Evernia prunastri Resinous absolute obtained from the lichen by solvent extraction.

Aroma: The lichen has a distinct and complex odour and can be described as woody, sharp and slightly sweet.

Common: Oakmoss Absolute is used for aromatherapy. It is used in skin care. This oil is also known for its fixative values.

* Oakmoss essential oil benefits include the use as an antiseptic to prevent infections in open cuts and wounds
* It has anti-inflammatory qualities that aid in soothing swollen spots on the body.
* Oakmoss Oil also acts as an expectorant thus treating coughs and dissolving mucus in the respiratory tract.

Oakmoss (Evernia prunastri) is a species of lichen native to the mountainous temperate forests throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including parts of France, Portugal, Spain, North America, and much of Central Europe. Oakmoss grows primarily on the trunk and branches of oak trees, but also on the bark of other deciduous trees and conifers such as fir and pine.

The oil is a dark green, semi-solid or solid mass, with a dry, earthy, pine-like top note over smooth, rich notes of moss, wood, decaying leaf, fungus, lichen, and damp earth notes.

It is traditionally used in perfumery as a fixative, especially in chypre fragrances, to add a deep, mysterious, evocative scent. Magically, it is related to prosperity.

It blends well with anise, bay, bergamot, clary sage, eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, lime, orange, palmarosa, tea tree, vetiver, and ylang ylang.

Traditionally, this is an ingredient meant for perfumery and requires a bit more work and experience than a mobile substance like an essential oil. Ways you can render your Oakmoss more mobile is by gently heating it in a double-boiler - or, you can dilute it by mixing the smallest bit of perfumer's alcohol or similar directly into the bottle. If you planned on using this absolute for a perfume blend, you can use a small wand, or a toothpick, to gather some of the absolute from the bottle and then to soak it into your blend.

Type: agrestic
Note: base
Characteristics: earthy, smooth, rich, warm, sweet, with honey-like or hay-like (agrestic) undertones

Photo thanks to CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=222136