What Is Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs?
Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs is an aromatic lavender absolute created by DSM-Firmenich, one of the best known names in the fragrance industry. Similar lavender absolutes can be sourced from other suppliers but the Diva Ig Grasse grade is protected by a geographic indication that ties it to the famous perfume region around Grasse in southern France.
The material is produced in two main steps. Fresh or carefully dried lavender stems and flowers are first treated with a light solvent that pulls out the fragrant waxes and oils. This extract, called a concrete or resinoid, is then washed with alcohol to remove pigments and waxes, yielding a clear amber-gold liquid absolute with good fluidity at room temperature.
On the blotter the liquid leaves only a faint tint and dries without residue, making it easy to work with in both fine fragrance and functional products. Because it is an absolute rather than an essential oil the odour profile is smoother and cleaner, avoiding the earthy mushroom nuance present in many standard lavenders.
Perfumers reach for Diva Ig Grasse when they need a true-to-nature lavender note that behaves well in the lab. It sees frequent use in modern fougère, floral and spa-style blends as well as shampoos, soaps and candles. Stored in a cool dark place in full containers the absolute normally keeps its character for around two to three years before a slow loss of brightness is noticed.
While not the most costly floral ingredient it does sit above commodity lavandin oil because of limited harvest areas, labour intensive extraction and the GI certification that safeguards quality. Most creatives see it as a worthwhile investment when a refined lavender signature is required.
Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs’s Scent Description
This ingredient falls squarely into the aromatic family, leaning floral rather than herbal. Smelled on a blotter it opens with a surge of dewy lavender petals backed by a breezy green freshness. Almost immediately a subtle sweetness reminiscent of coumarin and hay peeks through, rounding the edges of the initial brightness.
As the minutes pass the heart reveals a silky floral body with hints of soft herbs and a whisper of violet leaf. There is far less camphor than in typical lavandin oils so the profile feels smooth and polished. Underneath, a warm amber facet begins to glow, adding depth without overpowering the floral theme.
In the language of perfumery this material sits mainly in the middle note zone. It does flash some top note freshness in the first ten minutes and its gentle ambery trace lingers into the drydown, yet its main performance is in the heart of a composition.
Projection is moderate: enough to radiate a clean lavender aura yet never loud or medicinal. On a blotter the scent remains noticeable for six to eight hours, with the floral clarity fading first and the soft amber sweetness lingering longest.
How & Where To Use Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs
Perfumers reach for Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs when they want a polished floral lavender note that sidesteps the raw camphor in standard oils. It slips easily into aromatic, fougere and modern floral accords, reinforcing the heart of a composition while adding a gentle top flash and a soft ambery trail. In an aromatic cologne it can replace part of the usual lavandin to bring cleaner transparency. In a fougere it bridges the gap between citrus top notes and a coumarinic or mossy base, helping the structure feel seamless.
Typical inclusion in fine fragrance sits between 0.2 % and 3 %. Light doses underline freshness and lift petal facets, while higher levels move the material into the spotlight, giving a cuddly floral heart with noticeable warmth. At 4–5 % it can start to dominate and may push a formula toward a spa or soap profile, so trial dilutions are recommended. In soaps, shampoos and shower gels usage often ranges from 0.1 % to 0.5 % of the total concentrate, balancing cost with impact.
The smell shifts with concentration. At traces you mainly catch sweet hay and green dew, at 1 % the full lavender bouquet blooms, and at high levels a mild herbal sharpness can peek through. Over-use risks making a blend smell dated or medicinal, especially when paired with other terpenic materials, and may also raise regulatory exposure levels.
The absolute is pourable at room temperature, yet a gentle water-bath warm up to 30 °C helps when measuring small amounts. Pre-diluting to 10 % in ethanol or tri-ethyl citrate makes fine adjustments easier, prevents light volatility loss and promotes even dispersion in an oil or alcohol base. It blends smoothly with most media but a brief bench test in opaque surfactant bases is wise to check for haze. Store any working dilutions in amber glass filled to the shoulder to minimise air space.
Safety Information
Always dilute Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs before smelling. Avoid direct sniffing from the bottle to prevent nasal fatigue and accidental inhalation. Work in a well-ventilated area or under a fume hood and wear nitrile gloves along with safety glasses to keep skin and eyes protected.
Like many naturals this absolute contains multiple constituents that can trigger irritation or sensitisation in some people. Short low-level exposure is generally considered safe yet prolonged or high-concentration contact can lead to headaches, dizziness or dermatitis. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding consult a medical professional before handling the material.
Should skin contact occur wash immediately with soap and plenty of water. In case of eye exposure rinse with clean water for several minutes and seek medical advice if redness persists. Spills on the bench can be mopped with absorbent paper then wiped with ethanol before normal disposal.
Always review the latest supplier Safety Data Sheet for detailed toxicology, flash point and transport information and recheck it periodically because revisions are common. Follow current IFRA guidelines for maximum allowed dosage in each product category to ensure consumer safety.
How To Store & Dispose of Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs
Keep the absolute in tightly closed amber glass tucked away from light, heat and swings in temperature. A shelf in a cool cupboard is fine yet a dedicated fragrance fridge at 4-8 °C will slow oxidation and lengthen its fresh phase. Whatever the location hold the bottle upright and out of reach of children or pets.
Use polycone caps for both neat material and working dilutions. They form a snug seal that limits air seepage and cuts down on leaks during handling. Dropper tops look handy but they breathe and invite evaporation so skip them for long term storage. Whenever you transfer the liquid top up the receiving bottle to the shoulder to keep headspace to a minimum.
Label every container with the full name Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs, date of receipt, any dilution ratio and the main hazard pictograms from the Safety Data Sheet. Clear labels prevent mix-ups, help track ageing and make emergency action faster if an accident occurs.
For small scale hobby use wipe measuring tools with paper towel, rinse in ethanol and wash with warm soapy water. The towels can go in normal household waste once fully dry because the absolute is readily biodegradable in low quantities. Larger volumes or rinse water from commercial labs must be collected in a dedicated drum then handed to a licensed disposal company that will treat it as non-halogenated solvent waste.
Never pour surplus concentrate down the sink. Even biodegradable naturals can stress septic systems and waterways when introduced as a high strength slug. Aim to buy only what you expect to use within two years and share excess with fellow creators if a project is cancelled.
Summary
Lavender Diva Ig Grasse Abs is a solvent-extracted absolute of French Lavandula angustifolia backed by a protected geographic indication. It smells like a crisp petal-forward lavender edged with gentle hay sweetness and a soft amber trail that steers clear of the raw camphor found in many standard oils.
Perfumers prize the material for giving a polished heart to aromatic, fougere and modern floral blends plus a clean spa signature in soaps, shampoos and candles. Its mid-note weight, tidy flow at room temperature and impressive stability make formulation work smooth yet its higher price compared with bulk lavandin means it is normally reserved for projects that need extra refinement.
The absolute stays bright for two to three years if stored cool and dark then it slowly loses sparkle. It tolerates most surfactant bases yet overuse can tip a composition toward medicinal so test at several levels. Expect to pay a premium for the certified Grasse grade although the cost is often justified by its clarity and depth.
Commercial buyers can secure fresh stock straight from DSM-Firmenich or through authorized distributors in drums or aluminium bottles. Smaller creators will find repackaged amounts at specialist fragrance suppliers, hobby retailers and sometimes from generic manufacturers though these alternates may not carry the exact Diva Ig Grasse certification.