Is Pepperwood or Hercules Club natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Pepperwood or Hercules Club

AccordWOODS & MOSSESwoody · spicy · aromatic

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

1Origins

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

Pepperwood or Hercules Club perfume ingredient — Heart

Zanthoxylum clava-herculis

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Sharp, numbing, peppery-woody. The bark and berries of Zanthoxylum -- Sichuan pepper's woody cousin, with a tongue-tingling spice and a citrusy, almost lemony brightness.

WOODY FLORAL SPICY WARM FRESH

HERCULES CLUB TOOTHACHE TREE

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Woods
Subfamily: Classic woods
Cluster: Earthy woods
Source: bark, leaves, berries
Chemical class: complex natural (essential oil)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

United States

Scent

Sharp, tingling, and citrus-peppery. Like biting a Sichuan peppercorn and breathing in -- the numbing sensation on the tongue is accompanied by a bright burst of lemon, a woody bark depth, and a sharpness that is more electric than hot. Different from any other pepper.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

The Full Story

Pepperwood, also known as Hercules club, refers to trees of the genus Zanthoxylum (Rutaceae family), the same genus that produces Sichuan pepper (multiple species; Z. bungeanum is one of several commercial sources) and Japanese sansho (Z. piperitum). The common name "Hercules club" comes from the thorny, club-like branches of Z. clava-herculis, native to North America.

The aromatic character of Zanthoxylum species is particular: a sharp, numbing spiciness (from sanshools and hydroxy-alpha-sanshool), combined with a bright, lemony-citrus quality (from limonene and citronellal) and a woody, bark-like base.

In perfumery, pepperwood/Zanthoxylum is used for its unique spice-citrus-numbing profile, which differs from both black pepper (piperine-based heat) and pink pepper (fruity-sweet). The numbing quality translates olfactively as a tingling, almost electric sharpness.

The material functions as a top-to-heart spice note, providing a particular, East Asian-inflected peppery brightness that lifts and energizes compositions.

Related: Alder · Alpha Humulene · Amaranth · Amberever · Amburana Bark · Antillone · Apple Tree

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Steam distillation or CO2 extraction of bark, leaves, or berries of Zanthoxylum species. Various species yield slightly different aromatic profiles. Production is limited.

Formula: N/A — complex essential oil (terpenes, alkaloids)
Botanical: Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Appearance: Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: HERCULES CLUB TOOTHACHE TREE

IFRA status

See note

Not subject to an IFRA Standard (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Flash point: > 200.00 °F. TCC ( > 93.33 °C. )

In Perfumery

Top-to-heart note in spicy, citrus, and East Asian-inspired compositions. Functions as a particular, numbing-bright spice distinct from black pepper (heat) or pink pepper (fruity). Built on sanshool-type compounds and limonene. The citrusy sharpness lifts woody and amber bases.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03blender

04volume builder

05freshness

Available as

essential oil