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Rhododendron

Q: Is Rhododendron natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Steam distillation of leaves/twigs of Rhododendron anthopogon (Himalayan species). Small-scale production in Nepal. Not widely traded in Western perfumery supply chains..

FLOWERS / floral · fresh · rich

Rhododendron

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · fresh · rich
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Rhododendron spp.
Appearance	pale yellow clear liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	China, India, Nepal, Turkey
Pyramid	Heart

Green-resinous, slightly toxic-sweet, mountain-cold. Rhododendron smells of high altitude — cold air, waxy leaves, resinous-green intensity.

Scent
Terroir & Origins
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Green-resinous, waxy-leathery, cold. Mountain air trapped in thick, glossy leaves. A faint toxicity in the sweetness — something that signals caution beneath the beauty. Less friendly than garden florals. More alpine, more austere.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Green-resinous, cold-mountain, waxy-leathery

After a few hours

Resinous depth, less sharp, altitude warmth

After a few days

Persistent green-resinous, fading to woody-cold

Terroir & Origins

Indicative 2025 wholesale prices.

The Full Story

Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.) encompasses over 1,000 species, many with aromatic leaves and flowers. The scent varies by species but shares common threads: green-resinous, waxy-leathery, with a particular cold-mountain quality.

Some rhododendron honeys are toxic (grayanotoxin) — the 'mad honey' of Turkey's Black Sea coast. This toxic-sweet association informs the perfumery concept: beauty and danger in mountain form.

Small-scale rhododendron essential oils exist from Himalayan species (R. anthopogon is distilled in Nepal). The oil is green-resinous, slightly camphorous, with a particular mountain character. Not common in Western perfumery.

Functions in mountain, green, and altitude-themed compositions.

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?

'Mad honey' from rhododendron-foraging bees contains grayanotoxin, which causes dizziness, weakness, and hallucinations. In 67 BCE, Pompey's Roman soldiers were incapacitated after eating mad honey left as a trap by Pontic troops along the Black Sea coast — one of history's earliest examples of biological warfare.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of leaves/twigs of Rhododendron anthopogon (Himalayan species). Small-scale production in Nepal. Not widely traded in Western perfumery supply chains.

↑ See Terroir & Origins for origin-specific methods.

Molecular Formula	Complex mixture; contains ursolic acid, grayanotoxins
CAS Number	90106-42-6 (Rhododendron spp. extract)
Botanical Name	Rhododendron spp.
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	AZALEA
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	pale yellow clear liquid
Specific Gravity	0.87910 @ 12.00 °C.
Refractive Index	1.48810 @ 12.00 °C.

In Perfumery

Niche natural (from Himalayan species) or fantasy note providing mountain-green character. R. anthopogon oil available from Nepal. Functions in altitude, mountain, and green-resinous compositions. The toxic-sweet association adds conceptual interest.