Roots

Perfume makers harvest root materials during the plant's dormant season to preserve volatile compounds. Vetiver roots are cleaned, sliced, and subjected to steam distillation at 100 °C for several hours, yielding a thick, amber oil rich in sesquiterpenes. Orris rhizomes undergo a slow solvent extraction using ethanol; the resulting concrete is washed with cold ethanol to produce a fragrant absolute that retains the root's powdery nuance. Ginger rhizomes are pressed and then extracted with supercritical CO₂, a method that captures bright, spicy notes while leaving the oil free of residual solvents. Each technique balances temperature, pressure, and time to protect delicate aromatics, resulting in extracts that range from thin, watery oils to viscous, resinous absolutes. The final material is filtered, decanted, and stored in dark glass to prevent oxidation before it reaches the perfumer's bench.