Poet's Narcissus CO₂ Absolute — White Narcissus poeticus | The Rarest Spring Floral | Bulgaria

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

White Narcissus CO₂ Extract — The Poet's Narcissus in Its Purest Form

Of all the narcissus materials available to the natural perfumer — absolute, concrete, tincture — the supercritical CO₂ extract is the rarest, the most technically demanding to produce, and the most faithful to the living flower. Where solvent extraction captures the full aromatic spectrum of Narcissus poeticus but inevitably destroys the most delicate volatile top notes in the process, CO₂ extraction at supercritical pressure and temperature preserves the complete aromatic profile of freshly harvested blooms with a clarity and fidelity that no other extraction method achieves. This is the scent of the Poet's Narcissus as close to the living flower as perfumery technology currently allows.

Narcissus poeticus — the White Daffodil, the Pheasant's Eye, the flower whose Greek name gave us the word narcotic — has been one of perfumery's most coveted and most elusive materials since antiquity. The flowers are among the most intensely fragrant in the natural world, yet their delicacy makes extraction extraordinarily challenging and yields vanishingly small. Bulgarian-grown Narcissus poeticus, harvested at peak bloom in the brief spring window when aromatic content is at its highest, forms the basis of this exceptional extract — a viscous, deeply complex material of extraordinary character that serious natural perfumers describe as transformative at even the smallest concentrations.

This CO₂ extract complements rather than replaces our Narcissus Poeticus Absolute — the two materials have genuinely different aromatic profiles and different applications. The absolute provides dark, tenacious, animalic depth; the CO₂ extract delivers luminous, transparent, top-note fidelity. Both are indispensable to the serious narcissus collector.

Scent Profile

The opening is an immediate revelation — a luminous, intensely floral rush of white narcissus petals at their freshest and most vibrant, with a green, slightly watery quality that speaks of the living flower rather than a processed extract. The characteristic narcotic sweetness develops quickly in the heart alongside mesmerising hay and pollen facets that give the extract its distinctive hypnotic quality. A subtle animalic whisper — soft, musky, and slightly leathery — adds sensuality and depth without overwhelming the floral character. The overall impression is simultaneously radiant and grounded, classical and intimate — a multidimensional floral of extraordinary sophistication that anchors, elevates, and transforms any composition it enters.

Even a tiny amount dramatically elevates the sophistication of a formula — lending a classical French-floral character that is at once radiant and grounded. Use with considerable restraint initially.

Perfumery Applications

White Narcissus CO₂ Extract is a luxury heart and base note material of the highest order — most naturally at home in sophisticated floral compositions, classical chypres, and any structure seeking the luminous, narcotic character of white spring flowers at their finest. Its CO₂ extraction preserves volatile facets that the absolute loses — making it particularly valuable in compositions where the top note clarity of narcissus is required alongside the depth and tenacity of longer-lasting materials.

It pairs with exceptional facility alongside other white and spring florals — jasmine sambac, rose otto, blue lotus, tuberose, and mimosa — where its green narcissus freshness adds a dimension of botanical authenticity. Its green facets harmonise effortlessly with galbanum, oakmoss, vetiver, and blackcurrant bud; its creamy floral notes blend elegantly with sandalwood, labdanum, benzoin, vanilla, and tonka bean.

Blending Suggestions

Pairs beautifully with our Narcissus Poeticus Absolute for a complete multi-dimensional narcissus accord. Beyond that, exceptional alongside orris, violet leaf, jasmine sambac, rose otto, blue lotus, tuberose, mimosa, galbanum, oakmoss, vetiver, blackcurrant bud, sandalwood, labdanum, benzoin, vanilla, and tonka bean.

Technical Details

• Botanical Name: Narcissus poeticus L.
• Common Names: White Narcissus / Poet's Narcissus / Pheasant's Eye / White Daffodil
• Botanical Family: Amaryllidaceae
• INCI: Narcissus Poeticus Flowers CO₂ Extract
• Origin: Bulgaria
• Plant Part: Flowers — harvested at peak bloom
• Extraction Method: Supercritical CO₂ extraction
• Classification: Middle to base note
• Appearance: Viscous liquid
• Solubility: Soluble in oils, alcohol, and butters — insoluble in water
• Odour Family: Floral / Narcotic / Green / Hay / Animalic
• Shelf Life: 3 years when stored properly in cool, dark conditions
• Natural: Yes — 100% pure natural CO₂ extract, no solvent residue
• Note: Distinct from Narcissus Poeticus Absolute — CO₂ extraction preserves top-note volatiles for greater floral fidelity; both are available in our Perfumers Range
• Storage: Keep sealed in cool, dark conditions. Melts easily in a double boiler if thickened — avoid direct flame

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.

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.