Orris Root

from $11.00

100% ORGANIC

Uses in perfumery and fragrance

  • Fixative: Orris root is highly valued in the perfume industry for its fixative qualities, which means it helps stabilize and prolong the life of other scents.

  • Aromatic ingredient: The scent of orris is sweet, floral, and reminiscent of violets. This makes it a key ingredient in many high-end fragrances.

  • Potpourri and sachets: Dried and powdered orris root is a popular ingredient in potpourri and sachets to add a violet fragrance and preserve the scents of other ingredients.

  • Cosmetics: Historically used in face and body powders, orris root is still used in modern cosmetics, scented soaps, and natural toothpastes. 

Culinary applications

  • Flavoring agent: Orris root is used as a flavoring in certain food and drink products, including gin, and can impart sweet, earthy, and woody notes.

  • Spice blends: It is an ingredient in some traditional Moroccan spice blends, most notably Ras el hanout.

  • Flavoring syrups: Historically, it has also been used to flavor syrups. 

Traditional folk medicine

Historically, orris root was used in herbal medicine for a variety of conditions. However, there is no strong scientific evidence to support these uses, and it is considered possibly unsafe to ingest the fresh root. 

  • Digestive aid: It was traditionally used to help ease digestion, constipation, and bloating.

  • Respiratory issues: Herbal practitioners used orris root to treat coughs and bronchitis, believing it had expectorant properties to clear mucus.

  • Anti-inflammatory: In some traditions, it was used to help with joint and muscle pain and to soothe skin irritation.

  • Oral health: It was used to freshen breath and as an ingredient in tooth powders. 

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100% ORGANIC

Uses in perfumery and fragrance

  • Fixative: Orris root is highly valued in the perfume industry for its fixative qualities, which means it helps stabilize and prolong the life of other scents.

  • Aromatic ingredient: The scent of orris is sweet, floral, and reminiscent of violets. This makes it a key ingredient in many high-end fragrances.

  • Potpourri and sachets: Dried and powdered orris root is a popular ingredient in potpourri and sachets to add a violet fragrance and preserve the scents of other ingredients.

  • Cosmetics: Historically used in face and body powders, orris root is still used in modern cosmetics, scented soaps, and natural toothpastes. 

Culinary applications

  • Flavoring agent: Orris root is used as a flavoring in certain food and drink products, including gin, and can impart sweet, earthy, and woody notes.

  • Spice blends: It is an ingredient in some traditional Moroccan spice blends, most notably Ras el hanout.

  • Flavoring syrups: Historically, it has also been used to flavor syrups. 

Traditional folk medicine

Historically, orris root was used in herbal medicine for a variety of conditions. However, there is no strong scientific evidence to support these uses, and it is considered possibly unsafe to ingest the fresh root. 

  • Digestive aid: It was traditionally used to help ease digestion, constipation, and bloating.

  • Respiratory issues: Herbal practitioners used orris root to treat coughs and bronchitis, believing it had expectorant properties to clear mucus.

  • Anti-inflammatory: In some traditions, it was used to help with joint and muscle pain and to soothe skin irritation.

  • Oral health: It was used to freshen breath and as an ingredient in tooth powders. 

Orris root (Rhizoma iridis; etymology possibly an alteration of iris) is the root of Iris germanica and Iris pallida. It had the common name of Queen Elizabeth Root.[1] It is commonly used as a fixative and base note in perfumery and as a botanical in gin.

Uses

Once important in western herbal medicine, it is now used mainly as a fixative and base note in perfumery; it is the most widely used fixative for potpourri.[3] Orris is also an ingredient in many brands of gin,[4] including Bombay Sapphire.[5]

Fabienne Pavia, in her book L'univers des Parfums (1995, ed. Solar), states that in the manufacturing of perfumes using orris, the scent of the iris root differs from that of the flower. After preparation the scent is reminiscent of the smell of violets.[3]

In Japan, the roots and leaves of the plant were hung in the eaves of a house to protect the house and occupants from attacks by evil spirits. Other magic uses include using it as a love potion, with the root powder in sachets, or sprinkled around the house or sheets of a bedroom.[1]