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Selaginella tamariscina

Q: Is Selaginella tamariscina natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: No commercial extraction exists. The note is reconstructed as a fantasy accord using geosmin, vetiver, oakmoss substitutes, and green modifiers..

WOODS AND MOSSES / earthy · green · rich

Category	WOODS AND MOSSES
Subcategory	earthy · green · rich
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Selaginella tamariscina
Appearance	Small fern-like plant, brownish when dry, unfurling green when hydrated (resurrection plant)
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	China, Japan, Korea
Pyramid	Heart

Dry, mossy, faintly mineral. Selaginella tamariscina -- the resurrection plant -- unfurls from a brown, dead-looking ball when wet, releasing a damp-earth, fern-like green.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Dry mineral-earth transitioning to damp, mossy green. The before-and-after quality is the point: parched stone becoming living fern. More mossy than grassy, more mineral than floral. Geosmin (petrichor) is the bridge between the dry and wet states.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Dry mineral-earth, dusty, faintly mossy

After a few hours

Damp green emerges, petrichor, fern-like freshness

After a few days

Quiet earthy-mossy warmth, persistent

The Full Story

Selaginella tamariscina is a spike moss (not a true moss or fern) native to East Asia, famous for its ability to survive extreme desiccation and revive when rehydrated -- hence 'resurrection plant.' The dried plant has a faint, musty, mineral-earthy smell. When rehydrated, it releases a damp, green, fern-like aroma.

No commercial essential oil exists. In perfumery, the note carries the atmospheric impression of the plant's revival: dry mineral earth transitioning to damp, green life. Construction may use geosmin (petrichor), vetiver (earthy), oakmoss or evernyl (mossy), and cis-3-hexenol (green rehydration). The appeal is in the narrative: death to life, dry to wet.

Functionally, it works as an earthy-green modifier in the heart zone. The note provides a narrative arc -- transformation and resilience -- useful in contemplative, nature-themed, and Asian-inspired compositions.

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?

Selaginella tamariscina can survive losing up to 97% of its water content, curling into a desiccated brown ball that appears completely dead. Within hours of rehydration, it unfurls and resumes photosynthesis. It has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 1,000 years as a blood-stasis remedy.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: No commercial extraction exists. The note is reconstructed as a fantasy accord using geosmin, vetiver, oakmoss substitutes, and green modifiers.

Molecular Formula	N/A — complex plant (biflavonoids: amentoflavone, hinokiflavone)
CAS Number	N/A — no single CAS (whole plant)
Botanical Name	Selaginella tamariscina
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	tamarisk spikemoss
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Small fern-like plant, brownish when dry, unfurling green when hydrated (resurrection plant)

In Perfumery

Selaginella tamariscina is an earthy-green atmospheric modifier for the heart zone. It carries the resurrection plant's revival: dry mineral earth to damp mossy green. Built from geosmin, vetiver, oakmoss/evernyl, and green-leaf notes. Works in nature-themed, contemplative, and Asian-inspired compositions.