Spikenard Oil

Description of Spikenard Oil

Spikenard Oil is steam-distilled from the roots and rhizomes of the Nardostachys Grandiflora plant, which grows wildly across much of China and Japan. Most distillation occurs in India and the US, though it is sometimes confused with the “Ferula” species of plant, earning it the nickname “False Indian Valerian Root.” The aroma of spikenard oil is heavy and sweet, with a woody and somewhat animal-like drydown. In perfume, the ingredient is mostly used in amber and floral bases, adding a woody and masculine odor to ingredients such as cedarwood, lavender, and oakmoss. Spikenard oil is also used in flavor, imparting a warm and spicy-sweet flavor that blends well with ginger and cardamom.

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