Mistletoe Absolute

#### Mistletoe Absolute. A very rare perfume material which is only occasionally available is the **Absolute of**** ****Mistletoe**, known in France as **Absolue de Gui**. It is prepared by the usual two-step extraction from the leaves and twigs of **Viscum Album**, a parasitic plant, quite common in central and southern Europe. It grows on various trees, particularly on apple trees, poplars, willows, etc., but almost never on oak trees. The French eastern highways are often bordered with poplars, and in the springtime one can see all these "bird's nest"-like plants in the poplars before the leaves of the poplar appear. Infusions of the leaves and twigs of mistletoe have been used in popular medicine and teas for a long time. **Mistletoe**** ****Absolute**** **is a dark green, very viscous liquid of a bitter-herbaceous, foliage-green, or rather green-bark type of odor. The dryout is sweeter and more pleasant. Small quantities of this material are produced in France, probably only upon demand. The material is used in perfumes of the "forest" type, chypres, moss-bases, fougères, "men's fragrances", etc. to introduce a non-perfumery masculine note, or a bitter cortex-type of natural "fond" in certain perfume bases. Mistletoe absolute blends well with oakmoss absolute, dimethyl benzyl carbinyl acetate, cedrela odorata, cypriol, amyl salicylate, cedarwood derivatives, lavandin concrète, isobornyl propionate, etc. The use of this material, if it is to achieve its full effect, is dependent upon great skill and experience from the creative perfumer. There is ample material available for extraction, but is not at all likely, that **Mistletoe**** ****Absolute** will ever acquire any great interest for perfumery.