The world of fragrance is interesting, with ingredients coming from both likely and unexpected sources. We discover some of the world's rare and most expensive perfume ingredients.
The world of fragrance is amazing, with ingredients coming from both obvious and surprising sources. Today, however, we discover some of the world's rarest and most expensive perfume ingredients. We explain why a deep black aromatic resin created by fungus is one of the most highly prized ingredients in a perfumer's repertoire, to the highly regulated musk pods extracted from a certain deer's glands.
Oudh
Fragrance Family: Woody with Spicy and Leathery Notes
Oudh is also known as oud and agarwood oil since it is extracted from the wood of a wild tropical tree called agar. It is extremely valuable because just 2% of agar trees produce agarwood oil. "Phialophora parasitica" is a mold that infects agarwood and produces a dark-colored, strongly scented resin known as oud. Because of its great demand, exclusivity, and laborious nature, the component is one of the most expensive in the world. It is said to be 1.5 times the value of gold, so some scent specialists describe it as "liquid gold." For generations, it has been popular in the Middle East, but certain brands are now selling large quantities of Oudh perfume in the West. Because of the reduction of Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees, it ranges from AUD 38,000 to 56,000 per kg.
Bulgarian Rose
Fragrance Family: Floral
The extraction process for this sweet floral aroma with a hint of spice is one of the most labor-intensive in the perfumery business. It takes a remarkable 10,000 pounds of Bulgarian rose petals to generate just one ounce of pure essential rose oil. Each petal is lovingly hand-picked (beware of the sharp thorns) in Bulgaria Rose Valley. A 1-ounce bottle of high-quality Bulgarian Rose absolute essential oil may be purchased for £700. In our blog article Rose Prick Eau De Parfum by Tom Ford - A scent to remember, you can learn more about Bulgarian Rose and how important her presence in the Parfume world is.
Orris or Orris butter
Fragrance family: Fresh, woody yet delicately floral
The material obtained from the rhizomes of the iris plant, known as "orris butter," is among the most hypnotic in perfumery, with a scent that is a blend of powdery, woody, and violet overtones. It was cherished by the 16th-century Italian noblewoman Catherine de Medici. Because it takes three to five years to grow before it can be used, it is extremely valuable, with some types costing more than three times the price of gold.
It costs between AUD 38,000 and 53,000 per kilo.
According to perfume historian James Craven, the oil of the orris bulb is one of the top three most expensive perfume ingredients in the world. Why? The roots of the purple Iris flower are dried for three years, powdered, and distilled with steam due to the tedious labor required to obtain the stock root system. All the effort for so little gain. A ton of iris plant bulbs aged 2–5 years is required to create two kilos (4.4 pounds) of essential oil.
Frankincense
Fragrance family: Sweet, spicy, and woody
Oman was the world's most important source of frankincense during the Roman Empire when it played an important role in religious ceremonies. To this day, the country's Dhofar region, which experiences monsoon-like rain in the summer, produces the world's greatest grade of frankincense.
Ambergris
Fragrance family: Sweet, Earthy Scent
Ambergris is one of the most costly perfume ingredients on the market, and it's no surprise given that it's derived from the intestine of sperm whales. I'm not joking! Its high price is due not only to its scarcity but also to its heaviness—weight on the skin—and lipophilic properties, which hold smell molecules together. It costs between AUD 11,000 and $66,000 per kilogram.
Cardamom
Fragrance family: Spicy, citrus-woody notes
Cardamom, a unique example of a spice that smells both hot and cool, has long been recognized as an essential component of scent. Its pleasant aroma is a breath of fresh air, despite being the world's third most expensive spice. Cardamom comes in two varieties: fresh with undertones of mint and eucalyptus-green remains, and earthy with a smokey black fragrance. It's intoxicating, with a skin-like, suede-soft touch and a stronger aroma. The ingredient is one of the most expensive in the world because of its high demand, rarity, and painstaking labor work.
Jasmine
Fragrance family: White-Flowered Scent
Around 80% of women's perfumes contain jasmine or synthetic copies of it, yet genuine jasmine oil is expensive. One pound of oil requires approximately 2000 pounds of jasmine blossoms. Approximately 8000 jasmine flowers to produce 1/25 ounce of pure oil. Because the oil is highly concentrated, it is the most valuable. The demand for blossoms to manufacture oil makes jasmine absolute oil extremely expensive due to the significant amount of wastage.
Saffron
Fragrance family: gourmand, deep and leather-like.
Saffron is so valuable that some types can cost about £8,000 per kilogram. Saffron, also known as "red gold," is one of the oldest perfume ingredients. Because of its personal, gentle, yet earthy features, it lends an undeniable aroma to any perfume, whether as a single note or harnessed within a blend.
Jasmine blossoms are so delicate that they require special baskets to protect their petals.
Tonka bean
Fragrance family: Multifaceted Scent - Vanilla, Tobacco, Gourmand, Almond, Woody, with scents of gingerbread and pistachio
Tonka bean is having a major moment right now. It is not only a huge trend but it is also connected with luxury living and the luxury lifestyle, making it ideal if you want a fragrance that will make you feel like a million bucks! Tonka bean is combined with a variety of other pricey components in our Inspired by F*cking Fabulous fragrance.
Musk
Fragrance family: Oriental warmth and sensuality
Musk is commonly used in manly scents and is a prominent element in them. However, the source of this substance may disappoint some. Natural musk is derived from Musk deer musk pods, which are now endangered. They are obtained by sacrificing deer for their musk pods (glands). The dried paste-like substance found inside the pods is used to make a tincture. When the tincture is diluted, it emits a woody, animalistic, earthy scent. Fortunately, the bulk of musk used in perfumes today is synthetic. Also known as muscone.
Natural Musk is a highly regulated product that is one of the most expensive animal-derived substances due to its origin and extraction procedure.
Cacao Bean - the most favorite ingredient
Fragrance family: warm, spicy gourmand.
The cocoa bean is naturally warm, sweet, and spicy and famous for its gourmet smell. It's pure joy on the nose, with its flexible play between a sharp enticement and a creamy sweetness. Cocoa Bean Absolute Oil, with its rich, sweet, and chocolaty aroma reminiscent of the finest dark chocolate, can be used as a rich middle-to-base note in love formulations or to give mystery to perfumes.
What makes a great perfume?
That sweet spot where everything is just right. While achieving a pleasing harmony between the fragrance's notes and intensities—one that is neither dull nor overwhelming and is suitable for all-day wear—is essential, the right combination of natural and synthetic chemicals also plays a significant role. The composition of a perfume's different notes and their contact with your skin are what defines it. A perfume's scent would be unpleasant if distinct components were not blended.
What makes a fragrance expensive?
Rare ingredients are the primary cause of perfume price increases. Some are made from rare flower petals or the essences of exotic roots, for example, tuberose and jasmine. The uniqueness of an ingredient, such as one that blooms just once a year, might increase its worth. Expensive fragrances are made with multiple layers of scents and expensive ingredients. Some of these layers will have notes of fruit, flower, spice, or herb. All of the different scents in the perfume come together to make a sophisticated, interesting scent that makes your skin feel expensive.
"Perfume is the art that makes memory speak." Francis Kurkdjian