Galbanum (Ferula gummosa)

Description

Galbanum is an aromatic gum resin and a product of certain umbelliferous Persian plant species in the genus Ferula, chiefly Ferula gummosa (synonym F. galbaniflua) and Ferula rubricaulis. Galbanum-yielding plants grow plentifully on the slopes of the mountain ranges of northern Iran.

It occurs usually in hard or soft, irregular, more or less translucent and shining lumps, or occasionally in separate tears, of a light-brown, yellowish or greenish-yellow colour, and has a disagreeable, bitter taste, a peculiar, somewhat musky odour, an intense green scent

Galbanum oil is steam-distilled to yield a Clear, pale yellow or olive mobile liquid. Resinifies easily with exposure to air. Its fragrance profile is intensely green, potent, powerful, sharp, cut grass, parsley leaf, parsley tea, green wild leaves in the winter in the Wadi, dirt, balsamic, fresh. Hints of powder (tingle in the note – sharp powder like ground glass, not soft). Hints of pine, woods, peppery, elemi-like balsamic. Develops into woody/floral/balsamic dryout and hints of powder. Galbanum essential oil is an accessory top note that is invaluable to the perfumer to create a radiant leafy-green, and green-aldehydic effect in perfume. Used in Chypre green, floral green, Chypre coniferous, Woody Foug?res and Aquatic Foug?res. In very small amounts in citrus to add a bright, green, effervescent quality.