Powdery, floral, green, woody and reminiscent of violet.
Rhizomes’ maturation drives the development of irones, which characterize the powdery note of Orris.
The higher the irones content is, the most powerful will be the powdery note.
Used in Fine Fragrance to give natural powdery and violet flower effect. Very strong and complex.
As orris extracts can be used also in flavors, especially in red fruit notes such as raspberry, they are of interest for such gourmand note in perfumery.
Obtained by distillation of the biomass with water, or steam.
The essential oil is physically separated from the aqueous phase by decantation.
Extracted part: rhizomes.
Distillation of the roots yields an essential oil that becomes solid at room temperature. It is called “Orris butter” or “Orris concrete".
This ingredient is both convenient for perfumery and flavor applications.
July August September June
Orris used in perfumery comes mainly from two species, Orris pallida and Orris germanica. Native to Central Europe, orris is cultivated today in Italy, France, Morocco, and China. Harvested by hand in summer, the rhizomes are separated, peeled, washed, sliced, and dried. To allow full development of irones, responsible for its signature scent, the roots are matured for two to three years. While Italy was once the main producer, Morocco and China have become major sources in recent decades.
Alongside traditional orris, we also offer a modern alternative. Orriscience is a latest-generation innovation developed by dsm-firmenich using scientifically optimized orris root processing. It delivers the olfactive benefits of orris but is easier to use and offers an excellent cost-to-performance ratio. Together, we provide both traditional natural orris and the advanced Orriscience solution to meet different creative and technical needs.
Italy
Orris Italy is mainly sourced from Tuscany, Chianti and Pratomagno. They mainly produce the Pallida variety, 15 MT per year. The picking is done by an association of producers.
Morocco
Orris Morocco is sourced in the Atlas of Morocco in the mountains. The farmers produce 150 MT per year which they sell in the souk to collectors. After drying the raw material is stored at the farmers' for a few months before selling in the souk.
China
Orris is native to the Himalayan regions of China, especially in Sichuan, Xizang, and Yunnan.