Trees

Tree ingredients travel from forest to flask through a series of precise steps. Harvesters select mature trunks, then strip bark or cut heartwood into small chips. For volatile oils, steam distillation channels saturated steam through the chips; aromatic molecules ride the vapor into a condenser and separate as clear oil. When heat would degrade delicate scents, perfumers turn to solvent extraction. Powdered wood soaks in hexane or ethanol, drawing out larger terpenes and resinous compounds; the solvent later evaporates, leaving a thick absolute. Some species, such as frankincense, yield resin that drips naturally from wounds; collectors harvest the hardened tears and press them to release fragrant gum. Each method preserves a distinct chemical profile, allowing the final ingredient to convey the tree’s age, climate, and soil in a single drop.