Cypress
Cupressus sempervirens
Cypress is fresh, green and woody, with a resinous, slightly smoky edge. The tall Mediterranean evergreen, used in woody, chypre and fresh blends.
What does cypress smell like in perfume?
Cypress smells fresh, green and woody, with a resinous, slightly smoky edge. It brings the dry, green scent of Mediterranean evergreens to a fragrance.
| Botanical name | Cupressus sempervirens |
|---|---|
| Plant part | Needles and twigs |
| Origin | France and Spain |
| Extraction | Steam distillation |
| Note | Base |
| Scent family | Woods & Resins |
| Odour | Fresh, green and woody, with a resinous, slightly smoky edge |
| Perfume uses | Woody, chypre and fresh blends |
| Key molecules | α-pinene, δ-3-carene, cedrol |
| Odour impact | Medium |
| 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 Cypress?
Cypress oil is distilled from the needles and twigs of Cupressus sempervirens, the tall, slender tree that lines roads in Tuscany and Provence.
Cypress Scent Profile
Here is how strongly each facet of cypress comes through, from our own smelling-strip notes.
Green
Fresh, coniferous needles.
Woody
Dry, crisp wood.
Resinous
A sticky, balsamic note.
Smoky
A soft, smoky edge.
How Perfumers Use Cypress
Perfumers use cypress to add freshness and woody depth. It pairs well with oud, cedarwood, citrus and incense.
Growing and harvesting cypress
The Italian cypress, Cupressus sempervirens, is native to the eastern Mediterranean but has been planted across southern Europe for so long that it looks native there too. The oil is steam-distilled from the needle-like leaves and young twigs, mainly in Spain and southern France.
The molecules behind cypress’s scent
α-Pinene is the main molecule and gives the fresh, piney lift. δ-3-Carene adds a sharper, resinous note. Cedrol, a heavier woody molecule also found in cedarwood, gives the dry base that stays after the pine notes fade.
Natural or synthetic cypress?
Cypress oil is natural and has no synthetic copy. Pinene on its own smells thin and turpentine-like, without the oil’s smoky, ambery depth. Cypress is not the same as cypriol, or nagarmotha, which comes from the root of a sedge, Cyperus scariosus, and smells earthy and smoky.
Cypress in history and tradition
In the ancient Mediterranean the cypress was planted beside temples and cemeteries. Greeks and Romans linked it with mourning, and it came to stand for eternity. Its name, sempervirens, means “always green”. The scented wood resists rot and was valued for chests and doors.
How to smell cypress yourself
Crush a cypress sprig between your fingers and smell it straight away: green, piney and slightly sharp, but drier than pine. On a smelling strip the oil opens bright and resinous, then dries down to a soft, slightly smoky wood that lasts for hours.
Smell Cypress in Prosody London Perfumes
For cypress at its most expressive, try Oud Octavo. Cypress adds a fresh, woody edge to an oud base with angelica root and vetiver.
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Oud Octavo – Natural Perfume
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What Blends Well With Cypress?
Questions About Cypress
Does cypress smell like pine?
It is fresh and coniferous like pine, but drier, woodier and less sweet, with a smoky edge.
Does cypress last long?
Longer than most green notes. The piney opening fades, but a dry, woody base stays for hours.
Is cypress a top or a base note?
Cypress is versatile. Perfumers often use it as a top or heart note for its fresh, green, coniferous lift. Its drier, woody facets can also contribute to the base impression, depending on the formula. At Prosody London, we classify it according to its role in each perfume.
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