Galbanum

Galbanum is one of the most distinctive and polarizing green notes in perfumery — a sharp, intensely green, slightly bitter resin that smells like freshly snapped plant stems and unripe vegetables. This ancient ingredient, mentioned in the Book of Exodus as a component of sacred incense, produces a scent that is aggressively green, metallic, and almost rubbery in its rawness.

It is not a gentle ingredient. What makes galbanum so powerful is its ability to create an instant impression of lush, vibrant greenness.

Even a small amount can transform a composition, adding a sharp, modern edge that feels alive and almost violent in its freshness. Galbanum pairs beautifully with florals to create some of perfumery's most celebrated green floral compositions, with woods for a dark green character, with citrus for enhanced freshness, and with musk for a softened effect.

You will find galbanum in many classic and contemporary green fragrances.