Juniper Berry In Fragrances: Gin-Bright & Piney Fresh
A Juniper berry is a small, blue-black, pine-scented seed cone from juniper shrubs and trees. They are crucial for a gin's flavour and are also used in cooking to season game, meats, stews, and sauerkraut for their resinous, peppery taste, which is best released by crushing. Though appearing like berries, they are the fleshy cones from the Juniperus communis species, providing distinct piney notes to many savoury dishes and botanical drinks. There’s something sharp and clean about the aroma of juniper berry. Not quite woody, not fully citrus, it occupies a unique spot in perfumery. You’ve likely caught a hint of it in gin’s crisp bouquet, but it does far more in a fragrance than remind us of a cocktail. A juniper berry brings a green edge that cuts through heavy, sweet perfumes, especially during the quieter months of winter into spring. When the holiday spices fade, this piney oil steps in with a dose of brightness. It’s like cracking open a window on a still, cold morning. In n...
