Fir, Silver (organic)

Fir needle oils are often treated as interchangeable. Siberian fir (No. 1460) is led by bornyl acetate and reads soft and balsamic. Silver fir from Abies alba carries a brighter profile, with limonene and the pinenes in front and esters in the background.

01 · Origin

A tall conifer of the mountains of central and southern Europe, recognised by its flat needles with two pale bands on the underside. This oil is distilled from the needles and twigs of wild-crafted trees in Bulgaria, certified organic.

02 · Chemistry

Limonene leads, followed by alpha-pinene and camphene. Santene, a small monoterpene characteristic of the firs, is present in minor proportion. Beta-caryophyllene adds a faint woody depth beneath the monoterpene fraction. Monoterpene-rich oils of this kind oxidise with air and light, so bottles are best kept closed and cool.

03 · In Practice

Clean, green and slightly citric, with a resinous finish. A top note. Diffusion, massage blends, bath preparations, sauna and room fragrance. Comparative olfactory work with Fir, Balsam (No. 2750) shows the range within a single genus. Blends with Scots pine, juniper, lemon, rosemary, cedarwood, lavender and frankincense.

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.