Guaiac Wood Perfumes

Guaiol and bulnesol: the molecules in guaiac wood

Perfumery guaiac wood mostly comes from Bulnesia sarmientoi, a tree of the dry forests of the Gran Chaco, where Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia meet. Paraguay is the main producer of the oil. It is obtained by steam distillation of wood chips and sawdust. Despite its name, it does not come from the true guaiacum tree (Guaiacum officinale), known as lignum vitae – although the two genera are closely related. The key molecules are the sesquiterpene alcohols guaiol (C₁₅H₂₆O) and bulnesol (C₁₅H₂₆O). They make the oil solid to semi-solid at room temperature; it only melts at around 40 to 50 °C. Bulnesia sarmientoi is listed in Appendix II of CITES, so exports of its wood and oil require permits.

In a fragrance, guaiac wood is soft, smoky and dry-woody, with a surprisingly rosy facet. It lasts a very long time and serves perfumers as a fixative in the base. With rose it feels velvety and floral, with vetiver or patchouli smoky and earthy, with vanilla or amber warm and balsamic.

In this selection, guaiac wood sits in the fragrance pyramid – mostly in the base note.