Absolute
A concentrated aromatic extract commonly made by washing a botanical concrete or resinoid with alcohol, removing waxes and then removing the alcohol.
An absolute is a botanical perfumery material made through extraction and further processing. In a common route, a solvent extracts aromatic compounds and waxes from plant material to produce a concrete. Alcohol washes then separate the soluble fragrant material from much of the wax; removing the alcohol leaves the absolute. SFA Parfum also describes absolutes prepared from resinoids.
Jasmine and tuberose are examples of flowers used for solvent-extracted materials in IFF’s account of perfume production. Rose can be encountered as an absolute or an essential oil. These names describe different preparations, each with its own scent character.
An absolute is one ingredient a perfumer can combine with other extracts and aroma chemicals. When comparing finished perfumes, look at the scent you want: a rose absolute can contribute to a rose composition, while other materials can shape its freshness, sweetness or texture. The word absolute by itself tells you little about that balance.
Absolute as an ingredient term is separate from a perfume’s product name. A bottle called Absolute or Absolu needs its own description; the name does not specify an extraction process or a standard concentration.