Intensely green with a sulfurous, catty edge that defines the material. Raw, vegetal, almost aggressive at full strength. Diluted, it becomes bright and fruity-green — the 'blackcurrant' character that everyone recognizes. Sharper than galbanum, fruitier than violet leaf, more complex than either.
Evolution over time
Immediately
Immediately
Sharp green-sulfurous attack, catty, raw vegetal
After a few hours
After a few hours
Fruity-green vibrancy, blackcurrant character, less sharp
After a few days
After a few days
Clean green persistence, faint catty-fruity memory
Terroir & Transformation
Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.
The Full Story
Blackcurrant leaf (Ribes nigrum) absolute is a commercially available perfumery material obtained by solvent extraction of the leaves. The scent is intense, green, and distinctively 'catty' — driven by sulfur-containing thiols, particularly 4-methoxy-2-methyl-2-butanethiol.
The absolute is deep green, viscous, and potent. A tiny amount transforms a composition — providing the instantly recognizable blackcurrant character: green, fruity, slightly sulfurous, with a raw vegetal bite. The effect is simultaneously fresh and animalic, natural and slightly disturbing.
In perfumery, blackcurrant leaf is a heart note used in chypre, fruity-floral, and modern green compositions. It provides lift and vibrancy — a sharp green that cuts through sweetness and adds natural dynamism. The catty-sulfurous quality, at low doses, reads as lively rather than offensive.
Major production of the absolute centers in Burgundy, France, where Ribes nigrum is widely cultivated. The leaves are harvested in summer when thiol concentration peaks. Yield is low — approximately 0.1-0.2% from fresh leaves.
This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Nuit Elastique. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.
Growing blackcurrants was illegal in the United States from 1911 to 2003. The federal ban was enacted because Ribes species serve as hosts for white pine blister rust, a fungal disease devastating to the American timber industry. Some states maintain the ban today.
Extraction & Chemistry
Extraction method: Solvent extraction (hexane) of fresh or dried Ribes nigrum leaves. Yield approximately 0.1-0.2% from fresh leaves. Production centered in Burgundy, France. The absolute is deep green, viscous, extremely potent.
Heart note of considerable impact. Functions as a green-fruity modifier in chypre, fruity-floral, and green compositions. The thiol content provides lifting power and vibrancy. Used at very low doses — 0.1-0.5% in a composition. Works with rose, peach, bergamot, and mossy bases. The catty note adds modern dynamism to classical chypre structures.
