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Ravensara

Q: Is Ravensara natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Steam distillation of leaves of Ravensara aromatica. Production exclusively in Madagascar. Yield approximately 1-2%. Important: not the same as ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. cineole)..

WOODS AND MOSSES / woody · aromatic · warm

Ravensara

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	woody · aromatic · warm
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Cryptocarya agathophylla (syn. Ravensara aromatica)
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	Madagascar
Pyramid	Heart

Camphorous-green, slightly anise-sweet, distinctly Madagascan. Ravensara oil smells like eucalyptus crossed with anise — fresh, medicinal, bright.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Camphorous-green, anise-sweet, bright and clean. Less harsh than eucalyptus, less sweet than tarragon (which also contains methyl chavicol). A distinctly Madagascan brightness — something tropical-fresh that European aromatics don't deliver.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Camphorous-green, anise-sweet brightness, clean

After a few hours

Herbal depth, less camphorous, warm anise

After a few days

Persistent anise-green warmth, medicinal trace

The Full Story

Ravensar a (Ravensar a aromatic a) is a tree endemic to Madagascar in the Lauraceae family. The essential oil, steam-distilled from leaves, has a particular profile: camphorous-green, with a slight anise-like sweetness and a bright, clean freshness.

The oil is dominated by methyl chavicol (estragole), limonene, and sabinene. The estragole content gives the anise-sweet quality that distinguishes ravensar a from eucalyptus. There is also a particular 'Madagas can' quality — a certa in brightness and clarity.

Often confused with ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora grown in Madagascar, which is 1,8-cineole dominant), ravensara proper is methyl chavicol dominant. The two are different species with different chemistries.

In perfumery, ravensara functions in aromatic, herbal, and fresh compositions. The combination of camphor, anise, and clean green in a single oil provides complexity that single-note synthetics lack.

This note in Première Peau. Nuit Elastique · Albâtre Sépia. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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

Did You Know?

Did you know?

The confusion between ravensara and ravintsara has caused significant commercial problems. They are different species in different plant families (Lauraceae vs. Lauraceae but different genera), with different major compounds (methyl chavicol vs. 1,8-cineole). Many suppliers still mislabel them.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of leaves of Ravensara aromatica. Production exclusively in Madagascar. Yield approximately 1-2%. Important: not the same as ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. cineole).

Molecular Formula	Complex mixture; major component: methyl chavicol / estragole (C₁₀H₁₂O, ~85-90%)
CAS Number	91770-56-8
Botanical Name	Cryptocarya agathophylla (syn. Ravensara aromatica)
IFRA Status	Restricted (contains estragole and safrole)
Synonyms	Ravensara, Ravensara oil, Madagascar aromatic wood
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Lasting Power	6–12 hours
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber viscous liquid
Refractive Index	1.495-1.510

In Perfumery

Natural aromatic material from Madagascar. Methyl chavicol dominant profile with camphor-green freshness. Functions in aromatic, herbal, and fresh compositions. Distinct from ravintsara (different plant, different chemistry). Works alongside citrus, herbal, and green notes.