What does cistus smell like in perfume? Cistus smells warm, leathery and ambery, with a dry, herbal edge. It comes from the same plant as labdanum, but is lighter and more aromatic.
| Botanical name | Cistus ladanifer |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Leaves and twigs of the rockrose |
| Origin | Spain |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Note | Heart |
| Scent family | Woods & Resins |
| Odour | Warm, leathery and ambery, with a dry, herbal and slightly smoky edge |
| Perfume uses | Ambers, leathers and chypres |
| Key molecules | α-pinene, camphene, viridiflorol |
| Odour impact | High |
| Odour life on a strip | Long: a day or more |
| Found in | Oud Octavo |
Used within IFRA limits. Impact and odour life are our own studio guide, judged on a smelling strip.
What Is Cistus?
Cistus oil is distilled from the leaves and twigs of the rockrose, Cistus ladanifer, which grows wild on the hills of Spain. The same plant gives labdanum resin, which is richer and sweeter.
What Does Cistus Smell Like?
Here is how strongly each facet of cistus comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Ambery
A warm, golden glow.
Leathery
A dry, leathery note.
Herbal
A sun-baked, aromatic herb.
Smoky
A light, smoky edge.
How Perfumers Use Cistus
Perfumers use cistus to add an ambery, leathery warmth with a lighter, more herbal touch than labdanum. It pairs well with woods, spices and oud.
Cistus vs labdanum
Both come from the rockrose. Cistus is distilled from the leaves and is drier and more herbal; labdanum is extracted from the sticky resin and is richer and sweeter.
Smell Cistus in Prosody London Perfumes
For cistus at its most expressive, try Oud Octavo. Cistus warms the heart with cedarwood, labdanum and cinnamon leaf.
Oud OctavoWhat Blends Well With Cistus?
Questions About Cistus
Is cistus the same as labdanum?
They come from the same plant, but cistus is lighter and more herbal.
Does cistus last long?
Yes, it is long-lasting.
What pairs with cistus?
Labdanum, oud, cedarwood and spices.
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