





Laurel Leaf Oil
Premium Natural Ingredient for Perfumery
Laurel Leaf Oil is a steam-distilled essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves and twigs of Laurus nobilis, an evergreen shrub native to the eastern Mediterranean. This aromatic material exhibits a fresh, cineole-like top note which quickly evolves into a warm, creamy-spicy, and slightly medicinal profile reminiscent of cardamom. Its olfactory character is classified as aromatic, with a sweet, mildly spicy drydown distinct from eucalyptus or cajuput oils. Laurel Leaf Oil is mainly used in perfumery as a modifier or blending agent for citrus, resinous, and herbaceous compositions.
Premium Natural Ingredient for Perfumery
Laurel Leaf Oil is a steam-distilled essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves and twigs of Laurus nobilis, an evergreen shrub native to the eastern Mediterranean. This aromatic material exhibits a fresh, cineole-like top note which quickly evolves into a warm, creamy-spicy, and slightly medicinal profile reminiscent of cardamom. Its olfactory character is classified as aromatic, with a sweet, mildly spicy drydown distinct from eucalyptus or cajuput oils. Laurel Leaf Oil is mainly used in perfumery as a modifier or blending agent for citrus, resinous, and herbaceous compositions.
Premium Natural Ingredient for Perfumery
Laurel Leaf Oil is a steam-distilled essential oil obtained from the fresh leaves and twigs of Laurus nobilis, an evergreen shrub native to the eastern Mediterranean. This aromatic material exhibits a fresh, cineole-like top note which quickly evolves into a warm, creamy-spicy, and slightly medicinal profile reminiscent of cardamom. Its olfactory character is classified as aromatic, with a sweet, mildly spicy drydown distinct from eucalyptus or cajuput oils. Laurel Leaf Oil is mainly used in perfumery as a modifier or blending agent for citrus, resinous, and herbaceous compositions.
Natural Ingredient Overview
🔎 Botanical Name: Laurus nobilis
📂 CAS N°: 84603-69-0
⚖️ MW: —
📝 Odor Type: Aromatic, Terpenic
📈 Odor Strength: Medium
👃🏼 Odor Profile: Fresh, cineole-like, transitioning to a warm, creamy cardamom-like spice with faint medicinal and sweet-spicy drydown
⚗️ Uses: Modifier for citrus, pine, resinous, and aromatic accords; also used in flavor applications
🧴 Appearance: Pale yellow to pale olive-green liquid
What is Laurel Leaf Oil?
Laurel Leaf Oil is a natural essential oil derived from the steam distillation of Laurus nobilis leaves and branchlets. Known botanically as Laurus nobilis, this plant belongs to the Lauraceae family and has been used for centuries, both medicinally and ceremonially. Though its leaves are now commonplace in culinary use, the essential oil is less widespread, remaining a niche perfumery material with specific olfactory functions.
The tree grows in a wide Mediterranean zone, including Turkey, Italy (Sardinia), France, Lebanon, and parts of Eastern Europe. The highest quality oil is typically produced in Turkey, with France and Italy also offering premium grades.
Olfactory Profile & Perfumery Applications
Laurel Leaf Oil opens with a distinctive cineole-terpenic freshness. Its middle phase evolves into a creamy, spiced warmth, echoing cardamom or sweet bay with a soft medicinal nuance. The drydown reveals a pleasant, slightly sweet and spicy woodiness distinct from eucalyptus or myrtle.
It blends effectively with:
Citrus oils (lemon, bergamot, orange)
Conifers and needle oils (pine, juniper, fir, cypress)
Herbaceous oils (clary sage, rosemary, lavender)
Resins (olibanum, labdanum)
Aldehydic compositions for modern colognes and air fresheners
Although not a headliner note, Laurel Leaf Oil functions well as a modulator, introducing aromatic lift, warmth, and complexity in men's grooming fragrances, fougères, and herbal-spicy blends.
Industrial & Technical Uses
Outside of perfumery, Laurel Leaf Oil is used in:
Canned food flavorings (pickles, sauces, and seasonings)
Flavor concentrates (as a substitute for whole bay leaves due to uniformity and lower weight)
Aromatherapy and traditional herbal applications (limited)
Its fresh orange-like flavor with spicy undertones supports flavor compositions where both clarity and persistence are required.
Regulatory & Safety Overview
IFRA Restrictions: No current restrictions under IFRA 51st Amendment
EU Allergens: May contain eugenol, limonene, linalool (must be labeled if thresholds exceeded)
FEMA: Bay leaf oil (related) is GRAS; Laurel oil must be evaluated based on chemotype
ECHA: Not classified as hazardous under normal usage
Persistence: Measured at ~32 hours in Turkish samples (strip test)
⚠️ Chinese Laurel Leaf Oil is notably high in eugenol (>30%), which can impair freshness and alter balance—this should be verified in quality control.
Additional Information
Extraction Method: Steam distillation of freshly harvested Laurus nobilis leaves and twigs
Adulteration Risks: Often adulterated with eucalyptus, myrtle, turpentine fractions, or low-grade bay oils
Production Decline: Formerly produced in Algeria, Morocco, Cyprus—now discontinued
Appearance: Pale yellow to almost colorless liquid; mobile
Despite being available in large quantities, Laurel Leaf Oil is rarely spotlighted due to its subtle character. Yet, in skilled hands, its complex evolution from fresh-terpenic to creamy-spiced adds a refined edge to classic compositions.
Sources
Fulvio Ciccolo, Scentspiracy Research Notes, 2021
Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, S. Arctander (1961)
Scentspiracy Internal Reference Database
Givaudan x Albert Vieille Product Literature