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Overview
Labdanum Absolute - Clear
Labdanum is also known as the Rose of Sharon and is mentioned in the Bible. An essential oil of this plant is also produced. It is typically called Cistus essential oil. Its aroma is very different from Labdanum and has less of the amber-like aroma. If you want to use Cistus for aromatherapy purposes be sure to purchase steam distilled Cistus essential oil and not Labdanum.
The first step in making Labdanum Absolute is the collection of Labdanum Gum from the wild growing cistus (rock rose) plants. From the Labdanum Gum a variety of other Labdanum products are made. The most important for use in natural perfumery is Labdanum Absolute. Labdanum Absolute is refined from Labdanum Gum in a process that requires two or more steps. First an extraction is made using a solvent such as hexane or heptane. Next the Labdanam Absolute is extracted from the concrete using alcohol. Labdanum Absolutes can vary dramatically depending on how they are extracted and which solvents are used during the refinement process.
Labdanum Absolute - Clear comes from the rock rose plant, a beautiful shrub native to the Mediterranean region. It is one of our favorite Labdanum Absolutes because of its fine aroma and because it is easier to work with, lighter in color and blends with fixed oils better than other Labdanums.
Labdanum Absolute - Clear is an excellent fixative and has a profound and very tenacious aromas.
Customer Reviews
- If you enjoy the scent of amber resin.... Review by white_rabbit334
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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 2/15/13)