Ivy Leaf Absolute

#### Ivy Leaf Absolute. From the leaves of Hedera Helix and other species related to this climbing vine, a concrète is produced by hydrocarbon extraction. The concrète, in turn, is processed further to an absolute by the conventional method (see **Absolute**, Part One of this book). Ivy grows wild all over Europe: in the forests, and along the borderline of woods, and it is quite common in the United States too. Commercial extraction of the leaves for perfumery use is undertaken in France, and occasionally in Germany. The product is known in France under the name of **Absolu de Lierre**. The Ivy plant is an evergreen and it is the botanical symbol of constant affection. **Ivy Leaf Absolute **is a dark green, semi-solid mass with an intensively herbaceous-green, or bark-green odor, and a rich, sweet-bitter foliage- extract undertone. These odor characteristics will immediately place the ivy leaf absolute among the most interesting "green" or "foliage"-like natural materials. It is used in a number of bases and compounds, particularly in those where a heavy, not expressly floral, green note is desired, e. g. as a modifier with violet leaf absolute, hop absolute, as a naturalizer for dibutyl sulfide, amyl heptine carbonate, beta-gamma hexenyl acetate, phenoxy acetaldehyde, cuminaldehyde, methyl phenyl carbinyl acetate, etc. It is also useful in forest blends, fougères, chypres, etc., or in the reproduction of certain natural materials, e. g. oakmoss extracts**. Ivy Leaf Absolute **blends well with oakmoss products, mimosa absolute, linalool, nerol, galbanum resinoid, cyclamen aldehyde, amyl salicylate, etc. and it is particularly interesting in moss fragrances and pine needle fantasy bases. This absolute is produced on a very limited scale only, but there are ample quantities of natural raw material present in nature. Since the plant is not cultivated beyond the indoor scale, collection of leaves involves quite a bit of hand- work and, accordingly, the absolute has not yet become too common.