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Erigeron (Fleabane)

Q: Is Erigeron (Fleabane) natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Steam distillation of the entire herb (leaves, stems, flowers) of Erigeron canadensis. Yield approximately 0.3-1%. The oil is pale yellow, mobile, with strong lemony-herbal odor. Production: India, China, North America..

FLOWERS / floral · green · fresh

Erigeron (Fleabane)

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · green · fresh
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Erigeron spp.
Appearance	Pale yellow to yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Asia, Europe, North America
Pyramid	Heart

Herbal-green, faintly lemony, with a medicinal weediness. Fleabane smells like a crushed roadside herb — astringent, unrefined, insistent.

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

Scent

Herbal-green with a prominent lemony lift. Medicinal-weedy underneath — not the clean citrus of lemon oil but the rougher, more complex citrus of a crushed roadside herb. Astringent, fresh, slightly harsh. Wild rather than cultivated.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Bright lemony-herbal, green, medicinal-weedy

After a few hours

Herbal depth, citrus fades, astringent warmth

After a few days

Dry herbal-green residue, faint citrus memory

Terroir & Origins

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Erigeron (fleabane) encompasses over 400 species. The essential oil, primarily from Erigeron canadensis (Canadian fleabane), contains limonene (40-70%), trans-alpha-bergamotene, and sesquiterpenes. The scent is herbal-green, lemony, and faintly medicinal.

The name 'fleabane' reflects historical use as an insect repellent — the dried plant was burned or scattered to drive away fleas. This utilitarian heritage informs the perfumery concept: practical, unglamorous, herbaceous.

In perfumery, fleabane oil is a niche material providing citrus-herbal lift. The high limonene content makes it bright and energetic, but the herbal-weedy undertones keep it from reading as pure citrus. It sits between lemon verbena and wild thyme.

Erigeron canadensis has become a widespread weeds on Earth, found on every continent except Antarctica. It was the first plant to develop resistance to glyphosate (Roundup).

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Rose Monotone. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Did You Know?

Did you know?

Erigeron canadensis was the first documented weed to develop resistance to the herbicide glyphosate (Roundup), reported in 2000 in Delaware. It is now a problematic herbicide-resistant weeds in global agriculture.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of the entire herb (leaves, stems, flowers) of Erigeron canadensis. Yield approximately 0.3-1%. The oil is pale yellow, mobile, with strong lemony-herbal odor. Production: India, China, North America.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	C₁₀H₁₆ (Limonene, major component ~60%)
CAS Number	8007-27-0 (erigeron oil, Canadian fleabane)
Botanical Name	Erigeron spp.
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Fleabane, Daisy Fleabane
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Pale yellow to yellow clear liquid
Flash Point	~49°C
Specific Gravity	0.845–0.865 @ 25°C
Refractive Index	1.472–1.488 @ 20°C

In Perfumery

Niche natural providing citrus-herbal freshness with weedy complexity. High limonene content gives brightness; herbal undertones add character absent from pure citrus oils. Functions in herbal, aromatic, and green compositions. An unrefined alternative to cleaner citrus materials.