Hydrocarboresin

Latin name :

The cistus belongs to the Cistaceae family and to the genus Cistus. This includes three subspecies.

Botanical profile :

Cistus ladanifer L.
Synonyms : Cistus ladaniferus L. // Cistus ladanifer f. immaculatus Dans.

Geographic origin :

Data not available.

Chemotypes :

The genus Cistus includes about 20 different species, the majority of which exudes fragrant gum.
Among these, the most used are:
Cistus ladaniferus var. albiflorus, var. maculatos, var. stenoiphyllus, which produce the resin used in perfumes.
Cistus creticus, with rose to purple petals, surronding a tuft of stamens.
Cistus salvifolius, with white petals.
Cistus parviflorus, with pale rose petals.

Extraction process :

In April, Cistus ladaniferus fields are covered with the famous white flowers, but they don't smell and are very delicate (they only last a few days). It is necessary to wait a few months, around May-June, for a new shoot to appear. This new branch protects itself from the sun - and from the summer heat of southern Spain - by secreting a very fragrant viscous gum. We use the latter in perfumery.
In July, from dawn to noon, new branches are cut with a sickle, bundled and taken to the factory to extract the gum. It will then be necessary to wait another 3 years to harvest the cistus again.

Major Components :

Data not available.