Is Selaginella tamariscina natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Selaginella tamariscina

AccordWOODS & MOSSESearthy · green · rich

HeartPyramid

3/5Strength

—Tenacity

3Origins

Editorial noteWe own no rights to this material, its name or its trademark. This entry is independent editorial journalism, published under freedom of expression.

Specimen

Selaginella tamariscina

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

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.

GREEN EARTHY HERBAL WARM COOL FRESH

tamarisk spikemoss

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Woods
Subfamily: Earthy woods
Cluster: Earthy woods
Source: whole plant
Chemical class: N/A — fantasy note (biflavonoid-rich plant)

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

3/5Strength

Medium

odour strength

Producing countries

China Japan Korea

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.

In PREMIEREPEAU

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

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.

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

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

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

Formula: N/A — complex plant (biflavonoids: amentoflavone, hinokiflavone)
CAS: N/A — no single CAS (whole plant)
Botanical: Selaginella tamariscina
Appearance: Small fern-like plant, brownish when dry, unfurling green when hydrated (resurrection plant)
Odour strength: Medium
Synonyms: tamarisk spikemoss

IFRA status

See note

Not applicable: accord or concept, not a single material

Physical properties

Note: Resurrection plant — desiccation-tolerant. Rich in biflavonoids used in traditional medicine.

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.

Role in the formula

01modifier

02signature note

03blender

04naturalizer

05volume builder

06freshness

Available as

synthetic accord fantasy note

Selaginella tamariscina

Scent

The Full Story

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

In Perfumery

See Also

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