Our Oakwood Absolute is intense and rich with a smooth, earthy, sweet wood aroma, soft vanilla and whiskey-like undertones, and faint leather and tobacco backnotes. This fascinating absolute exudes a fragrance redolent of vintage oak casks, peat moss, old leather chairs and books, brass lamps, and a snifter of cognac warming by the fire. An intriguing aroma indeed!

The common or English oak is native to England and Western Europe where it has been a part of the mythology and sacred practice of the Celts, Druids, Gauls, Norse, Greeks and Romans for millennia. Long a symbol of strength and longevity, these majestic trees bear trunks that can reach a circumference of over 40 feet. We produce the absolute in France with oakwood chips left over from the manufacture of oak barrels used for aging wine and spirits. The forest certified wood is dried and aged for over a year before barrel production begins to ensure it emits the finest tannins, subtle vanilla notes, complexity, and texture. The solvent extracted chips yield a viscous absolute that is diluted for ease of use with 50% with triethyl citrate (TEC), an odorless, colorless additive generally recognized as safe by the FDA. Oakwood Absolute is soluble in 190 proof alcohol; it is only partially soluble in fixed oil with the insoluble materials settling to the bottom, leaving a clear oil that can be decanted from the top.

The rich, sweet woody, boozy, and captivating aroma of Oakwood Absolute is a useful and exciting addition to the palette of perfumers looking to add to their collection of base notes/modifiers. It is an elegant choice in woody and ‘whisky’ accords and Amber bases, for extending precious woods such as Sandalwood and Agarwood, or to elevate the character of earthy notes such as Patchouli and Vetiver.

PLEASE NOTE: Oakwood Absolute is intended for use in perfumery only. This product is 50% Oakwood Absolute diluted in 50% TEC (triethyl citrate), a natural ester of citric acid that aids solubility. Although TEC is regarded as safe, it is not recognized as a purely natural ingredient.