Stone Pine Needle
Note Profile
About
Stone pine needle is the steam-distilled oil of the needles of the Mediterranean stone pine, Pinus pinea. It is a conifer needle note, green and dry-woody, with a fresh, fruity citrus lift that the common pine notes do not have. Most analyses find limonene first, at 35.9 to 75 per cent, and alpha-pinene a minor part. Ordinary pine oil is led by alpha-pinene, which makes it smell turpentine-sharp.
Scent Profile
Stone Pine Needle smells green, the needle itself, like other conifer needle notes. A fresh, fruity citrus lift sets it apart from ordinary pine. It is softer and rounder than turpentine-sharp pine. A dry, woody body runs underneath. A light, warm balsamic weight rounds it off.
ScentWheel
Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.
ScentArt
Origin
Steam-distilled from the needles of Pinus pinea, the Mediterranean stone or umbrella pine that yields pine nuts. The Swiss stone or arolla pine, Pinus cembra, is a different tree and a different note. The oil varies by population. Nasri et al. measured six Tunisian populations: limonene 35.9 per cent, alpha-pinene 6.4 per cent, sesquiterpenes about 19 per cent. Macchioni et al. found limonene at 58.9 to 62.5 per cent in central Italy. A French oil from the Vendée lists limonene at 65 to 75 per cent. A few populations are led by alpha- or beta-pinene instead.
Usage in Perfumery
A heart note for conifer and forest accords where ordinary pine reads too sharp. It gives the green needle character, softer and fruitier than an alpha-pinene-led pine oil. It sits under citrus openings and over dry woods. Use it in fougère, aromatic and outdoor compositions.
Similar Notes
Perfumes featuring Stone Pine Needle
A selection of reviewed perfumes where Stone Pine Needle appears prominently.
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