Herbal

Camphor

Note Profile

Molecule 19 perfumes

About

A cool, medicinal, penetrating crystalline note from Cinnamomum camphora with a distinctive sharp, clean character.

Scent Profile

Camphor has a sharp, cooling, and medicinal aroma with penetrating clarity. Its scent is crystalline and waxy. The first hit is a cold, waxy sharpness that numbs the nose before the brain registers it, with nuances reminiscent of eucalyptus, menthol, and pine. Over time it softens slightly and leaves a faint woody-balsamic residue, but it keeps its brisk, invigorating character.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeTop · ~3h lasting

Family Fresh & Citrus, Waxy & Fatty

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

What this is made of

camphor

Names this molecule

CAS 76-22-2

The note name IS the molecule.

Declarable allergen: Named in EU Annex III as Camphor products must list this name above a set concentration

These are facts about the substance, not about any perfume with this note.

Why that matters

A perfume that names Camphor can use a different extract, a reformulated version, or a synthetic reconstruction. It can also hold less than the amount that requires a declaration. We cannot tell which applies. These rows cover only the substances we hold a link for.

How the layers join

Origin

Camphor is obtained from the wood of the Cinnamomum camphora tree, primarily grown in East Asia. It is extracted through steam distillation of the wood, followed by purification into translucent crystals.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use camphor mainly in the top or heart of compositions to impart freshness and a medicinal edge. It is often blended with herbal, woody, and aromatic notes, and can provide lift or contrast in fougère, chypre, and oriental fragrances.