enfleurage

chemistry

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June 26, 2026

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Enfleurage is a process used in perfumery to extract the fragrance from flowers. It involves placing flower petals between layers of purified animal fat, which absorbs the flower's oil. Alcohol is then used to extract the concentrated flower oil, known as an absolute, from the fat. This method is one way to obtain essential oils, which are key components in creating perfumes. The term "enfleurage" comes from the French word for saturating something with the perfume of flowers.12

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essential oil
Methods of production
…extraction with cold fat (enfleurage) or hot fat (maceration) is chiefly of historical importance.
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…extraction with cold fat (enfleurage) or hot fat (maceration) is chiefly of historical importance.
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isoprenoid
Isolation and identification of isoprenoids
…petals, the laborious process of enfleurage is employed: the petals are placed in thin layers of carefully purified fat in which the floral oils dissolve; the oils are recovered from the fat by washing the solution with alcohol.
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…petals, the laborious process of enfleurage is employed: the petals are placed in thin layers of carefully purified fat in which the floral oils dissolve; the oils are recovered from the fat by washing the solution with alcohol.
Read More

perfume
In the extraction method called enfleurage, petals are placed between layers of purified animal fat, which become saturated with flower oil, and alcohol is then used to obtain the absolute. The expression method, used to recover citrus oils from fruit peels, ranges from a traditional procedure of pressing with sponges…
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In the extraction method called enfleurage, petals are placed between layers of purified animal fat, which become saturated with flower oil, and alcohol is then used to obtain the absolute. The expression method, used to recover citrus oils from fruit peels, ranges from a traditional procedure of pressing with sponges…
Read More