If you’re a fan of earthy scents that remind you of the great outdoors, especially after a huge downpour of rain, then you're in for a treat with the ingredient we’re shining a spotlight on - oakmoss! If you’re wondering ‘what is oakmoss’ and what has it got to do with fragrance, then continue to read to find out more.
What is Oakmoss?
Oakmoss is a type of lichen, a fungus that can be found in forests all over the Northern Hemisphere. The antler-shaped green, yellowish thallus, which commonly grows on branches and trunks of trees is one of the most commonly used raw fragrances in perfume… although it has got a bit of a darker side to it!
The Downside of Oakmoss
Despite being a very popular and well-loved ingredient in the perfume world, fragrances are actually not allowed to contain more than 0.1% of the extract. For many years, oakmoss has been known to cause adverse skin reactions! The IFRA, a body who regulates the guidelines for safe usage of fragrant chemicals and essential oils in perfumes (you see why they shorten their name?!), has listed oakmoss as a restricted ingredient.
This restriction, which came into play in 2001, threw a lot of perfume houses into disarray! Many famous formulations contained more than the teeny 0.1% allowance, meaning brands, such as Guerlain, had to find ways to replicate the scent of oakmoss in some of their famous scents - including Mitsouko - which had oakmoss as a base note without dramatically changing the formulation.
As we know Mitsouko is still one of Guerlain’s most famous scents, the clever lab guys found a way around it! Guerlain now uses oakmoss, but without the molecule which is forbidden by the IFRA - smart!
What Does Oakmoss Smell Like?
The oakmoss scent is truly like being one with nature! It’s rich in earthy tones, very much like a damp forest floor covered in lush greens and aromatic foliage. Not just content with beholding a crisp, green fragrance - it also has layers of muskiness, bark-like qualities and leathery undertones.
Oakmoss can be found across a number of different fragrance families, and it is known as a brilliant fixative agent- meaning it acts as an anchor for more overpowering scents and adds a layer of smoothness to oriental, chypre and floral perfumes.
Fragrances with Oakmoss
For Her
Chloé
Chloé
Eau de Parfum Spray
From
£68.00
DIOR
Miss Dior
UNKNOWN for her
From
£91.99
Fragrances with Oakmoss
For Him
From
Let Nature Be Your Guide
Discover more green fragrances at The Perfume Shop
What is Oakmoss in perfume?
Words: Emily Venables
If you’re a fan of earthy scents that remind you of the great outdoors, especially after a huge downpour of rain, then you're in for a treat with the ingredient we’re shining a spotlight on - oakmoss! If you’re wondering ‘what is oakmoss’ and what has it got to do with fragrance, then continue to read to find out more.
What is Oakmoss?
Oakmoss is a type of lichen, a fungus that can be found in forests all over the Northern Hemisphere. The antler-shaped green, yellowish thallus, which commonly grows on branches and trunks of trees is one of the most commonly used raw fragrances in perfume… although it has got a bit of a darker side to it!
The Downside of Oakmoss
Despite being a very popular and well-loved ingredient in the perfume world, fragrances are actually not allowed to contain more than 0.1% of the extract. For many years, oakmoss has been known to cause adverse skin reactions! The IFRA, a body who regulates the guidelines for safe usage of fragrant chemicals and essential oils in perfumes (you see why they shorten their name?!), has listed oakmoss as a restricted ingredient.
This restriction, which came into play in 2001, threw a lot of perfume houses into disarray! Many famous formulations contained more than the teeny 0.1% allowance, meaning brands, such as Guerlain, had to find ways to replicate the scent of oakmoss in some of their famous scents - including Mitsouko - which had oakmoss as a base note without dramatically changing the formulation.
As we know Mitsouko is still one of Guerlain’s most famous scents, the clever lab guys found a way around it! Guerlain now uses oakmoss, but without the molecule which is forbidden by the IFRA - smart!
What Does Oakmoss Smell Like?
The oakmoss scent is truly like being one with nature! It’s rich in earthy tones, very much like a damp forest floor covered in lush greens and aromatic foliage. Not just content with beholding a crisp, green fragrance - it also has layers of muskiness, bark-like qualities and leathery undertones.
Oakmoss can be found across a number of different fragrance families, and it is known as a brilliant fixative agent- meaning it acts as an anchor for more overpowering scents and adds a layer of smoothness to oriental, chypre and floral perfumes.
Fragrances with Oakmoss
For Her
Fragrances with Oakmoss
For Him
Let Nature Be Your Guide
Discover more green fragrances at The Perfume Shop
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