Your shopping cart is empty!
Evernia prunastri
Oakmoss Essential Oil
Moss Oil
Oak Moss Absolute (when more concentrated)
The lichen that grows on oak trees. Lichens are a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria.
Solvent extraction or CO2 extraction is commonly used for obtaining Oakmoss oil. This process ensures the capture of the full complexity of the fragrance, including both the volatile compounds and the non-volatile, richer, and more resinous components that make Oakmoss oil so valuable in perfumery.
Oakmoss oil is typically dark green to brown in color, often with an earthy, murky appearance due to the extraction process.
Oakmoss oil has a deep, woody, and earthy fragrance with a musky, moist, and sometimes leathery scent. Its aroma is complex and multifaceted, with slightly sweet, herbaceous, and green undertones. The oil is smooth, with a rich, grounding quality that makes it ideal as a base note in perfumes.
Top Notes: Oakmoss does not generally have a strong top note but provides an earthy, green aroma when first applied. The scent opens with a subtle, fresh earthiness that gradually gives way to deeper tones.
Middle Notes: As it settles, Oakmoss reveals its woody and musky qualities. The fragrance deepens into a damp, forest-like scent, evoking the feeling of being in a mossy woodland.
Base Notes: The base is typically rich, earthy, and leathery, with a slightly sweet undertone. It has a mossy and moist depth that lingers, providing a grounding, stabilizing effect in perfume blends.
Natural and Earthy: Oakmoss oil has a unique, complex aroma that offers grounding, earthy, and slightly sweet fragrances.
Base Note: It is used as a base note in perfumery to anchor lighter top and middle notes and add depth to perfume blends.
Chypre and Fougere Perfumes: Oakmoss oil is an essential ingredient in many classic Chypre and Fougere perfumes, where it enhances the fragrance with a rich, earthy undertone.
Fixative Quality: Oakmoss oil is prized in the fragrance industry for its ability to act as a fixative, helping to prolong the scent of the perfume.
Oakmoss oil is a prized ingredient in the world of perfumery due to its deep, earthy, and grounding scent. It is often used in the creation of sophisticated, complex perfumes, particularly those in the Chypre, Fougere, and oriental fragrance families. Some common uses in perfumery include:
Base Note in Fragrance Blends: Oakmoss oil is typically used as a base note in perfume blends, providing depth, longevity, and a grounding effect. It enhances the staying power of other, more volatile fragrance components.
Classic Perfumes: It is an integral component of many classic perfumes like Chanel No. 19, Coty's Chypre, and Dior's Miss Dior, which rely on its rich, earthy undertones.
Blending: Oakmoss pairs particularly well with other earthy, woody, and floral oils such as sandalwood, patchouli, rose, lavender, and vetiver. It helps to stabilize and round out the fragrance blend, especially when combined with citrus or floral top notes.
While Oakmoss oil is not typically used for therapeutic purposes in aromatherapy, it has emotional benefits due to its calming and grounding properties:
Grounding and Centering: Oakmoss oil is believed to have a grounding effect, helping to calm the mind and promote a sense of stability and balance. It is ideal for meditation or moments when you need to reconnect with the earth and center yourself.
Relaxation and Calmness: Due to its earthy, soothing aroma, Oakmoss oil can help ease anxiety and promote a sense of relaxation and peace.
Although less commonly used for direct skin care, Oakmoss oil is sometimes used in natural skin products:
Anti-inflammatory Properties: Oakmoss oil has anti-inflammatory properties and may be used in skin care formulations aimed at soothing irritated skin.
Cleansing and Toning: It may also be used for its antiseptic qualities, providing gentle cleansing and toning for the skin.
Oakmoss oil can be used in hair care formulations to improve scalp health:
Scalp Balancing: Oakmoss oil can help balance the scalp by promoting healthy oil production and reducing dryness or excess sebum.
Hair Strengthening: The grounding and nourishing qualities of Oakmoss oil are thought to help strengthen and protect hair.
Although Oakmoss oil is natural, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:
Skin Sensitivity: As with any essential oil, it’s important to perform a patch test before using Oakmoss oil on your skin to check for any allergic reactions or skin sensitivities.
Dilution: Oakmoss oil is a potent essential oil and should always be diluted with a carrier oil (such as jojoba, coconut, or almond oil) before being applied to the skin.
Pregnancy: It is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before using Oakmoss oil during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as its effects have not been extensively studied.
Regulations in Perfumery: Due to its complex aromatic profile, Oakmoss oil has been regulated in some regions due to its potential to cause skin sensitization, especially when used in higher concentrations. This is particularly important in the formulation of perfumes for commercial use.
Oakmoss Oil is a luxurious and deeply aromatic essential oil that is widely used in perfumery for its rich, earthy, and grounding qualities. Its complex scent, often described as woody, musky, and slightly sweet, makes it an essential component in creating Chypre, Fougere, and oriental perfumes. Oakmoss not only adds depth and longevity to fragrance blends but also offers a calming, centering effect in aromatherapy.
