Is Longan Berries natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Longan Berries

AccordFRUITS, VEGETABLES & NUTSfruity · sweet · floral

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

3Origins

Editorial noteWe own no rights to this material, its name or its trademark. This entry is independent editorial journalism, published under freedom of expression.

Specimen

Longan Berries perfume ingredient — Heart

Dimocarpus longan

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Longan berries are sweet, aromatic fruits known for their floral fragrance and juicy texture.

FLORAL SWEET FRUITY WARM FRESH HONEYED TROPICAL

DRAGON EYE LONGAN FRUIT

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Fruity
Subfamily: Tropical fruits
Cluster: Mixed fruit notes
Source: fruit
Chemical class: complex natural (enfleurage)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

China Thailand Vietnam

Scent

Longan berries possess a sweet, floral aroma similar to of lychee, yet with a more subtle and layered character. The scent smells honeyed, with hints of tropical fruits and a delicate freshness that lingers in the air. When inhaled, one might detect a soft, warm sweetness coupled with an almost ethereal quality.

Scent Evolution

The initial impression of longan is fruity and sweet, quickly enveloping the senses in its character. As it evolves, the floral undertones become more apparent. This diverse fragrance can carry memories of sun-drenched orchards and balmy evenings.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

The Full Story

Longan (Dimocarpus longan, Sapindaceae) is a tropical fruit native to southern China and Southeast Asia, closely related to lychee and rambutan — all three are Sapindaceae with the same translucent-juicy-flesh-around-a-single-seed structure. Longan is smaller, sweeter, less floral than lychee; the brown-yellow skin is brittle, the flesh pale, the seed nearly black.

Explore all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

In perfumery

Longan has no commercial fragrance extract. Its volatile profile shares some compounds with lychee — β-damascenone, linalool, methyl 2-methylbutyrate — but lacks the dominant cis-rose oxide that defines lychee. The 'longan' note in fragrance is therefore a softer, less rose-fruity cousin of the lychee reconstruction: more transparent, less floral, with a honey-tropical undertone. It is rare in fine fragrance; when used, it pairs naturally with lychee, peach and white florals.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

The aromatic material is obtained through enfleurage or distillation of the fruit.

Formula: Complex mixture (no single formula)
Botanical: Dimocarpus longan
Appearance: Pale to light amber liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: DRAGON EYE LONGAN FRUIT

IFRA status

No restriction

No known restrictions

Physical properties

Note: Primarily a fantasy/reconstructed accord in perfumery

In Perfumery

Longan berries are typically used as a heart note in perfumery, providing a sweet and floral backdrop to more strong ingredients. They works with other fruits like lychee and pear, as well as floral notes such as jasmine and rose. Their profile can also complement warm base notes like amber and sandalwood that draws the attention of the senses.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03blender

04freshness

Available as

synthetic accord fantasy note