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Cubeb Pepper | Première Peau

SPICES  /  spicy · woody · fresh
Cubeb or Tailed Pepper
Cubeb or Tailed Pepper perfume ingredient
CategorySPICES
Subcategoryspicy · woody · fresh
Origin
VolatilityHeart Note
BotanicalPiper cubeba
AppearanceYellow to amber liquid
Odor StrengthHigh
Producing CountriesIndonesia (Java)
PyramidHeart

Warm, camphoraceous pepper with eucalyptus-like freshness. Softer than black pepper, more aromatic, with a woody-green top note from cubebene and cubebol.

  1. Scent
  2. Terroir & Origins
  3. The Full Story
  4. Fun Fact
  5. Extraction & Chemistry
  6. In Perfumery
  7. See Also

Scent

Warm, camphoraceous, aromatic pepper. Less sharp than black pepper, more clove-like from high eugenol. Woody-green freshness from cubebene. Rounder and more balsamic than common pepper.

Evolution over time

Immediately

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After a few hours

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Terroir & Chemotypes

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Cubeb (Piper cubeba) is a Javanese pepper whose dried berries retain their stalks. The essential oil is rich in cubebene (up to 18%), cubebol (up to 26% in oleoresin), eugenol (up to 34%), and methyl eugenol. Warmer and less pungent than black pepper.

The scent opens camphoraceous, moves through warm spicy heart, and settles into woody-balsamic base. High eugenol content connects it to clove.

In perfumery, cubeb oil functions as a middle-to-base spice note adding warmth and aromatic complexity without the sharp piperine bite of black pepper.

Did You Know?

Did you know?
King John of Portugal banned cubeb trade in 1640 to protect the black pepper market. The ban was effective enough that cubeb nearly disappeared from Western kitchens for three centuries.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of dried unripe berries. Oil yield approximately 10-18% from dried berries, making it oil-rich.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular FormulaN/A - complex essential oil (key: cubebene C₁₅H₂₄)
CAS Number8007-87-2
Botanical NamePiper cubeba
IFRA StatusNo known restrictions
SynonymsTAILED PEPPER · JAVA PEPPER · KUBEB
Physical Properties
Odor StrengthHigh
AppearanceYellow to amber liquid
Flash Point130.00 °F. TCC ( 54.44 °C. )
Specific Gravity0.85000 to 0.86000 @ 25.00 °C.
Refractive Index1.46000 to 1.47500 @ 20.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Middle-to-base spice note. Rich in cubebene, cubebol, eugenol. Warmer and less pungent than black pepper. Adds aromatic spice complexity to oriental, woody, and amber compositions.

See Also

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