Bruyère Absolute

#### Bruyère. A perfume material is extracted from the roots of various species of heather shrubs (Ericaceae), and the extract is sold under the name of **Bruyère**** ****Absolute**** **(absolu de bruyère). A similar product is obtained by steam distillation of the comminuted roots. The French term, "bruyère", actually refers to all kinds of shrubs growing on barren, arid, uncultivated plains. However, certain species have distinguished themselves by their ability to grow to a considerable size and substantial age. **Erica Arborea **grows all over the Mediterranean countries, and it is particularly common in Algeria, Corsica, and in the Canary Islands. This plant may grow to an age of several hundred years and a height of 60 feet (18 metres). The roots of such old species are collected for the purpose of carving shag tobacco pipes ("**Briar**" wood). The unusually high content of ashes in the wood prevents it from "burning through" in a pipe. Waste wood from the pipe carving factories and workshops used to be discarded, but it is now occasionally used for the production of **Bruyère**** ****Absolute**. This absolute is a greenish-yellow to pale yellow or brownish-yellow, solid but soft mass, resembling guaiacwood or araucaria oils. The odor of bruyère absolute is very mild, woody- green and pleasant-balsamic, slightly spicy-aromatic. In rose perfumes, chypre bases, crêpe de Chine, oriental-woody bases, etc., bruyère absolute lends a delightful undertone and excellent fixative effect. It blends well with olibanum, ionones, sage clary, oakmoss, labdanum absolutes, etc. **Bruyère Absolute **is produced by a few French houses on a very limited scale. The comparatively low cost of this material can do nothing to expand the application or increase the popularity of this rare perfume material.