Cognac essential oil (Vitis vinifera) is steam distilled and produced from the wine precipitate known as “lees” from grapes used to produce cognac (brandy). In Germany, cognac oil is also known as ‘Wine Lees Oil’ or ‘Weinhefeoel.’ Cognac essential oil has a strong dry, tart, wine-like aroma and is used as a base in fragrances. There are two different cognac essential oils: white cognac and green cognac. Green cognac is similar to white cognac in aroma and effect, but it has a beautiful light green color and is a little more tart. They both provide lift and help change certain notes in perfume blends. Cognac is highly recommended for natural perfumers and tiny amounts of the essential oil have been used in perfumes and flavors to give “lift” and impart a fresh, fruity natural note to fragrances, after-shave, and colognes.
At Hothouse Botanicals, we use green cognac essential oil in our Mimosa Body Butter, combined with lime and orange essential oil. It creates an effervescent orange and champagne aroma, that smells just like a mimosa cocktail.
