Labdanum is a dark, sticky resin with a warm, amber scent. It brings depth to our perfumes and a resinous warmth to several of our skin care formulas.

What is labdanum?

Labdanum comes from the rockrose shrub (Cistus ladanifer), which grows in the dry, sunny hills of the Mediterranean. The resin forms naturally on the plant’s leaves and twigs and is collected for use in natural perfumery and skin care.

Its scent is rich and layered, with notes of amber, earth, incense and warm wood. In perfumery, it’s a base note—the part of a scent that settles close to the skin and helps an aroma last.

Labdanum benefits for skin

Labdanum contains naturally occurring compounds with antioxidant properties and has a long history of use in traditional skin care. Its rich, resinous character makes it especially well suited to richer creams and oils, where it pairs beautifully with nourishing seed oils like pomegranate and rosehip.

The scent of labdanum

Labdanum has a rich, resinous scent with notes of amber, balsam, leather and warm wood. It’s deep and slightly smoky, with a soft sweetness that becomes warmer and more rounded on the skin. In perfumery, it adds depth and lasting warmth to a blend.

How to use labdanum

Labdanum is most often used in small amounts as part of a carefully balanced aromatic formula. Its rich scent can be quite powerful, so it works especially well alongside other resins, woods, flowers and plant oils.

Labdanum in Twigroot skin care

Labdanum is a warm, resinous base note in our High Priestess Natural Perfume and Arduinna Natural Perfume.

It gives depth to the woodsy scent of our Shinrin Yoku Body Oil and Adonis Beard & Scalp Oil, and adds subtle warmth beneath the berry notes of our Hydrating Night Cream.

Labdanum is one of the ingredients we source rather than grow ourselves, as it comes from the Mediterranean region. As with our other ingredients, we look for quality and responsible sourcing, choosing suppliers carefully for the materials that become part of our formulations.