Narcissus Absolute

#### Narcissus Absolute from Concrète. **Narcissus**** ****Absolute**** **is prepared from **Narcissus**** ****Concrète**** **which is extracted by petroleum ether or benzene from the flowers of **Narcissus**** ****Poeticus**, also known as *"Pinkster** **Lily" *or *"Pheasant's Eye" *(the latter name, however, often refers to adonis, a different flower). Presumably originating in the Middle East or the eastern Mediterranean countries, the narcissus now grows wild in the south of France and sporadically in other areas. It is cultivated in the Grasse region of France, in Holland, and in numerous other countries for its flowers, but only the two former countries produce extracts from **Narcissus Poeticus **flowers. **Narcissus Concrète **is very rarely offered since the narcissus fragrance is used almost exclusively in high-class perfumes for lotions where alcohol solubility is a necessity. A few, larger users of Narcissus Absolute may purchase the concrète and undertake the final alcohol washings themselves. **Narcissus Absolute **is a dark green or dark orange, occasionally dark olive-colored, viscous liquid, at times somewhat grainy due to a separation of waxes which have not been eliminated quantitatively during the alcohol washings. The odor of narcissus absolute is strongly foliage-green, very sweet-herbaceous over a faint, but quite persistent floral undertone. The tenacity is very good. There is a distinct difference between the two French types of narcissus absolute: "des plaines" which is orange-colored, very viscous, and has a floral-sweet, mild and rich, but not very powerful odor. This type is mainly derived from the Grasse area. The other type, "des montagnes", is a greenish-brown, viscous liquid of powerful, sharp, somewhat violet-leaf-like odor of green and somewhat earthy type. The undertone is sweet and balsamic-spicy, reminiscent of carnation and hyacinth, but still carrying a strong, green foliage note. This type is derived mainly from the Estérel area in the south of France. The terms "des plaines" and "des montagnes" actually refer to the cultivated and the wild growing plants. The Dutch production is derived exclusively from cultivated plants (corresponding to "des plaines"). The annual production of narcissus absolute is estimated at less than 100 kilos. Accordingly, the use of this fine flower absolute is rather limited. It demands great skill and experience to exploit fully the effects of this material. Well blended with synthetic materials such as para-cresyl caprylate (= octoate), various high-boiling phenylacetates, tolyl acetate, hexyl cinnamic aldehyde, bucinal, heliotropyl acetone, methoxy phenyl butanone, phenyl dimethyl carbinol, isoeugenol, etc. or with natural materials such as clove bud absolute, carnation absolute, jasmin absolute, orange-flower absolute, ylang-ylang absolute, rose de mai absolute, mimosa absolute, etc., the best effects of **Narcissus Absolute **may show off to the fullest extent. Although not always adulterated, narcissus absolute is often sold in a more or less "compounded" or "bouquetted" form, with additions of violet leaf absolute, mimosa absolute, methyl tuberate, indole, etc. which give an impression of power.