ROSEWOOD

Floral-woodyLinalool-softSweet-aromatic
Rosewood — Floral-woody, Linalool-soft, Sweet-aromatic
Botanical name
Aniba rosaeodora
Also known as
Brazilian rosewood, Pau Rosa, Bois de Rose
Main flavour compound
Linalool (78-93%)
Part used
Dried heartwood (chipped or distilled)
Method of cultivation
Large tropical tree of the Lauraceae family (the laurel/cinnamon family), native to the Amazon basin of Brazil, with significant populations in French Guiana, Peru and Suriname. The tree grows to 30 metres and produces a heartwood exceptionally rich in linalool — typically 78–93% of the essential oil — which is what makes it commercially valuable. **Important regulatory note:** the species has been CITES Appendix II listed since 2010 due to historical overexploitation; commercial use is heavily regulated and modern supply is exclusively from sustainably-managed plantations rather than wild harvest.
Commercial preparation
Brazilian regulation requires that rosewood material come from plantation cultivation (wild harvest of endangered species is prohibited under MMA n° 443/2014). Modern leaf-distillation methods allow oil production without killing the tree. Heartwood chips and shavings are used for gin botanicals; verify supplier sustainability and CITES compliance before commercial use.
Non-culinary uses
Foundational perfumery linalool source (a major commercial source of natural linalool before synthetic alternatives became available); cosmetics; aromatherapy.

Rosewood — Aniba rosaeodora — is a large tropical tree of the Lauraceae family (the same family as cinnamon, bay leaf and avocado), native to the Amazon basin of Brazil and adjoining South American countries. The tree grows to 30 metres tall and produces an extraordinarily linalool-rich heartwood — typically 78–93% linalool — which made it a major commercial source of natural linalool for the perfumery industry through the 20th century. [source]

Wood chips (CITES-compliant plantation source)

The standard form — slow extraction.

Powdered

Faster extraction; same sustainability requirements apply.

Region of cultivation

Rosewood — growing regions

Rosewood is primarily cultivated in Brazil (Amazon), French Guiana, Peru, Suriname, with secondary growing regions in Cultivated plantation only — wild harvest prohibited.

Spice Story

Gin Creativity

Rosewood brings clean linalool-floral character with a soft woody backbone. A quarter to half sachet is plenty — the linalool concentration is so high that small amounts dominate. Pair with coriander seed for layered linalool effect, or with sandalwood for a deep woody profile.

Blending Science

Main flavour compounds

Botanical Ro ROSEWOOD
Skeletal diagram of Linalool (78-93%) Linalool (78-93%)floral, soft
Skeletal diagram of Alpha-Terpineol Alpha-Terpineol—
Skeletal diagram of Eugenol Eugenolclove-like, warming
Skeletal diagram of Methyl Eugenol Methyl Eugenolclove-like, warming

Pairs well with

Linalool dominates at 78–93% of the essential oil — one of the highest single-compound concentrations in any commercial essential oil, and the highest natural linalool source available. [source] Alpha-terpineol, eugenol and methyl eugenol are minor components contributing the supporting floral-woody depth. Cool extraction preserves the bright linalool; warm extraction develops a deeper body.

Food Partners

  • Aged spirits and digestifs — rosewood is a foundational base note.
  • Chocolate-and-floral desserts — rosewood and dark chocolate.
  • Aged cheese — rosewood-gin reduction.
  • Game-meat reductions — rosewood as supporting woody depth.
  • Floral-spirit-soaked confections — rosewood-rose-pistachio sweets.

Cocktails To Try

GinSchool intaglio bottle and cocktail
  • Rosewood Negroni — rosewood gin, Campari, sweet vermouth.
  • Floral Old Fashioned — rosewood gin, demerara, orange bitters.
  • Linalool Sour — rosewood-and-coriander gin, lemon, honey.

Release The Flavour

  • Cool to gentle warmth — preserves the linalool.
  • Use sparingly — rosewood's linalool concentration is exceptional.
  • Verify sustainability — only CITES-compliant plantation-sourced material is legal.
  • Source matters — sustainable Brazilian plantation rosewood is the ethical premium grade.

Discover more

From the same region

Pairs well with

Same flavour family

Surprise me

Sources & Citations

  1. scientific_name (Aniba rosaeodora, Lauraceae):en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniba_rosaeodora
  2. amazon_basin_native:blog.soin-et-nature.com/en/rosewood-essential-oil-the-pre...
  3. linalool_78-93_percent:www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378112718...
  4. cites_appendix_ii_since_2010:cites.org/sites/default/files/eng/com/pc/19/E19-16-04.pdf
  5. brazilian_mma_443/2014_wild_harvest_prohibition:www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378112718...
  6. main_flavour_compounds (CSV-sourced):inputs/source.csv — Rosewood row