LABDANUM ABS

Used in perfumery for 3,000 years, the shrub Cistus ladaniferus originated in the middle East and the coastal mountains of Eastern Mediterranean. Today, the bushes are found in all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. To protect itself from the sun and heat, the plant produces a gum that envelops the twigs and leaves. It takes approximately three years for the plant to grow enough before it is possible to cut off the cistus branches, therefore the young branches are highly prized.
The Cistus essential oil and absolute are obtained directly from the small branches and leaves while the resinoid and absolute of Labdanum are produced from the Labdanum gum. To obtain this Labdanum gum, the leafy Cistus ladaniferus branches are first immersed in hot alkaline water.

In perfumery, both Cistus branches and Labdanum gum are used. With extensive experience processing Cistus and Labdanum extracts, dsm-firmenich uses a variety of technologies to offer a large range of products.

Spain

dsm-firmenich sources its Cistus from the Andevalo region of Andalusia, in southern Spain. Native to the Mediterranean region, Cistus ladaniferus is a perennial shrub that exudes a scented resin, called labdanum, which has been used for thousands of years in Perfumery and herbal medicine.
The harvest of wild cistus follows a sustainable cycle. Wheat fields are left fallow for two to three years between crops, during which they are naturally repopulated by wild cistus. Pickers collect the plants by hand during the summer and early autumn, after which the cycle begins again. The pickers pay attention to harvest the branches not too short to allow regrowth and a sustainable approach to this wild product. The twigs and leaves are then bundled for delivery and extraction. Our local supplier has been producing a range cistus derivates for over 30 years at their state-of-the-art factory in the village of Puebla de Guzman.