Cypress

The world of perfumery is characterized by several olfactory families. Woody notes form a category in their own right and are highly prized in men's fragrances. However, they are also becoming increasingly common in women's perfumery. Among the stars of this category, cypress is one of the most widely used ingredients.

Cypress, a widespread conifer

Cypress is a tree of the Cupressaceae family that grows in temperate to warm regions of the northern hemisphere. Today, there are at least 30 varieties. Very popular as an ornamental tree, cypress grows both in cultivation and in the wild. It is representative of the Mediterranean region and is famous for its triangular, scale-shaped leaves, arranged in pairs and completely covering its branches. Cypress has long carried a very strong symbolic connotation. Ancient Greece made it a symbol of eternal life. Indeed, cypress foliage is always green and its wood is nearly rot-proof. Likewise, its scent, close to that of incense, makes it an almost sacred tree. Cypress is thus the wood used to make the coffins of popes. It is also very often found around graves. Beyond this somewhat macabre aspect, cypress is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and parks. In Asia, custom has it placed around temples. Likewise, windy regions use it as a windbreak hedge.

The woody scent of cypress

Although cypress is very famous in the Mediterranean basin, it also grows in the United States, Kenya, India and China. It allows perfumers to obtain an essential oil that is at once woody, fresh and aromatic. Its scent is obtained by hydro-distillation of its leaves and branches. This produces a kind of oil with a slightly yellow color. Incorporated into fragrances, cypress gives them a woody, tonic and somewhat camphoraceous character. Generally speaking, its accents suit masculine juices best. However, cypress sometimes manages to work its way into feminine fragrances. It is also a highly valued ingredient in aromatherapy, recognized for its decongestant, rebalancing, antibacterial and toning properties.

The house Acqua Di Parma particularly adores cypress and has paid tribute to it with the fragrance Blu Mediterraneo Cipresso. However, cypress also very often appears as a base note in fragrances such as 1881 Collection by Cerruti, A*Men Pure Wood by Thierry Mugler, Armani Code Ultimate or Bois Marocain by Tom Ford. Nevertheless, it should be noted that cypress is not exclusively reserved for dark fragrances. It even came to enhance the limited edition of Ck One Summer by Calvin Klein, in 2014.