Heliotrope

There are more than 200 species of heliotropes in the world, but those used in perfumery come from South America. Heliotrope is an herbaceous plant that produces small flowers with white, purple or blue shades. The noses can reproduce its scent through synthesis or by using the head space technique to isolate its various odoriferous compounds. The heliotrope’s scent is complex with floral but also balsamic and sweet notes. Perfumers use this ingredient to add “creaminess” to a composition that can evoke the nuances of lilac. It also spices up the fragrances with a peppery facet that can also be found in carnation.