Materials

Amber (fossil resin)

Tree resin that spent millions of years underground and lost its volatiles. Beautiful, scientifically priceless, and nearly scentless: the perfumer's amber is a different thing built from labdanum, benzoin and vanilla.

· Atlas · Materials

Amber (fossil resin)
Typefossil resin
FormHard glassy gemstone, yellow to red
ExtractsOil of amber by dry distillation (historic, harsh).
RegulationNot a fragrance material.

Scent facets

  • almost none
  • faint pine when heated

Origins

Uses

  • jewellery
  • palaeontology (inclusions)
  • historic 'oil of amber'