Vetiver Uruguay Oil (Bourbon Type)

Natural Ingredient Overview

• 🏭 Manufacturer: Local producers in Uruguay

• 🔎 Chemical Name: Essential oil of Chrysopogon zizanioides

• 🧪 Synonyms: Vetiver Oil Uruguay, Vetiver Bourbon Type

• 🧬 Chemical Formula: Complex natural mixture; key components include vetiverol, vetiverone

• 📂 CAS N°: 8016-96-4

• 📘 FEMA: 3109

• ⚖️ MW: Not applicable (natural mixture)

• 📝 Odor Type: Woody, Earthy

• 📈 Odor Strength: Strong, long-lasting

• 👃🏼 Odor Profile: Sweet, humid, woody-earthy with wet soil nuances and subtle floral-fruity brightness

• ⚗️ Uses: Fixative, Base Note

• 🧴 Appearance: Amber to dark brown viscous liquid

What is Vetiver Uruguay Bourbon Type Oil?

Vetiver Uruguay Bourbon Type Oil is distilled from Chrysopogon zizanioides roots grown in Uruguay, applying Réunion Island distillation practices to genetically Bourbon-type vetiver. This regional oil offers a rounded olfactory profile with reduced harshness, a floral-woody softness, and wet soil notes, closely resembling Réunion’s classic Bourbon vetiver.

The oil is produced by steam distillation of aged, cleaned rootlets, preserving delicate oxygenated sesquiterpenes responsible for vetiver’s depth and tenacity. Local processing close to harvest zones helps maintain aromatic fidelity.

Compared to Haitian vetiver (more intense and earthy) and Indonesian grades (rougher, smokier), the Uruguay Bourbon Type delivers greater balance and smoothness, aligning with modern preferences in fine fragrance formulation.

Olfactory Profile & Perfumery Applications

Vetiver Uruguay (Bourbon Type) exhibits a deep woody-earthy scent with:

• Humid, sweet rootiness

• Wet soil and green-floral facets

• Long-lasting base note performance

Functional roles in perfumery:

• Fixative in chypres, amber bases, and aldehydic-woody blends

• Earthy anchor for fougères and neo-natural florals

• Adds warmth to floral (rose, violet) and fruity citrus themes (e.g., grapefruit)

Vetiver’s molecular complexity lends it excellent compatibility with:

• Ionones (powdery-violet contrast)

• Patchouli, clary sage, and lavender (for aromatic-woody blends)

• Ambergris replacers and resinous bases

Suggested internal link: See Fixatives in Perfumery for deeper usage guidance.

Industrial & Technical Uses

This oil's roundness and high tenacity support its use in:

• Fine fragrance (eaux de parfum, extraits)

• Shaving creams, hair products, and natural colognes

• Neo-chypre accords and woody natural-style compositions

Thanks to its aging stability and modest turbidity, it integrates well into both alcohol and emulsion bases.

Regulatory & Safety Overview

• IFRA Restrictions: None under typical use

• EU Allergens: May contain linalool, farnesol, limonene (trace, naturally occurring)

• FEMA GRAS Number: 3109 (for limited flavor use)

• ECHA Classification: Not hazardous at standard concentrations

• REACH Registration: Compliant for fragrance use

• Toxicology: No sensitization concerns when properly aged and stored

Note: Store in dark, airtight containers to prevent oxidation and preserve aromatic balance.

Ingredient Connections & Synergies

Vetiver Uruguay Bourbon Type Oil complements and contrasts with:

• Vetiver Terpenes: Lighter, volatile top-note fraction for brighter vetiver effects

• Vetiver Oil MD: Molecularly distilled vetiver for clarity and precision in high-grade compositions

• Vetiveryl Acetate: Semi-synthetic derivative offering soft woody transparency

• Patchouli Crude Oil: Reinforces earthy-woody chypre foundations

These materials enable precise modulation of vetiver’s sweetness, dryness, or earthiness in advanced fragrance structures.

Sources

• Fulvio Ciccolo – Scentspiracy Archive, 2020

• Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin – Steffen Arctander

• FEMA GRAS Database

• ECHA Substance Information

• Wikipédia – Chrysopogon zizanioides, 2020