Myrtle

Not to be confused with myrrh (a gum with a balmy smell), myrtle is an aromatic plant that grows around the Mediterranean basin. It is used both in perfumery and in cooking for its honeyed flavors. As for fragrances, perfumers use myrtle essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of the plant. This material reveals an aromatic note, with resinous and balsamic undertones that evoke rosemary or juniper. The essence of myrtle and its scent of scrubland will first appear in men’s fragrances. It is now found in many compositions, including chypre, oriental and citrus.