In short
Cardamom absolute is extracted with solvent from cardamom pods and seeds. It is warmer, woodier and sweeter than the oil, with the same eucalyptus freshness.
What Cardamom Absolute smells like
A perfumer quoted by Hermitage Oils describes cardamom absolute as warm and spicy with light eucalyptus, much warmer, woodier and sweeter than the essential oil; Lush finds the oil's eucalyptus nuances with more warmth and sweetness and notes of ginger and tea. The Good Scents Company lists floral, spicy and honey; dsm-firmenich describes its Guatemalan grade as camphor, zesty, aromatic and coniferous.
- Leading note
- Warm cardamom
- Supporting facets
- Eucalyptus, sweet, woody
- Faint facets
- Honey
- Character
- Warm, rich
What makes Cardamom Absolute distinctive
Cardamom with the warmth the distilled oil lacks.
Where the descriptions disagree: Some grades are described as camphoraceous and coniferous, others as honeyed and floral.
How Cardamom Absolute is used
Used for a warm, natural cardamom in spicy, woody and oriental accords.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Cardamom Absolute differs from similar materials
- Cardamom Oil
- A perfumer finds the absolute much warmer, woodier and sweeter than the oil, with the same light eucalyptus freshness. (compared directly by a cited source)
An asterisk marks a difference that a cited source states directly. The others compare the published descriptions of each material. Smell varies with grade, supplier and dilution; compare them side by side on blotters before substituting one for another.
Formulation considerations
Shares its CAS number with cardamom oil, so none is given here. Sometimes sold diluted (one supplier at 10% in triethyl citrate).
Identity and classification
- Type
- Absolute
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Spicy / Aromatic
- Note position
- Top to heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Viscous liquid
- Botanical source
- Elettaria cardamomum (L.) Maton
No CAS number is shown: suppliers use different identifiers for this material, and none could be confirmed as its own.
Safety and compliance
This page is general information, not a safety assessment or a specification. Confirm identity, composition, IFRA status and allergen content from your supplier's documents for the lot you hold.
Materials it works with
-
Cardamom Oil
Essential oil · Spicy / Aromatic — spicy, aromatic, fresh, eucalyptus
-
Ginger Oil
Essential oil · Spicy / Citrus — spicy, warm, lemony, woody
-
Coriander Seed Oil
Essential oil · Spicy / Floral — spicy, floral, fresh, woody
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 6 published formulas
Cardamom Absolute is an ingredient in 3 perfume formulas, 2 accords and 1 base in the Formula & Accord Library.
Community formulas
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Cardamom Absolute
Is Cardamom Absolute natural or synthetic?
Cardamom Absolute is natural. It is a concentrated extract obtained from plant material with a solvent, then washed with ethanol to remove the waxes.
Which published formulas use Cardamom Absolute?
Cardamom Absolute is used in 6 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library, including Cardamom Crema, Dried Fruits Accord and Dune Spice Market. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- Hermitage Oils — Cardamom Absolute — distributor's description.
- Lush — Cardamom absolute — published perfumery reference.
- The Good Scents Company — cardamom absolute — odour database.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 24 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.