Sweet woodruff absolute

Sweet hay, almond, light vanilla. Woodland leaf and cut tobacco facets. Warm and soft.

Woodruff absolute has no dedicated standard in the 51st Amendment of the IFRA Standards. Coumarin, its main odorant, is restricted by IFRA (2020) per product category.

Coumarin is on the EU fragrance allergen list. They must be labelled above 0.001 percent in leave-on or 0.01 percent in rinse-off products.

In the EU, Regulation 1334/2008 limits coumarin in certain food categories. Store dark, sealed and cool.

Galium odoratum is a low perennial of European deciduous woodland. Its leaves grow in whorls around the stem and small white flowers open in spring. The fresh plant has almost no scent.

When the plant wilts or dries, enzymes break down glycosides in the tissue and release coumarin. The mechanism is the same as in hay and sweet grasses. The plant is therefore usually wilted before extraction.

In Germany, woodruff flavours Maibowle, a May wine punch, as well as syrups and sweets. Coumarin in food is controlled under the EU flavourings regulation.

The absolute is made by extracting the dried plant with a solvent to a concrete, then washing with ethanol, chilling, filtering and removing the alcohol. Coumarin is the main odorant, with dihydrocoumarin and green leaf compounds.

In perfumery, woodruff absolute belongs with the coumarinic materials alongside tonka, melilot and hay. It is greener and cooler than tonka and is used in fougères, hay and tobacco accords. The maximum dose is calculated from the lot's coumarin content.