Have you ever wondered how a simple plant can transform into an exquisite fragrance? Or how a journey to find a distinctive scent can lead to the creation of a brand-new molecule? Current expertise in cutting-edge technologies paves the way for ingenious solutions, whether it involves acquiring a fresh and unconventional material or extracting a natural element in the most efficient and sustainable manner possible. These groundbreaking technologies result in the development of exceptional ingredients, encompassing both nature's gifts and synthetic wonders.
First, let's explore some of the language in fragrance.
Essential oil
An essential oil is a concentrated liquid containing volatile chemical compounds from plants, which are easily evaporated at normal temperatures. Essential oils are also known as volatile oils, ethereal oils, aetheroleum, or simply as the oil of the plant from which they were extracted, such as "oil of clove". An essential oil is essential in the sense that it contains the essence of the plant's fragrance—the characteristic fragrance of the plant from which it is derived.
Concrete
A concrete is a waxy substance obtained by the primary extraction of plant materials such as flowers or leaves, using a chemical solvent.
Absolute
An absolute is a highly concentrated form of a raw material, which is obtained by secondary extraction (using alcohol) of a “concrete.”
Extraction
So how are these oils extracted from natural materials? There are three traditional methods.
Distillation
This age-old technique harnesses the power of steam to unlock the aromatic treasures hidden within flowers, spices, and gums. As the droplets capture the essence, they burst forth, releasing the mystical and captivating essential oils. For perfumers, the process of distilling these oils holds an almost transcendental quality, an alchemy that transforms nature's gifts into fragrant wonders.
Infusion
Drawing inspiration from the rich history of the fragrance industry, we immerse natural materials in alcohol at varying temperatures to create infusions or tinctures that infuse an authentic natural charm and offer a seamless addition to any composition.
Cold Expression
The journey of capturing the essence of luscious fruits begins with their tantalizing skin. Through the art of cold expression, a fusion of various techniques is employed to squeeze the aromatic essential oils from the peel. The resulting oils possess an unparalleled authenticity and quality, almost as if encapsulating the enchanting experience of peeling an orange.
However as well as these traditional methods, there are now more modern techniques that have certain advantages.
Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)
Using a revolutionary process, we harness the power of natural and recycled carbon dioxide to create a supercritical fluid that delicately permeates through a variety of natural materials. This innovative technique captures the essence of the olfactive and organoleptic compounds, providing us with an unparalleled selection of true-to-nature ingredients. From the enchanting petals of treasure flowers to the delicate leaves of tea plants, and from the exotic spices to the humble groundnuts, our palette of fragrant wonders knows no bounds.
Solvent Extraction
This traditional technique involves immersing natural materials like rose petals in solvents and ethanol, allowing us to extract what is known as a 'resinoid' or 'absolute'. The outcome is a truly divine assortment of natural ingredients that infuse perfumes with richness, density, and a unique signature.
Molecular Distillation
An age-old technique for perfecting the already exquisite, whether it be a precious essential oil or a rare absolute, resulting in the creation of flawless, transparent ingredients with graceful, pure, and potent characteristics in meticulous and delicate concentrations.
