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Centella Asiatica

Q: Is Centella Asiatica natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Extracted for cosmetic active ingredients (triterpenes), not for fragrance. Steam distillation of fresh herb produces a minor essential oil used locally in traditional medicine..

GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES / green · fresh · earthy

Centella Asiatica

Category	GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES
Subcategory	green · fresh · earthy
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	China, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Sri Lanka
Pyramid	Heart

Green, herbaceous, faintly musky. Centella smells of crushed tropical herbs — humid, vegetal, slightly metallic. A skincare ingredient that barely registers as scent.

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

Scent

Green, herbaceous, faintly musky-metallic. Like crushing a low-growing tropical herb — humid green, slightly astringent, with a mineral quality. Not sweet, not floral. Subtle and close to earth.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Green herbaceous, faint musky-metallic, humid

After a few hours

Subtle herbal warmth, less green, grounding

After a few days

Faint earthy-green trace, barely perceptible

Terroir & Transformation

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Centella asiatica (gotu kola) is a tropical herb famous in skincare for its wound-healing triterpenes (asiaticoside, madecassoside). Its scent is subtle: green-herbaceous, faintly musky, with a metallic-mineral edge.

No significant perfumery extraction exists. The plant is processed for cosmetic actives, not aromatic compounds. The concept note captures the herb's green, slightly astringent character.

Functions as a green-herbal concept in skincare-adjacent, botanical, and tropical-herb compositions.

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

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Related: Acronychia Pedunculata · Adoxal · Agave · Algae · Aloe Vera · Aromatic Notes · Asparagus · Avocado

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Centella asiatica is called 'tiger grass' in parts of Asia — tigers reportedly roll in the plant to help heal their wounds. The herb's wound-healing compounds (asiaticoside, madecassoside) have been clinically validated, making the folk observation biologically plausible.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Extracted for cosmetic active ingredients (triterpenes), not for fragrance. Steam distillation of fresh herb produces a minor essential oil used locally in traditional medicine.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	Complex mixture — key triterpenes: asiaticoside (C₄₈H₇₈O₁₉), madecassoside (C₄₈H₇₈O₂₀)
CAS Number	84696-21-9
Botanical Name	Centella asiatica (L.) Urb.
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Gotu Kola, Indian Pennywort, Asiatic Pennywort
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber liquid

In Perfumery

Concept note providing tropical-herbal green character. No perfumery extraction exists (processed for cosmetic actives). Functions in botanical and skincare-themed compositions.