15 Most Important Plant Sources of Expensive Perfumes

15 Most Important Plant Sources of Expensive Perfumes

By: nobert soloria bermosa

Plants have long been used in perfumery as a source of essential oils and aroma compounds. Plants are by far the largest source of fragrant compounds used in perfumery. The odor of plants may be found in the flower petals, leaves, bark, wood, seeds, roots, fruit rind, gums and resins. It may also be secreted in the form of resinous gum from the tree itself.

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The following plants below are the 15 major sources of expensive plant perfumes.

1. Cabbage Rose (Rosa centifolia)

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2. Damask Rose (Rosa damascene)

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Cabbage Rose and Damask Rose are the two most important sources of Attar of Rose.

Attar of Roses or Rose Oil is expensive, requiring thousands of blossoms to make a single gram. It is fragrant and sweet-tasting oil obtained from rose petals, usually by steam distillation. The oil is used mainly to scent perfumes, toiletries, cosmetics and soaps; it is also used to flavor candies. The leading producers of the oil are Bulgaria, turkey and France. The two most important roses attributed for the oil are the Damask rose and Cabbage rose.

3. Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata)

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The oil from ylang-ylang is widely used in perfumery for oriental or floral themed perfumes (like Chanel No. 5). The plant is native to the Philippines.

4. Jasmine (Jasminium)

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Sampaguita (Jasminium sambac)

Many species of jasminium yield an absolute, which is used in the production of perfumes and incense. It is the National flower of the Philippines where it is known as "sampaguita."

5. Mimosa (Acacia farnesiana)

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Mimosa is commonly known as Needle Bush. The flowers are processed through distillation to produce a perfume called Cassie. It is widely used in the perfume industry in Europe. Scented ointments from Cassie are made in India.

6. Mignonette (Reseda)

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Mignonette flowers are not especially attractive but are extremely fragrant. It is grown for the sweet ambrosial scent of its flowers. It is used in flower arrangements, perfumes and potpourri. A Victorian favorite, it was commonly grown in pots and in window-boxes to scent the city air. The volatile oil is used in perfumery.

7. Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

This lovely flower is an important source of perfume. The tuberose is a perennial plant of the agave family Agavaceae, extracts of which are use as a middle note in perfumery.

8. Vanilla

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Another notable plant which has been a major source of scent used in perfumery (as well as in food) is vanilla. The cosmetic industry uses vanilla to make perfume. It is also considered an aphrodisiac and a remedy for fever.

9. Sweet Violets (Viola odorata)

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One important source of perfume is Sweet Violet. It is used as a source for scents in the perfume industry.

10. Common Sage (Salvia officinalis)

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The tincture of Common Sage has a very nice scent and has been widely used as a perfume.

11. Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

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The essential oil of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is made up of 20-55% thymol. Thymol, an antiseptic, is the main active ingredient in Listerine mouthwash.

12. Mint (Mentha)

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One important source of perfume is mint. Menthol from mint essential oil (40-90%) is an ingredient of many cosmetics and some perfumes.

13. Lavender (Lavandula)

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Lavenders are widely grown in gardens. Flower spikes are used for dried flower arrangements. The fragrant, pale purple flowers and flower buds are used in potpourris. Dried and sealed in pouches, they are placed among stored items of clothing to give a fresh fragrance and as a deterrent to moths.

14. Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)

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A plant species whose scent is heavy and strong is that of the patchouli. It has been used for centuries in perfumes and continues to be so today.

15. Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis )

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Rosemary is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean region and one of the major sources of plant perfumes.

There are still numerous species of plants that provide fragrance for perfumery, most of them are use in cosmetics, perfumes and medicines while other species are use for food and drink flavorings.

For expensive perfumes from animals see "Animals That Produce the Most Expensive Perfumes "