Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin and a product of certain umbelliferous Persian plant species in the genus Ferula, chiefly Ferula gummosa and Ferula rubricaulis. Galbanum-yielding plants grow plentifully on the slopes of the mountain ranges of northern Iran. Its use in perfumery goes back millennia: galbanum appears in the Old Testament as an ingredient in holy incense, and was an ingredient of the Egyptian perfume Metopian. Galbanum essential oil is quite different to the gum: intensely green, slightly bitter, earthy. This resin is a must-have for ingredient in the chypre family of fragrances, in a marriage with patchouli, bergamot and oakmoss: rich, green, mysterious, woody. A little dry, but with hints of pine in there, too. It evolves over time and is very complex, and requires a perfumer's deftest touch – but it's incredibly valuable to 'noses' as a fixative. It works wonderfully in floral accords alongside hyacinth, iris, narcissus, violet and gardenia – and blends well with spices, too.
Natural or Synthetic?
Galbanum oil is extracted from Ferula galbaniflua resin via steam distillation. Synthetics like Galbanum replacers are used for cost and availability.
Fragrance Families Galbanum Most Commonly Found In
Show fragrances that contain Galbanum as a note