Cistus Creticus Resin Absolute, 50% ETH

This is a speciality Fraterworks product. Starting from wild cistus gum gathered by hand in Crete using the ancient ladanisterion tool, we cold extract the pure labdanum heart and then remove 50% of the alcohol leaving us with a classic “Resin Absolute of Cistus Creticus, 50% ETH”.

Cretan cistus (also known as Cretan Rock Rose or Rockrose) is very similar to the more well-known cistus ladanifer, the source of cistus essential oil, labdanum resinoid and labdanum absolute but it differs in having a richer complex of accent notes. A more radiant resin, cistus creticus has distinct nuances of fine styrax resin, frankincense and herbs.

We use pure food grade ethanol produced with water from glacial lakes and the lowest temperature possible to extract the resin absolute from the raw gum. This maintains the integrity of the product and respects the heritage and labour of the men of Crete who collect this material in the same way as their ancient forebears.

Crude Exudate → Steam Distillation → Essential Oil
Crude Exudate → Non-Ethanol Solvent Extraction → Resinoid
Crude Exudate → Ethanol Extraction → Resin Absolute of Exudate, 𝓷% [evaporated to 𝓃%]
Crude Exudate → Ethanol Extraction → Resin Absolute [vacuum distilled to 100%]

While a resin absolute is often wrongly referred to simply as an "absolute", the correct use of that term within the balsams category is for an alcohol extraction of a previously extracted resinoid (usually produced with hexane or other non-alcohol solvent).

Resinoid → Alcohol Extraction → Absolute

Origin: Crete
Variety: Cistus Creticus
Part: Raw exudate from foliage
Harvest Method: Traditional harvesting with a Ladanisterion

eo natural