Iris Concrete (Orris Butter) - Iris pallida / Iris germanica

Iris Concrete, also known as Orris Butter, is one of the most prized and expensive raw materials in all of perfumery. It's obtained from the rhizomes of Iris pallida or Iris germanica, which are cultivated for 3-4 years, dried, and then aged for another 3 to 5 years. During this aging process, odorless compounds in the rhizome slowly transform into "irones" — the molecules responsible for the characteristic violet scent. The dried, aged rhizomes are ground and processed to produce this waxy concrete.

Its aroma is unique: powdery-floral with violet notes, warm, buttery, and slightly earthy/rooty, with a dry, sophisticated depth that no synthetic ingredient fully replicates.

In fine perfumery, iris concrete is used as a heart-to-base note in luxury compositions, lending that powdery, elegant character sought after in iconic perfumes like Chanel No. 19 or Iris Silver Mist. Its extraordinary price — between €10,000 and €12,000/kg as concrete — reflects the extremely long cultivation, drying and aging process (6 to 8 years total, from planting to finished material).

Iris Concrete vs. our Iris Resinoid

This concrete is a different, earlier-stage material from our Iris Resinoid Extra: the concrete is the waxy, solid-at-room-temperature material obtained directly from the aged rhizome, prized for its raw purity and depth. The resinoid is a further-processed, more fluid extract. Many perfumers keep both on hand for different formulation needs.

Specifications

• Botanical name: Iris pallida or Iris germanica
• CAS: 8002-73-1
• Origin: cultivated and aged rhizomes (Italy/France)
• Odor profile: powdery-floral, violet, buttery, warm, with an earthy/rooty undertone
• Appearance: waxy mass, pale yellow to yellow-brown; melts gently at 40-50°C for handling
• Market value: one of the most expensive natural raw materials in perfumery (~€10,000-12,000/kg as concrete; the derived absolute can exceed €40,000-70,000/kg)

This product is offered as a professional raw material for perfumers and formulators, not a finished cosmetic. Hazard classification H412: harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects — avoid release into the environment. Should be diluted and incorporated into fragrance formulas following IFRA guidelines, and never applied undiluted to the skin.