Guaiac (Guaiac, Bulnesia sarmienti) is a small tree and one of the most resistant, hardest in the world, and it is even called an iron tree. It is also known as Lignum Vitae – Tree of Life or Palo Santo. This exotic tree with blue flowers comes to us from the rainforests of Argentina and Paraguay. It is characterized by a woody-leather scent with tar-like subtones.
The use of guaiac throughout history has been based on its aromatic properties and wood texture. It was most often used in the production of handicrafts, furniture, and firewood. Guaiac wood resin is also used in medicine as a diuretic, laxative, and to stimulate sweating during fever, treat coughs and arthritis, and tea was considered mostly medicinal. Doctors also use it as a remedy for syphilis with sarsaparilla and sassafras tree.
Legend has it that guaiac tea was used by the famous sculptor Benvenuto Cellini to treat a well-known venereal disease from that time – the French evil, which threatened to endanger his eyesight. And it is also mentioned in the work Love in the Age of Cholera, by the cult writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which describes a bath made of this mystical tree.
Guaiac essential oil has been used in ancient times for the cosmetics and perfume industry’s needs as an unusual and multi-purpose perfume material.
Guaiac oil is obtained by steam distillation, and the fragrant raw material itself is yellowish-green in color. It is usually a soft, semi-solid mass that stays liquid for a long time when melted. Since large quantities are produced in the world, guaiac is a reasonably cheap fixative and modifier, and it is an excellent addition in woody-floral perfumes. Still, it is often used in high-quality perfumes as well. It is perfect in combination with linalool, neroli, geraniol, oakmoss, and spice oils. The fragrant note of this exotic wood gives a smoky, tarry note, which has been very popular in niche perfumes lately. Sometimes it has a rubbery undertone, while some people find its scent reminiscent of a fragrant note of tobacco.
This is why it is often used in tobacco and leather fragrance compositions because its scent harmonizes perfectly and sings in unison with it, and as a potent perfume material, it gives the perfume quality and strong character. It also makes an exciting blend with bergamot, jasmine, musk, cloves, vanilla, and amber. What is quite sure is that guaiac wood gives a mysterious and mystical tone to every perfume.
Perfumes with fragrant note of guaiac:
- Aftelier Embers and Musk
- Ajmal Ambre Pimente
- Ajmal Bling
- Amouage Jubilation XXV
- Andrea Maack Birch
- Apoteker Tepe The Holy Mountain
- Armani Code for Men
- Armani Diamonds for Men
- Atelier Cologne Rose Smoke
- Boadicea The Victorious Decade
- Burberry London for Men
- Bvlgari Man in Black
- Bvlgari Omnia Cristalline
- By Kilian Extreme Oud
- Carner Palo Santo
- Carolina Herrera 212 Men
- Caron Nuit Fraiche
- Celine Eau de Californie
- Cerruti Pour Homme
- Elementals Wood
- Fragonard F!
- Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur
- Galimard Gaiac Precieux
- Ghost Etherno
- Givenchy Organza
- Granado Sandalo
- Guerlain Bois d’Armenie
- House of Matriarch Antimony
- House of Sillage The Classic
- Jo Malone Amber & Patchouli
- Le Labo Gaiac 10
- Le Labo Oud 27
- Le Labo Tabac 28
- Le Labo Vanille 44
- Lomani Mister Lomani
- M. Micallef Gaiac
- M.Micallef Vanille Gaiac
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae
- Maison Margiela By The Fireplace
- Oriflame Dark Wood
- Pal Zileri Lab
- Parah Black Touch
- Parfums de Marly Carlisle
- Parfums de Marly Layton
- Penhaligon’s Agarbathi
- Ralph Lauren Supreme Oud
- Replay for Him
- Replay Intense for Him
- Robert Piguet Bois Noir
- Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille
- Sfumato Survival Instinct
- Slumberhouse Ore
- Sospiro Diapason
- Thameen Carven Oud
- The Different Company Santo Incienso
- The Merchant of Venice Oudelight
- Zara Palo Santo
