Pepper, Tasmanian

Tasmanian pepper is not a pepper. It has no relation to Piper nigrum. Tasmannia lanceolata belongs to the Winteraceae, an early-diverging lineage of flowering plants whose members carry a pungency of their own.

01 · Origin

A shrub of cool, wet forest, native to Tasmania and south-eastern Australia. The young stems are a deep red, and the leaves are aromatic when crushed. This oil is distilled from the twigs of wild plants.

02 · Chemistry

An unusual profile. 9,10-Dimethylanthracene is listed first, with the sesquiterpenes beta-gurjunene, calamenene and alpha-cubebene. Alpha-pinene, 1,8-cineole and linalool form the lighter monoterpene fraction. The mix of light and heavy components gives the oil a long development on a smelling strip.

03 · In Practice

Spicy, woody and peppery, with a fresh, slightly floral top. A middle note. Used at low concentration in natural perfumery, massage blends and olfactory study. Comparative work beside Pepper, Black (No. 2500) separates botanical pepper from aromatic pepper. Blends with black pepper, juniper, cedarwood, lemon myrtle, eucalyptus and sandalwood.

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.