In short
Narcissus absolute is extracted from the flowers of Narcissus poeticus. It has a narcotic, green and honeyed floral odour with a hay-like, slightly animalic depth.
What Narcissus Absolute smells like
Narcissus absolute is a heavy, green-honeyed, heady floral with something dark underneath, in supplier descriptions. Glossaries place warm hay, honey, earthy musk and a lingering animalic undertone in the drydown, and link its narcotic heaviness to indole and benzyl acetate, which can feel overwhelming at full strength. Descriptions of the animalic note range from faint to pronounced. It is dark amber, viscous, and one of the more expensive perfumery materials.
- Leading note
- Heady green honey
- Clear facets
- Hay
- Supporting facets
- Animalic, indolic, earthy musk
- Faint facets
- Spicy
- Character
- Narcotic, heavy, green, dark
What makes Narcissus Absolute distinctive
Green and animal at once: a heady, honeyed flower with a hay-and-earth drydown that no reconstruction fully copies.
Concentration and dilution
Overwhelming at full strength; pleasant when well diluted.
Where the descriptions disagree: Descriptions of the animalic note range from faint to pronounced.
How Narcissus Absolute is used
Used in small amounts in fine fragrance, in floral, chypre and animalic compositions.
Typical role: modifier (used in small amounts to change the character of a blend).
How Narcissus Absolute differs from similar materials
- p-Cresyl Phenylacetate
- p-Cresyl phenylacetate gives the animal-honey heart used in narcissus accords; the absolute adds green, hay and earthy notes. (compared directly by a cited source)
- p-Cresyl Acetate
- p-Cresyl acetate supplies only the sharp, phenolic animal edge; the absolute is green, honeyed and hay-like.
- Indole
- Indole is part of narcissus's narcotic heaviness; the absolute adds green, honey and hay. (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
Very expensive and potent; a few drops are enough.
Identity and classification
- Type
- Absolute
- Origin
- Natural
- Odour family
- Floral / Green
- Note position
- Heart note
- Physical form at room temperature
- Viscous liquid
- Botanical source
- Narcissus poeticus
- CAS number
- 90064-26-9
The CAS number was checked on 19 October 2026 against a PubChem substance record that gives it for this material. A natural material is a mixture, so it has no single formula; its composition varies with origin and processing.
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
-
p-Cresyl Phenylacetate
Aroma chemical · Animalic / Floral — animalic, honey, narcissus, leathery
-
Methyl Phenylacetate
Aroma chemical · Floral / Gourmand — honey, sweet, floral, musky
-
Jasmine Absolute (Grandiflorum)
Absolute · Floral / Animalic — jasmine, floral, indolic, fruity
-
Galbanum Oil
Essential oil · Green / Resinous — green, sharp, bitter, resinous
Used in formulas and accords
Used in 2 published formulas
Narcissus Absolute is an ingredient in 2 perfume formulas in the Formula & Accord Library.
RUŌOD House Originals
Original compositions by RUŌOD House.
Further reading
Questions about Narcissus Absolute
Is Narcissus Absolute natural or synthetic?
Narcissus Absolute is natural. It is a concentrated extract obtained from plant material with a solvent, then washed with ethanol to remove the waxes.
What is the CAS number of Narcissus Absolute?
90064-26-9, the registry number for the absolute as a substance rather than a single molecule. It was checked against PubChem on 19 October 2026.
Which published formulas use Narcissus Absolute?
Narcissus Absolute is used in 2 published formulas in the RUŌOD Lab Formula & Accord Library: Narcissus Hay Loft and Orange Blossom Den. Each is listed with a link under "Used in formulas and accords" on this page.
Sources
- PubChem — substance 135327606, checked 19 October 2026.
- Premiere Peau — Narcissus absolute — published perfumery reference.
- The Good Scents Company — narcissus absolute — odour database.
- Hermitage Oils — Narcissus absolute (des plaines) — distributor's description.
- Olfactory profile: the RUŌOD Lab team's synthesis of the published descriptions above, reviewed 21 October 2026. Evidence: more than one published description. Classification and the short description: revision 1. Descriptions of odour are judgement, not measurement.