Spicy

West Indian Bay

Note Profile

Botanical 6 perfumes

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About

West Indian Bay is the oil of the leaves of Pimenta racemosa, the Caribbean tree behind bay rum. It smells of warm clove with a woody, aromatic edge. Perfumers use it in masculine and unisex scents.

Scent Profile

West Indian Bay smells of clove first. The eugenol gives a warm, spicy and slightly medicinal attack, close to a dentist's surgery. Behind it sit warm wood, a lasting sweet-balsamic note and a peppery, aromatic edge. It is rounder and warmer than pure eugenol.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeHeart · ~8h lasting

Family Spicy, Woody & Earthy

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

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Materials That Can Make This Note

Perfumers can make West Indian Bay from this natural extract.

Natural extract Bay leaf, West Indian, oil

Smell words come from published sources.

A given perfume with this note may use this material, or something else.

Origin

West Indian Bay comes from Pimenta racemosa, an evergreen tree native to the Caribbean. The oil is steam distilled from the leaves. It holds about 40 to 55% eugenol, with myrcene and chavicol. The perfumery oil is the clove type. Other chemotypes smell of lemon or anise. Bay rum was first made by distilling or steeping the leaves with rum. Later recipes added spice and citrus oils, most often clove and lime oil. The tree is not related to Mediterranean bay laurel (Laurus nobilis).

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use West Indian Bay as a spicy, aromatic heart note. It gives bay rum, barbershop and classic masculine fougère and cologne accords. It blends with clove, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, citrus, woods and amber. Dose it with care, because too much reads as medicinal or dental.