French Oak Heartwood Absolute 50% TEC – Quercus Robur | Perfumery Grade

Description

Part of our Professional Perfumers Range — curated for the discerning natural perfumer seeking exceptional depth and rarity.

French Oak Heartwood Absolute — A Century in the Making

This is oakwood absolute drawn from trees a hundred years old, harvested from the renowned Allier forest of central France — long celebrated as producing some of the finest oak timber in the world, prized for centuries by coopers crafting the barrels that age the world’s greatest wines and spirits. Before the wood is ever processed into this absolute, it undergoes a full year of seasoning — a patient maturation that develops the complex, layered aromatic profile that makes genuine oak heartwood absolute so distinctive and so difficult to replicate.

Solvent extracted from this aged wild-harvested heartwood, the raw material is thick and semi-solid, which is why we supply it at 50% in natural triethyl citrate (TEC) — a safe, odourless carrier that restores full pourability without compromising the character of the wood. The result is a dark brown, richly complex absolute that captures oak’s smoky, malty, faintly caramelised depth in a form that no essential oil can approach.

Scent Profile

The opening is immediately woody and smoky, with a distinctive warmth reminiscent of a whisky barrel — malty, slightly toasted, and layered with facets of vanilla and caramel that speak of the wood’s year of patient seasoning. As it develops, the smokiness deepens and rounds out, revealing a rich, dark, almost gourmand complexity beneath the woody backbone. The drydown is long, warm, and quietly sophisticated — a base note of genuine depth that anchors compositions with authority rather than announcing itself loudly.

Perfumery Applications

French Oak Heartwood Absolute excels in woody and oriental compositions, where its smoky, malty depth adds gravitas and refinement. Its whisky-barrel character makes it an outstanding choice for gourmand and boozy accords, where genuine wood complexity elevates the composition beyond what synthetic caramel or vanilla notes alone can achieve. In leather accords it deepens and naturalises the smoky character; in amber and resinous bases it adds a sophisticated woody counterpoint.

Blending Suggestions

Pairs beautifully with sandalwood, patchouli, benzoin, bergamot, citrus oils, frankincense, ginger, juniper berry, and ylang ylang.

Technical Details

• Botanical Name: Quercus robur L.
• Common Names: French Oak / Oak Heartwood / Pedunculate Oak
• Botanical Family: Fagaceae
• INCI Name: Quercus Robur Wood Extract
• CAS Number: 97676-30-7 / 77-93-0
• Origin: France (Allier forest)
• Plant Part: Wood — aged one year before processing
• Cultivation: Wild harvested
• Extraction Method: Solvent extraction (absolute)
• Dilution: 50% in natural triethyl citrate (TEC) for ease of handling
• Classification: Base note
• Appearance: Dark brown, viscous liquid
• Odour Family: Smoky / Woody / Vanilla / Malty / Caramel
• Natural: Yes — 100% natural absolute, wild harvested, in natural TEC carrier

Packaging

1ml sample supplied in a 5ml clear flint glass bottle. 5ml, 10ml and 30ml supplied in amber glass bottles — all with inbuilt droppers and tamper evident caps.

Safety Information

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Not suitable for use on babies, children, pets or broken skin. Avoid use during pregnancy or whilst nursing. Always dilute properly and perform a patch test before first use.

Sample Policy

We recommend purchasing a 1ml sample first before committing to larger quantities. Please note that no refunds can be offered on opened items.

Photo images are for illustrative purposes only.