Cypress Absolute

#### Cypress Absolute. The yield of essential oil by distillation of the leaves and twigs of **Cypressus Sempervirens **is comparatively small (0.2 to 0.3%). The steam distillation is quite time-consuming since it is necessary to continue the distillation until the high-boiling and more valuable constituents are carried over (12 to 18 hours at low steam pressure). It is therefore not surprising that hydrocarbon solvent extraction of the plant material was considered already long ago. **Concrète of Cypress Leaves **has been produced by benzene extraction. The yields are 5 to 8 times higher than the yields of oil by distillation. **Cypress Concrète **is a semi-solid, dark green to brownish-green mass of powerful balsamic-fatty, sweet and pine-like odor. The concrète yields 65 to 75% of alcohol-soluble absolute which is only slightly more liquid, unctuous and greener of color. The odor of Cypress Absolute is lighter and more powerful than that of the concrète. Apart from the components which are found in the essential oil, the **Cypress**** ****Absolute**** **contains large amounts of alcohol-soluble resin acids. The absolute could accordingly be classified as a prepared oleoresin. **Cypress Oleoresin **is one of the commercial names for this product. **Cypress Absolute **is produced in very small quantities and usually only upon demand. However, this product is far more interesting for ambre perfumes, chypres, colognes, pine fragrances etc. than is the essential oil. The absolute blends well with amyl salicylate, cedarwood derivatives (vertofix, etc.), cistus oil, isobutyl-cinnamate, etc. The intense green or brownish-green color of the absolute is a certain drawback unless it is used with oakmoss, etc. It is not conceivable that **Cypress Absolute **will ever become an important perfume raw material. The limited amount of botanical raw material available for its production seems to scare the larger consumers from including cypress absolute in their current formulae.