Flowing Tears of Χίος - Pure natural resin essential oil

. A perfumer's rarity and a collector's treat.

The Aromatic Profile

The oil is gentle like the resin itself, and offers its distinctive olfactive signature.

The opening is fresh & (light bitter) green with a sweet resinous depth and a hint of minerality. Citrus notes emerges during a second phase in a delectable accord evoking a bergamot green lime zesty sorbet.

After some time during the first hour, the initial bouquet starts to gradually give way to softer balsamic warmth and fragrant woodiness, very much similar to the way the pure resin on low heat incenses a room with its presence.

It is a fragrant and elegant wear, and on its own feels like a classy natural "cologne attar".

Important note, just like the resin itself, especially compared to frankincense: it is a light oil, which is parts of what consitute its charm and interest. Don't expect a powerbomb.

Also, this is a top-to-middle note oil, not a base heavyweight. The longevity acts accordingly  (circa 4 hours).

The robe is colorless and transparent.

Some of the fixative properties of the resin are in the esssential oil, but others are not volatile and therefore will not be found here. You can easily use our pure resin as fixative, if this 3000 years old usage interest you for natureal perfumery. 

Among essential oils, genuine Χίος resin's occupies singular territory. While frankincense and, to a lesser extent, myrrh distillations are common, this essential oil approaches true rarity : the convergence of limited raw material in high demand otherwise, and minuscule distillation yield.

For optimal conservation : store in the fridge standing in a dark container, and avoid too much head space

Compositional Possibilities:

The essential oil distills milennia of perfume history  into a few milliliters of volatile bliss

... perfect as such of olfactive pleasure, but also interesting in compositions :

First and foremost, for what we would call nowadays Mediterranean Cologne's.

This oil has natural affinity with the regional citruses : bergamot, lemon, neroli. It bridges their top notes volatility with deeper resinous anchors in a distinctively mediterranean, and very harmonious way. The fact the it is less "heavy" than frankincense makes it the better choice for freshest colognes. It works wonder in pure attars too, if well balanced.

Natural perfumers work with genuine aromatics and understand that Mediterranean cologne structure benefits from genuine materials to evoke the deep effect of the unique fragrant landscapes that permeate Mediterranean air under its signature blue skies. Synthetic reconstruction will always miss something essential in this regard..

Beyond that, this essential oil brings green-woody roundness without heaviness and is interesting for aromatic fougère variations, herbal chypres, and other mediterranean creative interpretations.

While less tenacious than its counteparts of the mediterranean antiquity, frankincense myrrh or labdanum, the oil offers fixative properties nevertheless. It is excellent to help unify disparate elements in the top and middle register. The resin acids, though present in lower concentration in the oil than in raw material, still contribute lower register cohesion, but can easily be overpowered.

As a result it stars in the lighter and fresher perfumes, and gives a gentle elevating, uplifting kind of energy, while giving a very peaceful atmosphere 

In short, it is a precise aromatic that can illuminate many type of conpositions, including modern “transparent resin” structures.

Amongst the rare Mediterranean Essences

The earliest documented history (Hippocrates, Theophrastus etc) is already relating a very organized, established and skilled production, with international outreach and a long trade tradition already at the time, so the actual history definitley much older.

If you collect classical (in a historical sense) perfume material and essential oils, Xios resin tears have been a star of Mediterranean perfume culture for millenia. The essential oil is a new way to enjoy this timeless classic.

While the leaf essential oil from P. lentiscus is well known in aromatherapy circles, it is not an oil for perfumery and completely different from the present pure resin oil, both in fragrance and effects.

The raw material for this oil isteslf - pure resin tears - is already quite rare because quality resin comes from only one local subbecies, Pistacia l. var. chia, that only grows in the southern part of ONE small Mediterranean Island, Χίος.

While the leaf can be grown all over the Mediterranean basin, and even eyond, only in this very place can you find resin pure enough, strong enough and this fragrant.

We offer pure high grade resin as well : here. It is the same raw material than for this oil and you will find more information there to read about the resin itself, in case of interest.

The resin yearly production is limited and in high demand as most of the traditional uses for the resin are still well alive (incense, cosmetics, traditional medicine, culinary & beverages). 

Add to that a poor distillation yield, and you have the full picture.

... and as a result of all these converging factors mean that 100% pure resin essential oil is rare.