Laburnum

Note Profile

Botanical 3 perfumes

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About

Laburnum is a fantasy note with no material behind it. Every part of the plant is poisonous, it contains cytisine, and no commercial essential oil or absolute exists, so what perfumery calls laburnum is a reconstruction of a flower nobody distils. A perfumery glossary calls it sweet, honeyed and sunny, bright and uplifting, with a soft green undertone. A horticultural guide describing the living tree calls it 'sweetly fragrant, a sort of a pleasing woodsy scent some think is reminiscent of violas' - cooler and less sweet. Both agree it is faint rather than loud, and both put green underneath the sweetness.

Scent Profile

Laburnum is a light, pea-blossom floral, faint rather than loud. A honeyed sweetness runs through it, warm and sunny, though it stays mild rather than rich. Underneath is a green edge. A faint plain sweetness and a soft, powdery, faintly woody quality round it out.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeHeart · ~4h lasting

Family Floral, Sweet & Gourmand

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

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ScentArt

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Origin

Laburnum anagyroides, a deciduous tree of the pea family Fabaceae, native to central Europe. The old poetic name is golden chain tree, after the dense racemes of brilliant yellow flowers that open in spring. The flowers are the fragrant part. The seed pods are extremely poisonous and all parts of the plant are toxic, which is why no extraction is attempted. Perfumery reconstructions are built synthetically rather than from the plant.

Usage in Perfumery

8 Fragrantica placements, none on Parfumo. Fragrantica files it under Flowers. A heart note of medium strength used to add a light spring-floral lift, working with jasmine, lilac and orange blossom, and with green notes that bring out its freshness. It also sits over sandalwood or amber bases, where its sweetness balances the warmth.