Rosemary A-Pinene.

Crush a sprig of rosemary between your fingers and you expect camphor and a green bite. This one surprises you: lighter, sweeter, with a trace of conifer drifting through it, as if a pine bough had been laid among the herbs.

This is Rosmarinus officinalis ch a-pinene, the rare alpha-pinene chemotype of rosemary, artisan produced in Australia. It came to light almost by chance: an Australian grower had been tending and distilling his own Herb Cottage rosemary plants without knowing how unusual they were. The familiar rosemary chemotypes are camphor and cineole, with verbenon the rare third; this one carries the alpha-pinene that gives the conifers their aroma.

The whole small distillation is poured into 5 and 15 ml bottles, a rare jewel for the rosemary lover's shelf.

Details

• Botanical name: Rosmarinus officinalis ch a-pinene
• Origin: Australia, artisan produced
• Bottles: 5 ml and 15 ml
• Shelf life: about 2 to 3 years after opening

How to use

Diffuse a few drops for a fresh, green scent, or dilute it in a carrier oil before it touches skin. Store it in the dark, ideally refrigerated, and decant a half-full bottle into a smaller full one to extend its life.

A rosemary like no other on the shelf; give it a place on yours.