Treemoss Absolute

#### Treemoss Absolute. By alcohol washing of **Treemoss Concrète**, an absolute is obtained which is more or less viscous and dark colored according to the solvent that was used in the first extraction of the moss. Benzene concrète gives an almost solid absolute, greenish-brown in color, while petroleum ether concrète yields a semi-solid mass or viscous liquid of dark brown color. The odor is woody, dry, forest-like or seaweed-like, herbaceous-green and of great tenacity. The yield of absolute from concrète is good, much higher than in the case of oakmoss. Accordingly, treemoss absolute is much cheaper than oakmoss absolute. However, there is a significant difference in odor characteristics, particularly in the absence of the powerful, yet delicate topnote which is found in true oakmoss. The trade offers countless types of treemoss absolutes and similar extracts, tinctures, concentrates, ultrasonic extracts, integral extracts, fractions etc. Thus, it would be impossible to give more than a very general description of the odor and appearance of treemoss absolute. **Treemoss Absolute **is used extensively in perfumery. In fact, this material has become one of the most important natural fixatives and odorants next to the essential oils. It is now produced on a very large scale in France, mainly from imported mosses. Germany, Hungary and other countries produce smaller amounts of treemoss extracts. The admixture of treemoss to oakmoss occurs already at the point of harvesting, and it cannot always be considered an adulteration. Moss from the cork-oak (le chêne-liège) is collected in the Atlas mountains in Morocco. It is not identical to the oakmoss from the "royal oak" (le chêne royal) in France. On the other hand, treemoss collected from firs, cedars and spruces is rarely mixed with true oakmoss. The treemoss products present the earthy-woody, dry forestnotes and part of the leather-like notes of true oakmoss. But treemoss has little or no topnote, delicate freshness or elegance. By the addition of various amounts of oakmoss to treemoss, all grades of intermediate products and qualities are obtained. An essential oil (**Treemoss Oil**) is obtained by molecular distillation of treemoss concrète. Similar products are obtained by co-distillation of the concrète with a high-boiling solvent (see **Oakmoss Anhydrol**, etc.). These products are distinguished by their pale color and good solubility. The essential oil is pale yellow or almost colorless, and usually shows a deposit of white crystal needles. The oil is the most concentrated form of the treemoss odor, but it has less fixative effect than the absolute or the concrète. **Treemoss**** **(and oakmoss) **Absolute**** **are occasionally used in the adulteration of the so-called Patchouli Resinoid (patchouli concrète). Treemoss products are generally used to "cut" true oakmoss in order to reduce the cost.