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Birch Tar Oil

Q: Is Birch Tar Oil natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Destructive distillation (pyrolysis) of birch bark (Betula pendula or B. pubescens) in absence of oxygen. Rectified by redistillation to remove harsh fractions..

NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, POPULAR AND WEIRD / smoky · leathery · tar

Birch Tar Oil

Category	NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC, POPULAR AND WEIRD
Subcategory	smoky · leathery · tar
Origin
Volatility	Base Note
Botanical	Betula pendula (syn. Betula alba)
Appearance	dark brown liquid
Producing Countries	Finland, Russia, Scandinavia
Pyramid	Base

Smoky, leathery, phenolic. Birch tar oil provides the defining smoke-leather character: campfire, tanned hide, and Russian leather.

Scent
Terroir & Origins
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Smoky, phenolic, leathery, tarry. The smell of birch-log campfire. Strong creosote character. Dark, acrid at overdose, structured at trace levels.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Sharp smoky-phenolic burst

After a few hours

Leather-smoke warmth, creosote

After a few days

Persistent dark smoky-leather base

The Molecule — Manufacturers & Variants

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Birch tar oil is produced by destructive distillation (pyrolysis) of birch bark. Rich in phenols: guaiacol, creosol, phenol, pyrocatechol. These provide the characteristic smoky, tarry, leathery scent.

Historically associated with Russian leather (cuir de Russie), which was treated with birch tar to repel insects.

In perfumery, essential in leather accords, chypres, and smoke compositions. Must be used carefully to avoid acrid quality.

This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Doppel Dänçers. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Birch tar was used to waterproof and insect-proof leather in Russia for centuries. The technique created the particular Russian leather smell. When the Imperial Russian Library flooded, birch-tar-treated books survived while others perished.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Destructive distillation (pyrolysis) of birch bark (Betula pendula or B. pubescens) in absence of oxygen. Rectified by redistillation to remove harsh fractions.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	Complex mixture — principal components: guaiacol (C₇H₈O₂), cresol (C₇H₈O), pyrocatechol (C₆H₆O₂)
CAS Number	8001-88-5
Botanical Name	Betula pendula (syn. Betula alba)
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	BIRCH TAR · BETULA TAR
Physical Properties
Appearance	dark brown liquid
Boiling Point	175.00 °C. @ 760.00 mm Hg
Flash Point	154.00 °F. TCC ( 67.78 °C. )
Specific Gravity	1.13000 to 1.35000 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.52200 to 1.59000 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Base note providing smoke-leather character. Rich in guaiacol, creosol, phenol. Essential in leather (cuir de Russie), smoke, and chypre compositions.