ambrette
Found in the foothills of the himalayas, a
carnal musk found in nature, hidden on the pod of the tropical hibiscus
flower. a narcotic embrace of amber and musk, it immerses itself in the
skin and blurs the boundaries of the body’s natural accords with its
earthy aroma. a subtle balance of vegetal musk and floral accords of
rose and geranium. as it opens itself, a balsamic base of frankincense,
black pepper, bitter orange and clove are revealed, leaving behind the
sensation of being anointed in oil after a fresh bath.
history: crushed to perfume the hair and burned as
an offering to the gods, the ambrette seed takes many forms in indian
culture. in folk medicine, the bitter seeds were used to treat
everything from indigestion and heart disease to topical healing of
irritated skin and wounds. its animal-like scent is still used as a musk
substitute in perfumes.
origin: india, egypt, indonesia
essential oil blend: red rose otto, rose absolute,
ambrette seed oil, patchouli, bitter orange, orange flower,
frankincense, black pepper, geranium and clove.
process: steam distilled
aromatherapy: lifts mental and stress-related fatigue and headaches, also considered an aphrodisiac.