Queen of the Night

Harvesters trek to cultivated fields at the first hint of darkness, timing their arrival within two hours of full bloom to lock in the flower's volatile oils. Workers cut the delicate blossoms by hand, placing them in insulated, breathable containers that shield the petals from heat and light. Within minutes, the petals travel to a nearby extraction facility where they undergo cold‑solvent extraction using food‑grade hexane. The solvent draws out the aromatic compounds, forming a fragrant concentrate known as an absolute. After filtration, the mixture passes through a low‑temperature vacuum distillation that removes the solvent, leaving a thick, amber‑colored oil rich in indole, benzyl acetate, and sesquiterpenes. The final product is stored in amber glass bottles to protect it from UV degradation, ready for blending into high‑end fragrances.