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Pataqueira

Q: Is Pataqueira natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Steam distillation of the aerial parts (leaves, stems) of Conobea scoparioides. Production is localized to the Para region of northern Brazil. Small-scale, artisanal production..

FLOWERS / floral · woody · fruity

Pataqueira

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · woody · fruity
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Conobea scoparioides
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Brazil (Amazonia)
Pyramid	Heart

Green, herbal, and camphoraceous with a patchouli-like earthiness. An Amazonian herb used in traditional perfumery -- raw, vegetal, and rooted in red clay soil.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Green, camphoraceous, and earthy. Like pulling a handful of herbs from the floor of a tropical greenhouse -- the smell is humid, vegetal, pungent, and anchored in rich soil. Patchouli-adjacent but wilder, less clean, more primal.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Bright, camphoraceous green. Pungent herbal oils and a humid, tropical freshness.

After a few hours

The camphor settles. Earthy, patchouli-like warmth emerges -- soil and green roots.

After a few days

A persistent, earthy-green residue. Quiet but durable.

The Full Story

Pataqueira (Conobea scoparioides, family Plantaginaceae) is a small herbaceous plant native to the Amazon basin, particularly the Para region of northern Brazil. It holds a special place in Brazilian folk perfumery -- it is one of the key ingredients in cheiro do Para, the traditional fragrance practice of the region.

The plant has a particular green-herbal, camphoraceous aroma with earthy undertones. When bruised or distilled, it releases a complex bouquet: green-leafy top notes, a patchouli-like earthiness in the middle, and a warm, slightly musky base. The scent is anchored in the rich, humid ecology of the Amazon -- it smells of verdant growth and red laterite soil.

Pataqueira essential oil is produced by steam distillation of the aerial parts. Production is limited and localized, rarely reaching international perfumery markets. The oil finds most use in regional Brazilian perfumery and traditional preparations.

In international perfumery, pataqueira remains obscure. It offers a unique Amazonian aromatic signature for perfumers seeking unusual green-herbal materials with genuine terroir.

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?

In the city of Belem, Para, traditional perfumers (known as erveiras or plant women) sell pataqueira and other Amazonian aromatics at the Ver-o-Peso market, one of the oldest open-air markets in Latin America, operating since 1625.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of the aerial parts (leaves, stems) of Conobea scoparioides. Production is localized to the Para region of northern Brazil. Small-scale, artisanal production.

Molecular Formula	N/A — complex essential oil (rich in thymol, carvacrol)
CAS Number	950903-91-0
Botanical Name	Conobea scoparioides
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	Pataqueira flower, Pataqueira blossom
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Flash Point	> 200.00 °F. TCC ( > 93.33 °C. )
Specific Gravity	0.930 to 0.960 @ 25 °C (est)
Refractive Index	1.490 to 1.510 @ 20 °C (est)

In Perfumery

Heart note in green-herbal, Amazonian-inspired, and earthy compositions. Functions as a wild, vegetal alternative to patchouli, contributing camphoraceous-green freshness over earthy warmth. Steam-distilled from aerial parts of Conobea scoparioides. Limited to regional Brazilian perfumery; rarely used in mainstream international formulas.