Home › Glossary › Winter Daphne

Winter Daphne

Q: Is Winter Daphne natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: No commercial extraction. All parts of Daphne odora are highly toxic (contain daphnin and mezerein)..

FLOWERS / floral · rich · sweet

Winter Daphne

Category	FLOWERS
Subcategory	floral · rich · sweet
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Daphne odora
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	China, Japan
Pyramid	Heart

Heady citrus-sweet floral that blooms in dead winter. Daphne odora projects its scent across hundreds of meters: part orange blossom, part jasmine, part something narcotic.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Citrus-sweet and densely floral, with narcotic depth unusual for a winter bloom. Closer to orange blossom than rose, with jasmine warmth but less animalic. Cold-air context makes the scent seem cleaner and more luminous.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Citrus-sweet floral burst, luminous and projecting

After a few hours

Narcotic white-floral depth, jasmine-orange warmth

After a few days

Sweet floral residue, fading but memorable

The Full Story

Winter daphne (Daphne odora) is an evergreen shrub native to China, Korea, and Japan. It blooms between January and March, filling cold air with powerful floral scent. The Korean name churihyang means thousand-mile fragrance.

The scent combines citrus-sweet, white-floral, and a deep narcotic sweetness. Chemical analysis reveals terpenoids, phenylethyl alcohols, and esters. The flowers are highly toxic and no commercial oil exists.

Perfumers blend orange blossom absolute with jasmine components, tuberose for narcotic depth, and citrus elements for the bright top.

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

—

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Daphne odora is so toxic that ingesting a few berries can be fatal to a child. The plant's beauty and fragrance are a classic example of aposematic deception in reverse.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: No commercial extraction. All parts of Daphne odora are highly toxic (contain daphnin and mezerein).

Molecular Formula	Key aroma compounds include linalool, geraniol, and citronellol
CAS Number	N/A (no commercial essential oil or absolute in trade)
Botanical Name	Daphne odora
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	DAPHNE · FRAGRANT DAPHNE · SWEET DAPHNE
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Colorless to pale yellow liquid

In Perfumery

Heart note in white-floral and citrus-floral compositions. No commercial extract exists due to toxicity. Reconstructed from orange blossom, jasmine, tuberose, and citrus elements.