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Oak (Quercus Robur)
Category Wood
Woody, woodsy, barky, dry, smoky, liqueur-like, dry fruit, vanilla.
Oak is a deciduous tree that grows in temperate regions in the northern hemisphere. It can reach a height of over 100 feet and live for several hundred years. Oak wood is used in perfumery as an alternative to oak moss, whose use is strictly regulated.
C02 extraction (or Softact) of oak chips supplies an extract used in perfumery. The variety of oak usually selected is ‘Quercus Robur,’ although ‘Quercus Petraea’ or ‘Quercus Alba’ can be used instead.
Oak is used in fine fragrances for both men and women, to which it brings a woody tonality with dry, somewhat liqueur-like accents. Using oak wood is often preferable to using oak moss (which is strictly regulated nowadays) or synthetic molecules like Evernyl (which also has a mossy scent). Oak-wood extract is less obviously green or fougère-scented than oak moss; it also has light tonalities of dry fruit and vanilla. Oak extract can also be used in formulating aromas where it reinforces wine notes.
The oak tree is perceived as a symbol of strength and longevity. Oak is also commonly associated with the wine industry: indeed, it has long been used for making wine barrels that grant a distinctive wood note during aging.