Resin

Birch Tar

Note Profile

Natural 47 perfumes

Also Known As

Tar

About

Smoky, leather-like tar

Scent Profile

Birch tar has a powerful smoky, leathery aroma with nuances of burnt wood, tar, and a subtle medicinal undertone. Its scent is intense and persistent, often evoking the character of cured leather or campfire smoke. As it evolves, it can reveal hints of earthiness and dry, resinous warmth.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeBase · ~72h lasting

Origin

Birch tar is obtained by dry distillation of the bark of Betula species, primarily Betula pendula and Betula pubescens, native to northern Europe and Russia. The process involves heating the bark in the absence of air to extract the dark, viscous tar. This traditional method has been used for centuries in both perfumery and leather production.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use birch tar predominantly as a base note to impart smoky, leathery, and animalic facets, especially in leather accords and chypre compositions. It blends well with ingredients like labdanum, patchouli, and castoreum to create depth and complexity. Due to its potency, it is used sparingly to avoid overpowering a fragrance.