Atractylis Oil

#### Atractylis (Concrète) Oil. **Atractylis Oil **is steam distilled from the roots of **Atractylis Ovata **and possibly from other species of Atractylis, native to China and India, occasionally cultivated in Japan. The small plants have been known in China for thousands of years. The oil is produced in China, but some shipments of root material arrive quite regularly in Europe, e.g. in France, where a few Grasse houses also distil the oil. **Atractylis**** ****Oil**** **is thus available all over the world on a limited scale. **Atractylis**** ****Oil**** **is a solid, waxy-crystalline mass of dark yellow to orange-red color. It is not unlike Bruyre Absolute, **Guaiacwood Oil **or **Araucaria Oil **in consistency, all of which are also "concrète" oils. The odor of atractylis oil is strong peppery, woody-spicy, warm and dry, somewhat reminiscent of elemi, ginger, and galanga. The flavor is pungent, somewhat bitter and warm, not very pleasant. **Atractylis Oil **is very useful in perfumery where its excellent fixative effect and surprising power can be utilized in heavy oriental bases, woody fragrances, spicy and dry ambra types, etc. The oil blends excellently with vetiver, ionones, phenylethylalcohol, isoeugenol, opopanax, nitromusks, etc. Isoeugenol and phenylethylalcohol produce a distinct leather note with small amounts of **Atractylis Oil. **The main constituent of this oil is a solid sesquiterpene alcohol, probably identical with Eudesmol, (see also **Araucaria Oil).** **Atractylis Oil **appeared on the European market in 1953, and is now available on a limited scale. The yield by steam distillation of the root is very good (about 8%) and the oil can be produced at a cost which is very reasonable, considering the power of this perfume material.