Labdanum Absolute from Concrète
Cistus ladaniferus · Cistaceae
Odour
Deep, sweet-balsamic, faintly but persistently herbaceous with an ambra-like, rich undertone. The latter is characteristic and rarely found in other perfume materials.
Blends well with
amylsalicylate
bergamot
calamus
citrus oils
coumarin
ionones
isobutylcinnamate
lavandin
lavender
nitromusks
oakmoss products
opopanax
pinus pumilio
sage (clary)
See also
Notes
Interest in this product has decreased significantly in recent years, switching to Spanish labdanum "gum" products. This product has its own fresher and more peculiar note not found in "gum" products.
Full Arctander text
#### Labdanum Absolute from Concrète.
By alcohol extraction of **Labdanum Concrète **(see this monograph) is obtained an absolute. This type of material is produced mainly in the South of France where the plant, **Cistus**** ****Ladaniferus**** **grows wild and abundantly. Insignificant amounts are produced in Italy, Spain and Morocco and there is an irregular production in the island of Cyprus. The labdanum absolute from Cyprus— when available—is of very high quality. It is derived from a benzene-concrète of the labdanum herb. Experimental production of a "one-step" alcohol extract of the plant material has yielded interesting results, but is not yet a common process. Labdanum Absolute from Concrète is a semisolid, soft, but very sticky and non-pourable mass of olive-green, green or amber-green color. The odor is deep, sweet-balsamic, faintly but persistently herbaceous with an ambra-like, rich undertone. The latter is characteristic and rarely found in other perfume materials. Certain fractions of cypress oil, juniperberry oil, pinus pumilio oil, Moroccan chamomile oil, sage (clary) oil can display similar notes of ambra-like character.
**Labdanum Absolute from Concrète **is used extensively in perfumery, partly as an excellent fixative, partly to introduce a rich, suave sweetness and natural undertone, which blends well with citrus-colognes, lavender-colognes, all kinds of Oriental bases, chypres, ambre bases, pine and "forest" blends, etc.
**Labdanum**** ****Absolute**** ****from**** ****Concrète**** **blends excellently with nitromusks, oakmoss products, sage (clary), bergamot, lavender, pinus pumilio, calamus, lavandin, and citrus oils, or with amylsalicylate, ionones, coumarin, isobutylcinnamate, opopanax, etc.
Recent years have seen the interest in labdanum absolute from concrète decrease significantly and switch to the large variety of labdanum "gum" products from Spanish raw material. The former product has, however, its own fresher and more peculiar note, which is not found in any of the "gum" products, see e.g. **Labdanum "Resin Absolute".**