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Plum Blossom

Q: Is Plum Blossom natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Not commercially extracted. Plum blossom produces no viable essential oil. Fantasy accord..

FLOWERS / floral · fruity · fresh

Plum Blossom

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · fruity · fresh
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Prunus mume
Appearance	pale yellow to amber liquid (absolute)
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	China, Japan
Pyramid	Heart

Clean, almond-floral, and subtly sweet. Prunus mume blossoms smell of bitter almond and cool air -- the scent of late winter, not of plum fruit.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Clean, almond-floral, and cool. Like standing beneath a blossoming Prunus mume tree on a cold morning in Kyoto -- the petals are pale pink against bare branches, and the scent is spare and clean: bitter almond, a trace of clove, and the cold freshness of winter air. Nothing heavy. Nothing sweet. Pure restraint.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Clean, almond-floral, cool. Winter air and bitter almond.

After a few hours

The almond softens. Light, floral warmth.

After a few days

A faint, clean, almond trace.

The Full Story

Plum blossom (Prunus mume, Japanese apricot or Chinese plum) is a culturally significant flowers in East Asia. It blooms in late winter (January-February), often while snow still covers the ground, symbolizing resilience and the promise of spring.

The fragrance is clean, almond-floral, and subtly sweet -- driven by benzaldehyde (bitter almond), with traces of eugenol (clove-like), benzyl alcohol, and a faint, green freshness. Like peach blossom (a close relative), plum blossom smells nothing like its fruit.

In perfumery, plum blossom is a fantasy accord capturing this winter-floral character. Built from benzaldehyde, light floral materials, clean green notes, and a cold, airy quality suggesting winter air.

The note functions in the top-to-heart range, providing a clean, East Asian winter-floral quality.

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?

The plum blossom was the national flower of the Republic of China and remains a powerful cultural symbol. In Chinese painting, it represents one of the Four Gentlemen (alongside orchid, chrysanthemum, and bamboo) and symbolizes perseverance through hardship -- because it blooms in the coldest month.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Not commercially extracted. Plum blossom produces no viable essential oil. Fantasy accord.

Molecular Formula	Key aroma compounds: benzaldehyde (C₇H₆O), benzyl alcohol (C₇H₈O), eugenol (C₁₀H₁₂O₂)
CAS Number	N/A — natural flower, no single CAS
Botanical Name	Prunus mume
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	ume, Japanese apricot blossom
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	pale yellow to amber liquid (absolute)

In Perfumery

Top-to-heart note in East Asian, winter-floral, and clean-almond compositions. Functions as a spare, restrained floral with bitter-almond character. Built from benzaldehyde, light florals, green notes, and cold-air accords.