Eucalyptus

Cool, clear and camphoraceous, with a fresh, slightly minty sharpness.

• The bluish haze that gives the Blue Mountains near Sydney their name is attributed to tiny oil droplets from the eucalyptus forests, which together with dust and water vapour scatter mainly blue light.

The key molecule is 1,8-cineole, also called eucalyptol – the European Pharmacopoeia requires at least 70 percent of it. The oil is obtained by steam distillation of fresh leaves and branch tips.