Common name: Lavender Seville (Spain)
Genus Name: Lavandula luisieri
Supplier: White Lotus Aromatics
Note: base-mid
Some interesting bits: the absolute is extracted by Hexane
The essential oil was only analysed for the first time in 1992!
A hybrid and sub-species of the L. stoechas, native to coastal and inland Portugal and neighbouring Spain.
According to the French, essential oil producer, Albert Vieille, “the properties of Seville Lavender essential oil and absolute have little in common with those associated with Lavandula officinalis or lavandin. Their fragrances, in particular, are completely different.” and, “The composition of Lavandula luisieri absolute is exceptional. As with the essential oil, we find a series of irregular terpenoids with cyclopantanic structures that are rare, if not unique, in the vegetable kingdom.”
Main Chemical Components: Trans-alpha-necrodyle acetate 18%, Eucalyptole (1,8 cineol) 12%, Trans-alpha-necrodol 5%, Lavandulyle acetate 4%, T-muurolol 3%.
Their nose: The absolute is a viscous liquid at ambient temperatures, dark olive green in colour, with grassy, vegetal…notes, recalling liquorice and fig leaves. The heart-note has a sugary character, amber, evoking dried fruit and jam. The base-notes retain characteristics at once sugary, vegetal, hay-like, and acidulated. (albertvieille.com)
My nose: First impression straight out is that it’s much heavier than I expected; it’s thick and quite beautiful, like a woman with curves, dark, very woody, earthy, with a hint of camphor and only recalls the memory of Lavandula oficinalis.
After the 1st hour I gotta be honest, I wasn’t liking this too much, so I tried to practice what I’d read about an important aspect of scent evaluations and that is to try to keep your opinions detached from the exercise. The note is much smoother now only more herbaceous.
After 3 hours this is still good into the dryout phase, dry and woody, warm, parched and more hushed. This is a stirring note, it moves the soul, touching deeply. It is in no way as superficial as the lavender essential oil, but thoughtful and thought-provoking.
1 day later this note is still present, warm and parched and only now is beginning to fade.
Okay, evaluation over: I am enthralled by this note and wish one day to do it honour in a composition.
Her Two Scents 