Concret (perfumery)

Specifically before distillation of the solvent (extract)

Concret is a mixture of substances extracted with solvents from raw plant materials (bark, leaves, roots, flowers and grass). Usually, a concrete is called a ointment or waxy substance obtained after distillation of the solvent from the extract of specific plants (lilac flowers, jasmine).

Concretes contain essential oils , fats and waxy substances. In order to obtain from the concrete the actual target product — the absolute — the concrete must be subjected to secondary extraction with alcohol .

The method of obtaining absolute through concrete (instead of the traditional distillation of essential oil with steam) is mainly used in cases where steam distillation spoils the smell of essential oil, as, for example, happens with jasmine.