Labdanum Essential Oil

Labdanum Essential Oil (Cistus ladanifer): Warm Amber Resin Oil for Perfumery, Attars, Incense Blends, Candles and Beard Oils

Labdanum Essential Oil is an aromatic oil from labdanum, the sticky resin of the rock rose (Cistus ladanifer), with a warm, sweet, ambery, resinous and slightly musky aroma. It is used as a base note and fixative in amber accords, attars, incense, candles, beard oils, soaps and long-lasting perfumes. It is a very thick, dark amber liquid that may set in cool weather, with a two year shelf life, and COA and MSDS are available on request.

Labdanum Essential Oil captures the rich, balsamic scent of the rock rose, a shrub whose leaves and twigs exude a fragrant gum in summer heat. RV Organica’s Labdanum Essential Oil is a dark amber to brownish, viscous liquid with a deep amber scent, packed at our facility in Nimbri, Panipat, Haryana, and offered in sizes from 50 ml to 10 kg.

What is labdanum essential oil and how is it made?

Labdanum comes from Cistus ladanifer, a Mediterranean shrub also known as rock rose or gum cistus, with white, paper-thin flowers marked by a deep red spot. It is not related to the rose. The leaves and twigs secrete a sticky, dark, fragrant resin, and this resin has been used in incense and perfumery for thousands of years. The aroma is then captured from the resin, and the COA for your batch states how that batch was processed.

Our specification lists α-pinene, camphene, bornyl acetate, ledol and viridiflorol among its main constituents, which give labdanum its resinous, slightly camphoraceous and ambery depth. The oil is not the same as the labdanum absolute or resinoid sometimes sold in perfumery, which is thicker and darker, and it also differs from cistus oils from related species such as Cistus creticus. The COA for your batch shows its exact composition.

What does labdanum essential oil smell like?

Labdanum smells warm, sweet and resinous, with an ambery, balsamic heart, soft leathery and musky notes, and a faint hint of dried fruit and honey. It is the backbone of classic amber accords and is rounder and sweeter than frankincense or myrrh. It lingers for hours, deepening on skin, and gives a blend a glowing, smoky-sweet warmth.

How do you use labdanum essential oil in perfumery and attars?

Labdanum is a base note and fixative, so it slows the fading of lighter ingredients and rounds off a blend. It pairs naturally with frankincense, myrrh, patchouli, sandalwood, vetiver, cedarwood, rose, oudh, bergamot and oakmoss. Use it in roll-ons, solid perfumes, incense blends and attar-style compositions, and explore our attars collection for ideas on traditional blending. The oil is strong and sticky, so a small amount is enough.

How do you use labdanum essential oil in beard oils and body oils?

The oil is very thick, so warm the closed bottle gently in a bowl of warm water until it flows before measuring. Always dilute labdanum oil before it touches the skin. It dissolves in alcohol and fixed oils but not in water, so mix it into a carrier oil first. The right ratio depends on how much you are making and where it will be used, and our essential oil dilution calculator works it out for you. Once diluted, it gives beard oils, body oils, balms and massage blends a rich, warm, resinous fragrance. Do a patch test first and avoid direct sunlight on treated skin.

Can you use labdanum essential oil in incense, candles and soap?

Yes. In incense and candles, labdanum adds a deep amber warmth that complements woody and spicy blends. Test a small batch first, because thick resinous oils can behave differently in wax and scent throw changes with wax type and wick size. In soap and body care bases, add it at the level your formulation recommends. Its dark colour can tint pale bases, so test a small batch first. It is also used in diffuser blends, though the thick consistency means you should clean the diffuser regularly.

What are the specifications of labdanum essential oil?

The botanical name is Cistus ladanifer, the CAS number is 8016-26-0 and the FEMA number is 2501. The oil has a flash point above 95°C, an acid value of up to 5.0 mg KOH/g and moisture content of up to 0.5 percent. It is a viscous liquid to semi-solid with a very thick consistency, dark amber to brownish, with a characteristic warm, resinous, sweet, ambery and musky odour. The shelf life is two years, and the oil is soluble in alcohol and fixed oils and insoluble in water. Batch-specific values are given on the COA.

How should you store labdanum essential oil?

Keep the bottle tightly closed in a cool, dark place away from heat and direct sunlight. Cool storage thickens or sets the oil, which is normal, and gentle warming in warm water restores its flow. Never heat the bottle directly. Stored well, the oil keeps its quality for the full two year shelf life.

Is labdanum essential oil safe to use?

Labdanum essential oil is for external use only. Do not ingest it. Always dilute it in a carrier oil before applying it to the skin, do a patch test first, and avoid direct sunlight on treated skin. Resinous oils can cause reactions in some people, so use it sparingly. Keep it away from children and pets, and consult a doctor before use if you are pregnant or nursing. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Can you buy labdanum essential oil in bulk?

Yes. The oil is available in 50 ml, 100 ml, 500 ml, 1 kg, 5 kg and 10 kg packs, which suits home users, perfumers, attar makers and manufacturers. COA and MSDS can be requested for each batch. For wholesale or private label enquiries, write to info@rvorganica.com.

About RV Organica

RV Organica is the brand of RV International, an essential oil manufacturer in India based at Nimbri, Panipat, Haryana 132104. Our work is backed by ISO 22000, Halal, Kosher, HACCP and MSME registration. For questions about this oil or bulk supply, contact us at info@rvorganica.com or +91 8937003005