Dandelion Root CO₂ Extract — Taraxacum officinale | Bulgarian Wildcrafted Aromatic Fixative

Part of our Professional Perfumers Range — curated for the discerning natural perfumer seeking exceptional depth and rarity.

Dandelion Root CO₂ Extract — The Bittersweet Foundation

The dandelion is among the most underestimated plants in the natural world — familiar to every eye, yet rarely considered as a source of aromatic complexity. This CO₂ extract, produced from the roots of wild Taraxacum officinale harvested in Bulgaria, brings something genuinely unusual to the professional palette: a dense, resinous, bittersweet character rooted in the plant's remarkable sesquiterpene lactone content — the same bitter compounds that give dandelion root its ancient reputation as a cleansing, grounding botanical.

Supercritical CO₂ extraction captures the full biochemical signature of the root with a fidelity that no steam distillation or solvent extraction can match — no heat damage, no solvent residues, nothing altered. What arrives in the bottle is the concentrated essence of the root itself: complex, earthy, and quietly tenacious.

Scent Profile

Deeply herbal and bittersweet, with an immediate impression of fresh-turned earth and dried root. The character bridges the familiar and the unexpected — reminiscent of dried hay, wild chamomile, and roasted dandelion root coffee, with an underlying earthy resinous warmth that deepens on dry-down. This connection to chamomile and hay is no coincidence: dandelion shares its botanical family with chamomile (Asteraceae), and the same sesquiterpene lactone chemistry that gives chamomile its distinctive warmth runs through this root extract with quiet authority.

A subtle spicy warmth underpins the whole, giving it a quiet complexity that reveals itself slowly over time on a strip or in a blend. There is nothing showy about this material — it works in the background, deepening and anchoring everything around it with a naturalness that is difficult to achieve by other means.

Perfumery Applications

The Dandelion Root CO₂ Extract's primary value in natural perfumery lies in its exceptional fixative properties. Its high sesquiterpene lactone content gives it remarkable tenacity and a strong affinity for other aromatic materials, helping to bind and anchor compositions — particularly those built around green, herbal, earthy, or mossy accords — and extending their longevity on skin and fabric.

It excels in chypre constructions as a natural bridge between oakmoss and woody base notes, lending an authentic botanical bitterness that no synthetic can replicate. In forest and fougère compositions it adds a genuinely wild, unpolished quality that grounds the accord with a meadow-like naturalness. It is also an outstanding supporting player in incense and resinous blends, where its earthy depth adds a herbal counterpoint to heavier balsamic materials.

Use sparingly — this is a background material of considerable tenacity and its bitter-earthy character is assertive at higher concentrations.

Blending Suggestions

Pairs beautifully with oakmoss, vetiver, labdanum, violet leaf, galbanum, elemi, cedarwood, fir balsam, clary sage, hay absolute, tobacco absolute, patchouli, cistus, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, and tonka bean. The chemical affinity with chamomile and hay materials is genuine and rooted in shared Asteraceae family chemistry — these combinations are particularly rewarding. Highly effective as a fixative support alongside other resinous base materials.

Technical Details

• Botanical Name: Taraxacum officinale F.H.Wigg.
• Common Name: Dandelion / Diente de León
• Botanical Family: Asteraceae
• Origin: Bulgaria (wildcrafted)
• Plant Part: Root
• Extraction Method: Supercritical CO₂ extraction (total extract)
• Classification: Base note / Fixative
• Appearance: Viscous gel — warm gently before use to liquefy
• Odour Family: Earthy / Herbal / Hay-like / Bittersweet Resinous
• Natural: Yes — 100% natural extract, solvent-free process

Packaging

1ml sample supplied in a 5ml clear flint glass bottle. 5ml, 10ml and 30ml supplied in amber glass bottles — all with inbuilt droppers and tamper evident caps.

Please note: this extract is naturally viscous and gel-like at room temperature. Warm the bottle gently in a bowl of warm water before use to liquefy for easy dispensing.

Safety Information

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes and sensitive areas. Not suitable for use on babies, children, pets or broken skin. Avoid use during pregnancy or whilst nursing. Always dilute properly and perform a patch test before first use.

Sample Policy

We recommend purchasing a 1ml sample first before committing to larger quantities. Please note that no refunds can be offered on opened items.

Photo images are for illustrative purposes only.