Spicy

Cascarilla

Note Profile

Botanical 4 perfumes

About

Cascarilla is the essential oil of the dried bark of Croton eluteria, a shrub native to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. It smells dry and spicy, with cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper over faint wood and tobacco. There is a slightly bitter edge that mellows as it dries to a soft balsamic finish. It links fresh top notes to deeper resinous bases.

Scent Profile

Cascarilla has a dry, spicy aroma with nuances of cinnamon, nutmeg, and pepper, layered over subtle woody and tobacco-like undertones. Its scent is warm and complex, with a slightly bitter edge that mellows as it dries down. The note can impart both freshness and depth, evolving from sharp spiciness to a softer, balsamic finish.

ScentWheel

Breadthfocused

EnvelopeHeart · ~8h lasting

Family Spicy, Woody & Earthy

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

What this is made of

Cascarilla bark oil

A natural extract

CAS 8007-06-5

Croton eluteria. The note names the material.

How the layers join

Origin

Cascarilla is derived from the dried bark of the Croton eluteria shrub, native to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The bark is typically steam distilled or solvent extracted to obtain its essential oil, which is used in perfumery. Harvesting is done by hand, with careful selection to preserve the quality of the aromatic compounds.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use cascarilla primarily as a heart or base note to add spicy warmth and complexity to compositions. It blends well with other spices, woods, and tobacco notes, as well as with citrus and aromatic accords. Its role is often to provide a bridge between fresh top notes and deeper, resinous bases.