Cistus Incanus

NaturalFLOWERSbalsamic · floral · rich

BasePyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

2Origins

Specimen

Cistus Incanus perfume ingredient — Base

Cistus creticus L. (syn. Cistus incanus subsp. creticus)

Definition

Warm, amber-resinous, with a dry herbal edge. Cistus incanus exudes a sticky, aromatic gum (labdanum) from its leaves -- the smell of Mediterranean scrubland in July, baked by the sun.

FLORAL EARTHY SWEET BALSAMIC AMBER LEATHER WARM RESINOUS

rock rose, pink rock rose

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Florals
Subfamily: Classic florals
Cluster: Classic florals
Source: leaves and resin
Chemical class: complex natural (essential oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

Greece Mediterranean (Corsica, Italy, Spain, Turkey)

Scent

Warm, amber-resinous, with a dry herbal-green edge and a faint animalic undertone. Lighter than Cistus ladanifer labdanum, less heavy and less tarry. The herbal quality is more pronounced -- Mediterranean garrigue, sun-dried herbs, warm stone. A quiet ambergris-like sweetness sits underneath the resin.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

The Full Story

Cistus incanus (hoary rock rose, pink rock rose) is a species within the Cistaceae family, closely related to Cistus ladanifer -- the primary source of labdanum resin. Cistus incanus grows across the Mediterranean basin, from Portugal to Turkey, on dry, rocky, calcareous soils. Its leaves exude a sticky, aromatic resin that has been collected since antiquity.

The resinous exudate shares the labdanum family character: warm, amber, balsamic, with a particular animalic-ambergris undertone. Key odorants include labdanum-type compounds (labdanolic acid derivatives), viridiflorol, and various sesquiterpene alcohols. Compared to Cistus ladanifer, C. incanus is lighter, more herbal, and less densely resinous.

In perfumery, Cistus incanus contributes to the labdanum complex -- the warm, amber-resinous base that underpins amber, chypre, and amber fragrance families. Its lighter character makes it useful where the heavy, almost tarry quality of pure labdanum absolute would be excessive.

—

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Steam distillation of the aerial parts yields an essential oil. Solvent extraction of the resinous exudate produces labdanum absolute and resinoid. Traditionally, labdanum resin was collected by dragging leather thongs (ladanisterion) across the bushes -- the sticky resin adhered to the leather.

Formula: Complex mixture; key component: labdane diterpenes
CAS: 8016-26-0 (Cistus incanus / labdanum oil)
Botanical: Cistus creticus L. (syn. Cistus incanus subsp. creticus)
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: rock rose, pink rock rose

IFRA status

See note

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

Physical properties

Flash point: > 200.00 °F. TCC ( > 93.33 °C. )
Specific gravity: 0.91000 to 0.96000 @ 25.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Cistus incanus contributes a lighter labdanum-type resinous character to amber, chypre, and amber bases. Its warmer, more herbal profile (compared to C. ladanifer) makes it useful where heavy labdanum would be excessive. Key odorants: labdanolic acid derivatives, viridiflorol, sesquiterpene alcohols. The note provides Mediterranean garrigue warmth and a faint ambergris-like sweetness.

Role in the formula

01diffusion enhancer

02modifier

03signature note

04blender

05volume builder

06fixative

Available as

essential oil absolute