Sourced from the aerial parts of Artemisia absinthium cultivated in Eastern Europe, this essential oil is obtained through steam distillation of leaves and flowering tops. Its composition includes thujone and other bitter terpenes that define its intensely herbaceous and green profile. The opening is sharp, highly diffusive, and distinctly bitter, with a penetrating aromatic edge that can dominate if not carefully controlled. Its volatility is moderate, with noticeable persistence into the heart. The profile is unconventional and characterful. In perfumery, wormwood functions as a specialty top note, used in trace amounts to introduce bitterness, tension, and aromatic complexity in niche, herbal, and avant-garde compositions.
