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Cangzhu

Q: Is Cangzhu natural or synthetic?

. Extraction: Steam distillation of dried Atractylodes lancea rhizomes. Produced primarily in China. Contains atractylon, beta-eudesmol, hinesol..

GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES / earthy · green · rich

Cangzhu

Category	GREENS, HERBS AND FOUGERES
Subcategory	earthy · green · rich
Origin
Volatility	Heart Note
Botanical	Atractylodes lancea
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber liquid
Odor Strength	Medium
Producing Countries	China, Japan, South Korea
Pyramid	Heart

Woody-earthy, faintly camphorous, with medicinal-herbal depth. Cangzhu is TCM in aromatic form — the smell of a traditional Chinese pharmacy.

Scent
The Full Story
Fun Fact
Extraction & Chemistry
In Perfumery

Scent

Woody-earthy, medicinal-herbal, faintly camphorous. Dried rhizome slices in a TCM pharmacy — austere, warm, grounding. Less sweet than ginger, less sharp than turmeric. Specifically East Asian medicinal woodiness.

Evolution over time

Immediately

Woody-earthy, camphorous, medicinal-herbal

After a few hours

Warm rhizome depth, less sharp, grounding

After a few days

Persistent earthy-woody, dry medicinal trace

The Full Story

Cangzhu refers to the rhizome of Atractylodes lancea, a key TCM herb. The essential oil has a complex woody-herbal profile dominated by atractylon, atractylodin, and beta-eudesmol.

Woody, earthy, faintly camphorous, with a medicinal quality recognizable in Chinese herbal shops. Less aggressive than pure camphor, less sweet than balsams — austere, grounding.

A niche note evoking TCM pharmacy atmosphere. The natural oil exists but is not widely traded in Western perfumery. Provides East Asian medicinal-woody character distinct from European herbal traditions.

In TCM, classified as warm and bitter, used to dispel dampness and strengthen the spleen — its aromatic character is therapeutically important.

This note in Première Peau. Simili Mirage · Gravitas Capitale. Sample all seven extraits in the Discovery Set.

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Related: Alpha Pinene · Angelica · Angelica Root · Angelica Root Oil · Artemisia · Barrenwort · Beachheather · Behini Tree

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Burning cangzhu rhizome to fumigate spaces during epidemics is documented during historical plague outbreaks and was revived during SARS in 2003. The volatile compounds have documented antimicrobial activity.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method: Steam distillation of dried Atractylodes lancea rhizomes. Produced primarily in China. Contains atractylon, beta-eudesmol, hinesol.

Molecular Formula	Key compound: atractylodin C₁₃H₁₀O
CAS Number	N/A — natural extract, no single CAS
Botanical Name	Atractylodes lancea
IFRA Status	No known restrictions
Synonyms	ATRACTYLODES · RHIZOMA ATRACTYLODIS
Physical Properties
Odor Strength	Medium
Appearance	Pale yellow to amber liquid

In Perfumery

Niche note providing TCM-inspired medicinal-woody character. Natural oil exists but not widely traded in Western perfumery. Functions in incense, medicinal, and East Asian-themed compositions.