Pine Tree Cone
Note Profile
About
The cone of a pine, distilled with its seeds, rather than the needle or the wood. One supplier sells a cone-and-seed distillate and describes it as deep, resinous and smoky where needle oil is sharp and bright.
Scent Profile
Pine tree cone smells deep and resinous, closer to sap than to the sharp, bright smell of pine needle oil. A dry, woody body sits under the resin. A green note is there too, though it is read across from the whole tree rather than being specific to the cone. A smoky sap aroma sets it apart from needle oil, with a forest-floor earthy undertone and a herbal, terpenic lift on top.
ScentWheel
Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.
ScentArt
Origin
Distilled from the cones and seeds of Pinus species. Living Libations sells a pinon pine cone essential oil and states the part of plant distilled as 'cones and seeds', with the scent description 'Deep, resinous essence of fresh sap and mesquite, with terpenic-balsamic top notes.' The same page calls it a 'smoky sap aroma with balsamic top notes'. No GC study isolating cone aroma from needle aroma was found, and no fine-fragrance house publishes a datasheet for it. Trade descriptions of the surrounding material give the shape of the rest: Premiere Peau on conifers reports 'green, woody notes that carries the scent of pine needles and the balsamic sweetness of fir, with earthy undertones', and CA Perfume on pine tree reports a 'sharp, resinous, turpentine-like aroma primarily due to alpha-pinene (7-42%) and camphene, which contribute a bitter-woody, mineral edge'.
Usage in Perfumery
Attested 5 times on Parfumo across 5 brands and absent from Fragrantica, so it is spread thin rather than concentrated in one house. Living Libations proposes it as a base for a cologne, blending with 'crisp citrus, spicy Frankincense, expansive evergreens, and royal Rose'. Commercial 'roasted pine cone' fragrance oils sold for candles are a different thing entirely: Midwest Fragrance Company builds theirs from 'Crisp forest pine highlighted by hints of raspberry and vanilla', a composed holiday accord with no relation to the raw cone.
Similar Notes
Perfumes featuring Pine Tree Cone
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Pine Tree Cone appears prominently.
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