Fir, Siberian

Siberian fir oil is frequently sold as Siberian pine needle oil. Abies sibirica is a true fir. Pines and firs are separate genera within the Pinaceae, and their needle oils differ in balance, the fir being marked by a high share of bornyl acetate.

01 · Origin

A tall, narrow evergreen of the boreal forest, native from European Russia across Siberia into Kazakhstan and Mongolia. This oil is distilled in Kazakhstan from the needles and twigs of wild trees. Balsam Fir (No. 2750) and Silver Fir (No. 2777) offer comparison within the genus.

02 · Chemistry

Bornyl acetate is the defining ester. Camphene, alpha-pinene, delta-3-carene, limonene and beta-phellandrene make up the monoterpene fraction. The ester softens what would otherwise be a sharp, resinous profile and gives the oil its sweet, balsamic roundness.

03 · In Practice

Clean, coniferous and balsamic, softer and sweeter than most pine oils. A top to middle note. Diffusion, sauna and bath preparations, massage blends and natural perfumery, where it lends a forest accord. Conifer oils oxidise after opening and are best kept cool and tightly sealed. Blends with cedarwood, juniper, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, frankincense and orange.

General information: For external use only. Dilute before applying to skin. Keep away from heat and sunlight. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes.