Alpine larch
Larix deciduaFrom soft spring needles to autumn gold: observe before naming a smell.
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Recognising the subject
Larix decidua sheds its needles in winter. They grow in small clusters. The Val Ferret provides our subalpine setting. Unlike silver fir, larch changes colour as part of its yearly cycle.
Which season?
Look for spring green and autumn yellow, with timing depending on altitude and weather. September does not guarantee golden trees. Observation dates do not prescribe commercial harvesting; do not strip bark or resin.
The dossier month is a reading appointment, not a harvesting date. Observe without collecting; altitude, weather and provenance change the seasons.
From plant to material
Foliage, wood and oleoresin are different materials. A product called larch needs a plant-part and process description. Needle oil, a resin extract and a woody accord are not equivalent. No larch ingredient in House creations is claimed here.
Extract · How to study this lesson
Look for four things on a supplier’s sheet: botanical name, plant part, process and batch origin. An essential oil, a maceration and an accord are different things. Distillation does not reproduce an entire landscape’s smell: it selects what steam can carry.
Useful words
Describing a sensation is not analysing a formula. Write “this reminds me of…” when offering a comparison.
Facet
One aspect of a smell: a single material may suggest lemon, green leaves and wood.
Accord
A blend of materials that creates an overall impression. It can evoke a plant without containing its extract.
Extract
A material obtained from a source through a specific process. The plant name alone is not enough: the part and method matter.
Distillation
Steam carries volatile constituents. After cooling, the watery distillate is separated from the essential oil when present.
Absolute
A fragrant extract obtained through extraction and purification, usually with solvents. It is not an essential oil.
Resin
A plant secretion distinct from needles and wood. Its extract and an essential oil distilled from foliage are not interchangeable.
A simple exercise
Write one sentence about what you see and one about what you actually smell or remember. Where does “golden” belong?
Understanding the answer
Golden starts as a colour and atmosphere; woody is a smell comparison. Distinguishing them makes advice clearer.
These materials are learning subjects, not a list of ingredients in Maison du Lac creations.
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Next Cahier
Learning to smell and describe
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