Youherbit Labdanum

Labdanum is a sticky substance produced on the leaves of the gum rockrose shrub in the eastern Mediterranean area to protect it from the Sun. It is classed as a resin because it is exuded from the plant, and is fragrant. It also has medicinal qualities. Our earliest references are from the Bible where it is mentioned as part of a spice trade being carried by a camel caravan from Jordan to Egypt, and in Book III of Herodotus's History, where he tells the famous tale of the sticky resin being combed from the beards of goats. The scent is generally described as warm, amber-like, balsamic, leathery, and slightly sweet. It is compared to ambergris and is sometimes sold as amber in perfumery and incense making. It can also be used as part of a blend to create a musk fragrance. It can be burned directly on charcoal or by a heater or incense burner. My understanding is that burned on charcoal will produce the strongest fragrance impact, but it will tend to be one-dimensional and smoky. Most advice suggests warming it slowly, increasing the heat as appropriate. So, using an adjustable electric heater or an adjustable tea-light burner, seems most appropriate.    

This labdanum is a gift from Irene of Rauchfahne, who knows I wish to learn more about resins and botanicals. She bought it from Youherbit,  an online store in Patras, Greece, who sourced it from Greece. It is available from them at € 18,15 for 50g. 

The substance is black, sticky, soft, mouldable. There appear to be seeds caught in it. The scent of the unheated labdanum is leather, balsamic sweet, musky, gently resinous, cannabis, warm, green, citric, gently coniferous. It is very engaging and delicious. 

The scent when heated echoes that of the resin, though with a sense of being warmed up, and with a mineral dry chalky note. The balsamic sweetness and some of the sexiness is reduced. There is minimal smoke. It is a gentle scent, and holds no off-notes. I'm happy to warm it close to me. This is one of the benefits of warming (not burning) pure resins and botanicals - you get the scent, the whole scent, and nothing but the scent. And, as there are no carbons or particle matter as when substances are burned, it is safer to inhale. The jury is still out on just how safe it is, but everyone agrees that warming pure incense is the safest, cleanest, and most natural way to experience incense fragrances. As the warming continues a certain animalistic quality creeps in. Warm animal body, some lambs wool. It's all quite gentle and clean, but adds a an extra depth at the end. 

I love the scent of this labdanum, though found the cold scent before it was heated to be more green, fresh, and sexy - leaning more in the direction of patchouli. Indeed, there's even a touch of mint in the accord. I find it to be a great base scent, though kinda limited by itself. This is something that calls out to be balanced with other scents, and my understanding is that is how it is generally used. 

Date: Jun 2026   Score:  36/50

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Resins are the way

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