Poplar (Populus) Buds

NaturalRESINS & BALSAMSbalsamic · warm · amber

Seven perfumesOne of them is looking at you

HeartPyramid

—Strength

—Tenacity

1Origins

Specimen

Poplar (Populus) Buds perfume ingredient — Heart

Populus nigra

Definition

Poplar buds are the buds of the black poplar (Populus nigra), and the scales that protect them contain a balsamic resinous substance. The extract sold as black poplar bud absolute has a balsamic, sweet, coumarinic, woody odour with labdanum and amber notes.

black poplar bud absolute, Populus nigra bud extract

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Resinous
Subfamily: Sweet balsams
Cluster: Classic resins
Source: bud
Chemical class: absolute

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

Producing countries

Eastern Europe

Scent

Poplar bud absolute has a very complex and tenacious but soft aroma of apricots and prunes, along with the fruity-floral osmanthus. Background notes include precious wood and leather. The absolute has balsamic undertones with heavy vanilla top notes. The balsam poplar has a strong, sweet fragrance that comes from its sticky, resinous buds. Its smell has been compared to that of the balsam fir tree. The leaf buds of balm-of-Gilead are coated with a resinous sap with a strong, pleasant turpentine or balsam odour that is most evident as the leaves unfold in the spring.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

Grades & Aging

The Full Story

The trees

Poplar is a fast-growing tree native to Europe. The black poplar mostly grows in low-lying areas and in moist soil. It is cultivated mainly for its wood, which is used in crate manufacturing. The buds are also used for medicinal purposes. Populus is a genus of over 60 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to temperate, subarctic and montane regions of Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and to the tropical highlands of East Africa.

Balsam poplar and balm-of-Gilead

The balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera, is the northernmost North American hardwood. Its resinous sap comes from its buds, and bees sometimes use it as a hive disinfectant. The balm-of-Gilead, Populus × jackii, is a hybrid between the balsam poplar and the eastern cottonwood. The tree is named after the unrelated biblical Balm of Gilead, a Commiphora resin.

Composition

Balm-of-Gilead is expected to contain salicin in its bark, as other poplars do. The bud resin of Populus × euramericana cv. 'Neva' shares five predominant flavonoids with 17 propolis samples: 5-methoxy pinobanksin, pinobanksin, pinocembrin, pinobanksin-3-acetate and chrysin. The bud resin of Populus simonii × P. nigra shares four predominant flavonoids with 22 propolis samples: pinobanksin, pinocembrin, pinobanksin-3-acetate and chrysin.

Poplar-type propolis

Poplar-type propolis is common in temperate regions, including Europe, North America and western Asia. Poplar-type propolis is one of the most widespread propolis types.

Other uses

In traditional herbal treatment, balm-of-Gilead has been regarded as antiseptic, expectorant and tonic, among other properties. Sticky spring buds of the balsam poplar are used in medicinal salves and other herbal preparations in both Indigenous North American and European herbal traditions. The buds of balm-of-Gilead can be cut up for pot-pourri or used in herbal medicine. The function recorded for the Populus nigra extract among cosmetic ingredients is skin conditioning.

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Related: Amberwood · Andiroba · Bakhoor · Balsamic Notes · Benzoin Resinoid · Benzyl Benzoate · Benzyl Salicylate · Birch Tar

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Poplar bud absolute is extracted from the buds of Populus nigra. Poplar bud absolute is solvent extracted. The buds are harvested in the winter. Buds of balm-of-Gilead are collected before they open for commerce. Buds harvested in Eastern Europe are processed by extraction.

CAS: 84650-39-5
Botanical: Populus nigra
Appearance: Yellow-green liquid (absolute 50% in triethyl citrate); the oleoresin is a dark brown liquid
Synonyms: black poplar bud absolute, Populus nigra bud extract

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

Physical properties

Flash point: >100 °C (closed cup, absolute 50% in triethyl citrate)
Specific gravity: 1.075-1.105 (D20/20, absolute 50% in triethyl citrate)
Refractive index: 1.485-1.500 (ND20, absolute 50% in triethyl citrate)

In Perfumery

Poplar bud absolute belongs to the balsamic and vanilla olfactive family in a producer's perfumery catalogue.

Role in the formula

01fixative

02modifier

03blender

Available as

absolute