AMBRETTE SEEDS OIL ABSOLUTE

Ambrette Oil An oil with a floral, musk-like fragrance, steam-distilled from the seeds of the Musk Mallow (Hibiscus abelmoschus = Abelmoschus moschatus), also called the Target-leaved Hibiscus, an evergreen tropical or subtropical shrub, cultivated for the oil in India, Egypt, Indonesia and the West Indies, and closely related to Okra. A particularly fragrant variety grows in Martinique. The seeds, sometimes called Musk Seeds, Musky Seeds, Abelmosk Seeds, Ambrette Seeds or Amber Seeds, hold their scent for a very long time and were once much used by perfumers for scenting gloves, mattresses and pillows. Today they are used in sachets and for adulterating musk. The oil, extracted by volatile solvents, is expensive and used in quality perfumes.