Chaparral

NaturalGREENS, HERBS & FOUGERESearthy · green · rich

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

2Origins

Specimen

Larrea tridentata

Definition

Resinous-herbaceous, sun-baked, aromatic-bitter. Chaparral smells like the California hills after rain — creosote bush, sage, dry earth, and the term has a name: petrichor meets garrigue.

GREEN EARTHY SWEET HERBAL WARM FRESH DRY RESINOUS

LARREA CREOSOTE BUSH

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Aromatic
Subfamily: Herbal aromatics
Cluster: Green-herbal notes
Source: leaves and flowering tops
Chemical class: complex natural (essential oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

Mexico United States

Scent

Resinous-herbaceous, sun-baked, aromatic-bitter. The specific California-desert smell: creosote bush releasing volatiles after summer rain, sage on dry hillsides, hot earth, distant wildfire smoke. American garrigue — related to but distinct from Mediterranean maquis.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

Chaparral refers to the Mediterranean-climate shrubland of California and the American Southwest, dominated by creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), chamise, manzanita, and sage species.

The collective scent is a suggestive territory aromas: resinous, sun-baked, aromatic-bitter, with the particular creosote-bush smell after rain (nordihydroguaiaretic acid volatilizing). This is American garrigue.

Creosote bush essential oil exists (dominated by nordihydroguaiaretic acid and various terpenes). The perfumery concept blends this with desert sage (Salvia apiana), dry-earth elements, and sun-heated resin. The result carries a specific, unmistakable American territory.

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Related: Alpha Pinene · Angelica · Angelica Root · Angelica Root Oil · Artemisia · Barrenwort · Beachheather · Behini Tree

Did You Know?

Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) includes 'King Clone' — a ring-shaped colony in the Mojave Desert estimated to be 11,700 years old, making it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. The plant reproduces by clonal growth, spreading outward in an ever-larger ring while the center dies.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) essential oil: steam distillation of leaves. Desert sage (Salvia apiana): steam distillation. Both are niche materials. The chaparral concept blends multiple elements.

Formula: Complex mixture — key component: NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid, C₁₈H₂₂O₄)
Botanical: Larrea tridentata
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: LARREA CREOSOTE BUSH

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Note: Extract from Larrea tridentata (creosote bush). Key compound: NDGA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid).

In Perfumery

Natural/concept note providing American desert-scrubland atmosphere. Creosote bush oil and desert sage available. Functions in territory, desert, and American-terroir compositions. Distinct from Mediterranean garrigue: more sparse, more arid, different botanical palette.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03blender

04volume builder

05freshness

Available as

essential oil absolute