Saw Palmetto

NaturalGREENS, HERBS & FOUGERESgreen · fruity · earthy

HeartPyramid

—Strength

—Tenacity

1Origins

Specimen

Serenoa repens

Definition

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a small fan palm. An extract of its berries is marketed as a dietary supplement.

GREEN EARTHY SWEET FRUITY WARM FRESH CREAMY

American dwarf palm tree, cabbage palm, dwarf palm, Serenoa serrulata, Sabal serrulata

Type: Ingredient
Olfactive family: Aromatic
Subfamily: Green notes
Cluster: Green leafy notes
Source: berries (fruit)
Chemical class: complex natural extract (fatty acids, phytosterols)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

Producing countries

United States

Scent

The distilled oil smells pleasant at first and later becomes disagreeable. In an oil from berries preserved in alcohol, the fruity odor is due to the esters.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

Terroir & Transformation

The Full Story

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a small palm, growing to a maximum height around 200-300 cm (6.6-9.8 ft). It is the only species in the monotypic genus Serenoa. It is a fan palm, with leaves that have a bare petiole ending in a rounded fan of about 20 leaflets. The petiole is armed with fine, sharp teeth or spines that give the species its common name.

It is endemic to the subtropical and tropical southeastern United States as well as Mexico, most commonly along the south Atlantic and Gulf Coastal plains and sandhills. It grows in clumps or dense thickets in sandy coastal areas, and as undergrowth in pine woods or hardwood hammocks. The fruit is a large reddish-black drupe and is an important food source for wildlife and historically for humans. The leaves are used for thatching by several indigenous groups.

Phytochemicals in the berries include phytosterols, alcohols, free fatty acids, flavonoids and polysaccharides. Lauric acid is dodecanoic acid, C₁₂H₂₄O₂.

The extract of the berries is sold as a dietary supplement intended to improve symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. As of 2025 there is insufficient scientific evidence that it is effective for treating cancer or BPH and its symptoms.

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Related: Acronychia Pedunculata · Adoxal · Agave · Algae · Aloe Vera · Aromatic Notes · Asparagus · Avocado

Did You Know?

Some saw palmettos, especially in Florida, are possibly 500-700 years old. After a fire, saw palmetto cover may return to its preburn level in as little as 1 year. Plants burned in November can sprout a fully expanded leaf by January. Saw palmetto fibers have been found among indigenous materials as far north as Wisconsin and New York, which strongly suggests wide trade before European contact.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

In the patented method, the berries are first dried and ground substantially to a powder. Supercritical CO2 is then flowed through the powder at an extraction pressure of at least about 500 bar and a temperature lower than about 80 °C. The extracted compounds are then separated from the CO2 by decreasing the pressure.

Formula: Complex natural mixture (key constituents: free fatty acids; phytosterols; fatty alcohols)
CAS: 84604-15-9
Botanical: Serenoa repens
Appearance: Colorless to pale yellow clear liquid (est)
Synonyms: American dwarf palm tree, cabbage palm, dwarf palm, Serenoa serrulata, Sabal serrulata

IFRA status

See note

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

Physical properties

Boiling point: 60-170 °C at 18 mm Hg (distilled oil)
Specific gravity: 0.8679 at 20/20 °C (distilled oil)
Refractive index: 1.41233 at 20 °C (distilled oil)

In Perfumery

In cosmetics, the fruit oil is used for skin conditioning. It is not recommended for fragrance use or for flavor use. No perfumery uses or blenders are recorded for it.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03blender

04naturalizer

05volume builder

06freshness

Available as

CO2 extract oil