends, Jasmine Sambac and many others including as a standalone Amber. Don't let the thickness of this oil deter you from trying it. Yes, it is very thick but it's really easy to work with once it's lightly warmed. I just put it on my vent or use warm water. It becomes workable and blends easily.

Eden also has the best shipping practices that I've ever used. You can easily put your mind at rest when ordering any oil from them. The only way the bottles are going to break is if the box is completely destroyed. All kidding aside, you could throw the box across your room and the bottle wouldn't break.
(Posted on 1/29/2018)
Ambar pour Homme Review by
Rating
5
Buy 1 oz to use in my perfume "Ambar pour homme", it requires very little to give nuances of amber .. the drying of this material is disturbingly sensual and sexy ... unpleasant in its sexual-animal aroma that in a certain way is nice to our animal instinct (LOL) Good job eden .. Greeting from Colombia.
(Posted on 11/1/2017)
AmBrA HiGhTs, gorgeous! Review by
Rating
5
Weather at the bottom, first thing in my blend as a gum like jelly jam sweet resinous base. Fully equipped with a tart, spicy crown, somewhat leathery heart and this labdanum's base takes the leather into the dry, dry woods of
ambroxide-like weight. Used as top note or trace amounts give that terpy sharp musk, the ethereal Incense wave. Regardless, it's presence in a blend is amazing. I love the diluted form as a great single note or as a wild base that I'd dump a previously blended concentrate that's been aged and transformed only for the finest oil. Truly an aquired taste, but it tastes great! Blends amazing with resins and other balsams and oleoresins for fruity jam like textures with frankincense and myrrh, tobacco, agarwood co2, styracaceae, liquidambars, vanillas and the like. Woods of sandalwood and cedar, even Buddhawood or cypress. Love this in florals as well. Depending on if the amber I make, it could reach for the sun with bright and spicy golden ambre jaune or perhaps you wanna get cooled off and take a dip in the ocean with beach-side madness. Just recently fell in love with henna leaf co2 scent. Would love to see Eden carry an organic therapeutic grade henna
:-D
This is totally worth every penny, get it while it's around!
(Posted on 8/11/2015)
amazing oil Review by
Rating
5
i just don't know how to exactly describe this warm intoxicating scent. Just that I am in love with it and the quality is perfection. Thank you!
(Posted on 3/6/2015)
Deep and complex Review by
Rating
5
It is definitely very thick and needs to be softened before even attempting to remove from the vial. But it is definitely worth it! Wonderful woody, deep, amber like complex aroma. I used it in a blend with styrax, myrrh and cardamom to wear during meditation and I love it.
(Posted on 9/19/2014)
Rich and delightful Review by
Rating
5
I have a big crush on this scent. It adds a warm, deep, woody feel to my blends and I made myself a dilution in oil just to wear as a single note. As a beginner, I found it very easy to work with as well.
(Posted on 7/13/2013)
If you enjoy the scent of amber resin.... Review by
Rating
5
You're going to absolutely ADORE this oil. It's spicy, warm, turns into an incense note with my chemistry and is one of the main components to the amber resin you tend to find floating around. Whenever I ran out, I blended this with a little vanilla and Liquidamber oils---ironically, the Liquidamber doesn't even really *smell* like amber resin to me until you add the Labdanum, despite their names. Granted, this is just my opinion, yours may vary slightly. Regardless, I consider this an essential base note in all my favorite perfumes (except chai blends =) ); I consider this the incense-like note that gives a blend that smoky, mysterious chemistry that is seductively addictive.
I find this blends well with a little bit of lotus, vanilla, pepper, liquidamber and tonka. =) What can I say, I really love the sweet and spicy! This would also CONSIDERABLY enhance rose oils, cinnamon, and other earthy oils to an otherworldly, blissful experience.
(Posted on 2/15/2013)