Absolute

What is Absolute?

An absolute is a concentrated, oily extract taken from plants, especially flowers, for use in perfumes. It holds a high percentage of aromatic compounds, making it much more fragrant than most essential oils. Absolutes are usually liquid, with a rich and complex scent that closely matches the original plant. They are especially important for flowers whose scent cannot be captured by steam distillation, such as jasmine and rose.

Where does Absolute come from?

Absolutes originated as a way to extract fragrance from delicate or stubborn plant materials that do not yield their scent through distillation. The traditional method, enfleurage, involved absorbing the scent into fat, then extracting it with alcohol. Today, most absolutes are made by solvent extraction, which allows perfumers to obtain the true aroma of flowers and other botanicals. This method is especially important for flowers like jasmine, which cannot be distilled without losing their fragrance.

How Absolute is made

To make an absolute, plant material is first treated with a hydrocarbon solvent like hexane, producing a waxy substance called concrete. The concrete is then mixed with ethanol, which dissolves the aromatic compounds. Cooling and filtering removes waxes, and when the ethanol evaporates, the remaining oily liquid is the absolute. The process preserves the delicate scent of the original plant.

When and where Absolute is used

Absolutes are mainly used in high-end perfumery, where their intense and true-to-nature fragrance is valued. They are chosen for perfumes that require the full, rich scent of flowers like rose, jasmine, and tuberose. Some absolutes are also used in aromatherapy, but because traces of solvents may remain, not all are considered suitable for this purpose.

Forms of Absolute

Different absolutes are produced from a range of flowers and plant materials. Popular examples include rose absolute, jasmine absolute, tuberose absolute, and ylang-ylang absolute. Each absolute has its own unique scent profile, depending on the plant source and extraction method. Some, like tobacco or oakmoss absolute, are valued for their deep, earthy notes.

What Absolute means

Absolutes are prized in the world of fine fragrance for their ability to capture the true scent of flowers and botanicals. They are often among the most expensive ingredients in perfumery. The use of absolutes allows perfumers to create complex, natural-smelling scents that cannot be achieved with synthetic materials alone.

The flowers of Absolute

RoseWoody perennial plants with showy, often fragrant flowers in many coloursJasmineA group of fragrant shrubs and vines with white or yellow star-shaped flowersNarcissusSpring-flowering bulbs with trumpet-shaped blooms in white, yellow, and orangeSensitive PlantA touch-sensitive plant whose leaves fold up when disturbedGeraniumA group of wild and garden flowers with five-petaled blooms and lobed leavesPelargoniumA diverse group of flowering plants often grown as garden and house plantsYlang-ylangA tropical tree with highly fragrant yellow flowers used for perfume and decorationMimosaA group of plants with leaflets that react to touch or light

Questions people ask about Absolute

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Absolute (perfumery) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data