Fynbos sits in the soul of our perfumery. We live surrounded by untamed gardens of it: dense bushes, tangled shrubs and extraordinary florals that speak to the spirit of these biodiverse plains. Fynbos absolutes are essential to creating our fragrances, each containing at least one indigenous note, shaping scent profiles with depth that is unparalleled.
Fynbos is a mystical and lush plant biome dominating the vast natural landscapes of the Western Cape in South Africa. It is the core of the Cape Floral Region: the smallest yet richest one of six floral kingdoms in the world, renowned for its incredible biodiversity and impressive number of endemic species. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, The Cape Floral Kingdom is home to over 9,000 plant species with 70% of those being indigenous and the majority belonging to the fynbos biome. This unique type of vegetation is exclusive to the Region and is found nowhere else on our planet.
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The wonders of this biome extend beyond its diversity - fynbos is deeply entwined with the cultural roots of indigenous peoples. Khoisan communities historically have a symbiotic and harmonious relationship with fynbos, integrating it into daily life for practical, spiritual and medicinal reasons. Alongside being a crucial ecosystem for a variety of fauna and flora, fynbos also holds notable therapeutic and aromatic properties.
In natural perfumery, the concentrated, extraordinary scent profiles found amongst these plants create a scent experience like no other. The honeyed, spicy, dry, resinous, herbaceous aromas are incomparable to more widely-recognised notes, capturing the essence and nostalgic-sense of the landscape. Inclusions of fynbos in our perfumes - often formulated into core layers - leave an impression that cannot be replicated. It is absolutely distinct, unusual and captivating.
The Cape Floral Region is widely protected and conservation efforts should be supported at every point of interaction with this dense, precious floral kingdom. All of our fynbos essential oils are sustainably grown, hand harvested, and extracted through steam distillation, sourced from Cape Fynbos Oils, a small regenerative farming group. We are dedicated to formulating and collaborating with this indigenous biome in ways that appreciate and honour its beauty.
As a biodiversity hotspot and a distinctly fragrant realm, growing solely along the coast and across the mountainside, it’s not hard to understand why fynbos is so special. In all of our work with indigenous plants, we honour its roots and wisdom, moving with deep reverence for fynbos as a close ally in the natural world. Every Tres product containing a fynbos note expresses a unique layer of scent that comprises the olfactory identity of the Cape Floral Kingdom. It is a sensational way to share the rarity of our wild surroundings.
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