Akigalawood®

Akigalawood® is a fragrance note created in the laboratory, born of biochemistry through fermentation. It is the house of Givaudan that created this revolutionary ingredient, obtained from patchouli essence. The house of Givaudan specializes in creating fragrances and flavors. It has just published a book, Givaudan, une odyssée des arômes et des parfums, explaining all its expertise and its many discoveries. For 250 years, the house of Givaudan has innovated and introduced new olfactory trends. After exploiting numerous essences, Givaudan created akigalawood in 2011.

The woody and peppery notes of akigalawood

Akigalawood is derived from patchouli essential oil, offering notes that are both woody and peppery. Regarding this ingredient, the house of Givaudan states this new ingredient has a profile similar to that of patchouli, combined with the spicy scents of pepper and a precious nuance of Agar wood. With the presence of akigalawood, the fragrance progressively becomes warm and woody. Akigalawood also offers mysterious tonalities, with a subtle spark. Danièla Andrier, perfumer at Givaudan and behind major successes, adds that it is an astonishing material that interacts with others like a chameleon; upon contact with them, it transforms; it does not have the density and depth of a natural patchouli essence, but it offers a completely new lightness and intensity.

Akigalawood and its role in perfumery

Danièla Andrier has already introduced akigalawood in Miracle of the Rose, by Prada, Parco Palladiano V, by Bottega Veneta, and in the two Miu Miu fragrances, by Prada. For Miu Miu, created in 2015, Danièla Andrier incorporated akigalawood as a base note, where it delivers its full final aroma, depth and power. Amid highly floral tonalities, such as lily of the valley, rose or jasmine, akigalawood finds its full place. It unfolds scents that sum up both oud wood and patchouli, giving the whole an exceptional sensuality. For now, 14 perfumes (or eau de toilette) contain akigalawood, such as Blackpepper, by Comme des Garçons, or chrome, by Azzaro.

Conceived and developed by Givaudan's laboratories, the ingredient Akigalawood was born of biochemistry. Made from patchouli essential oil, akigalawood is described as a note that is at once woody, spicy and floral. It is often likened to patchouli or to Agar wood, from which it borrows its warm, enveloping tonality. For now, akigalawood is still little used in niche perfumery. Nevertheless, this new ingredient can be found in a remarkable fragrance from the house of Prada, Miu Miu.