GENERAL DATA
Plant Parts: Rhizome and flower
Cultivation Mode: Wild collection/Cultivated
In Manufacturing: Pharmaceutical, food, spice, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, cosmetics, perfumery, incense, oil.
🌿 Industries That Use Orris Root (Iris persica L.)
Orris root, derived from the rhizome of Iris persica and other Iris species, is prized for its floral fragrance, fixative properties, and medicinal qualities. After drying and aging (sometimes up to 5 years), the root develops a violet-like scent, making it highly valued in perfumery and herbal practices.
1. Perfumery & Fragrance Industry
Orris root is one of the most esteemed raw materials in fine perfumery due to its elegant, powdery aroma and exceptional fixative abilities.
Applications:
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High-end perfumes and colognes (as a base/fixative note)
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Scented powders and sachets
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Niche perfumery blends with violet, iris, or woody accords
✅ Used in both alcohol-based perfumes and solid perfume bases
✅ Highly prized in French perfumery houses
2. Pharmaceutical & Traditional Medicine
Traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and mild diuretic effects.
Applications:
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Herbal lozenges and syrups for sore throat and bronchitis
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Topical applications for skin inflammation
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Digestive aids in traditional medicine
✅ Used in decoctions, powders, and homeopathic remedies
✅ Sometimes paired with Licorice root or Marshmallow root
3. Cosmetic & Skincare Industry
Used in natural skincare and dental products due to its astringent and aromatic qualities.
Applications:
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Natural tooth powders and pastes
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Cleansing masks and facial powders
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Body powders and dry shampoos
✅ Adds a natural violet-like scent and smooth texture
✅ Sometimes used in talcum powder alternatives
4. Aromatherapy & Spa Products
While not used as an essential oil, dried orris root is included in botanical sachets, potpourri, and bath blends.
Applications:
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Relaxing bath soaks
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Sachets and aromatic pouches for drawers/closets
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Herbal sleep pillows
✅ Known for calming, grounding, and mood-enhancing effects
5. Flavor & Beverage Industry (Limited Use)
Though Iris germanica is more common for flavoring, Iris persica may be used in trace amounts for specialty bitters and liqueurs.
Applications:
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Botanical bitters
-
Digestif formulas
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Specialty liqueurs with floral profiles
✅ Must be used carefully and in trace quantities due to potential toxicity at high doses
6. Textile & Dye Industry
Historical use of orris root as a natural mordant or to impart mild scent to textiles.
Applications:
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Scented linen or silk
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Herbal dye baths with violet undertones
✅ Rare today, but valued in artisanal or heritage textile practices
7. Ethnic, Export & Herbal Markets
Orris root is exported in dried slices, ground form, or aged rhizomes for specialty perfumery and herbal markets.
Common Forms:
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Whole aged root
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Orris root powder
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Herbal blends or incense base
✅ Popular in Middle Eastern, Persian, and European herbal traditions
✅ Key Features:
-
Naturally fragrant after aging (violet-like)
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Excellent fixative in perfumery and incense
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Traditionally valued in European and Persian herbal medicine
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Available as: dried root, powder, or botanical ingredient in premium blends
📊 Summary Comparison Table
| Industry | Common Uses |
|---|---|
| Perfumery & Fragrance | Base note, fixative, floral/powdery accord |
| Pharmaceutical & Traditional | Herbal expectorant, anti-inflammatory, digestive aid |
| Cosmetic & Skincare | Tooth powders, facial masks, scented body products |
| Aromatherapy & Spa | Bath soaks, sleep sachets, botanical relaxation products |
| Flavor & Beverage | Bitters, specialty liqueurs (in trace amounts) |
| Textile & Dye | Mild fragrance for linen, heritage crafts |
| Export & Herbal Trade | Dried root, powder, natural perfumery raw material |
🌿 Industries That Use Orris Root (Iris germanica L.)
Iris germanica, also known as bearded iris, is one of the most important species for the production of orris root, especially in perfumery and traditional medicine. Its rhizomes, once dried and aged (3–5 years), develop a rich, violet-like fragrance and are highly valued across industries.
1. Perfumery & Fragrance Industry
Iris germanica is among the top three most prized plants in perfumery (alongside rose and jasmine) for its powdery floral scent and fixative properties.
Applications:
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Fine fragrances (base note, fixative)
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Floral and powdery perfume accords
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Luxury solid perfumes and natural deodorants
✅ Aged rhizomes produce orris butter, a semi-solid material used in niche and luxury perfumes
✅ Widely used by French and European perfumers
2. Pharmaceutical & Herbal Medicine
Used for its anti-inflammatory, expectorant, diuretic, and digestive benefits in traditional systems, including European and Persian herbal medicine.
Applications:
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Herbal syrups and lozenges for sore throat and cough
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Diuretic and carminative formulations
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Topical preparations for skin issues
✅ Common in herbal apothecaries and Unani medicine
✅ Aged root is less irritating and more medicinally effective
3. Cosmetic & Skincare Industry
Iris germanica rhizome is incorporated in natural powders and cleansing products, valued for its scent and absorbent properties.
Applications:
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Tooth powders
-
Skin cleansing powders and facial masks
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Dry shampoo and talc-free body powders
✅ Naturally scented alternative to artificial fragrances
✅ Soothing and anti-inflammatory on the skin
4. Aromatherapy & Wellness
Used in scented sachets, aromatic bath soaks, and as a component in herbal incense for relaxation.
Applications:
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Herbal pillows and drawer sachets
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Potpourri and scented blends
-
Herbal baths for calming and grounding
✅ A popular fixative in dried floral blends
✅ Enhances emotional balance and tranquility
5. Flavoring & Beverage Industry
Used sparingly in flavoring agents due to its strong and slightly bitter taste. It’s more common in traditional or liqueur preparations.
Applications:
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Botanical bitters and aperitifs
-
Herbal digestives
-
Some gin and liqueur infusions
⚠️ Use with caution — only trace amounts are safe for consumption due to potential alkaloid content.
6. Textile & Dye Industry (Minor)
Historically, Iris germanica root has been used in traditional textile crafts for its aroma and mild mordant properties.
Applications:
-
Scented silk and linen
-
Herbal fabric sachets
✅ Niche in artisan and historic textile work
7. Export & Herbal Trade
Global trade in orris root is centered on Iris germanica and its hybrids.
Common Forms:
-
Whole aged rhizomes
-
Orris root powder
-
Extracts and orris butter
✅ Exported widely from Italy, Morocco, and Iran
✅ Common in both Western and Eastern herbal traditions
📊 Summary Table
| Industry | Common Uses |
|---|---|
| Perfumery & Fragrance | Fixative, powdery floral base note, orris butter |
| Pharmaceutical & Herbal | Respiratory, digestive, and anti-inflammatory remedies |
| Cosmetic & Skincare | Tooth powders, facial masks, talc substitutes |
| Aromatherapy & Wellness | Scented pillows, potpourri, bath soaks |
| Flavor & Beverage (Limited) | Bitters, liqueurs, herbal drinks |
| Textile & Dye (Minor) | Scented textile sachets |
| Export & Herbal Trade | Global raw material and perfumery supply |
✅ Key Features:
-
Requires aging (3–5 years) to develop fragrance
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High-value ingredient in perfumery (orris butter)
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Mildly medicinal, especially as expectorant and astringent
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Common forms: powder, slices, orris butter
🌿 Comparison: Iris persica vs Iris germanica (Orris Root Sources)
| Feature / Category | Iris persica | Iris germanica |
|---|---|---|
| 🌸 Common Name | Persian Iris | German Iris / Bearded Iris |
| 🏷️ Primary Product | Dried Orris Root | Orris Root (Dried Rhizome, Orris Butter) |
| 🌍 Origin / Distribution | Native to Iran and Middle East | Native to Southern and Central Europe |
| 👃 Aroma After Aging | Mild violet-like scent | Stronger, sweet violet-like scent (preferred for perfumery) |
| 🧪 Use in Perfumery | Rare, artisanal perfumes and incense blends | Widely used in luxury/niche perfumes (major industry source) |
| 🧬 Fixative Properties | Mild to moderate | Strong, highly valued fixative |
| 🌿 Use in Herbal Medicine | Traditional (digestive, anti-inflammatory) | Traditional and modern herbalism (cough, diuretic, anti-inflammatory) |
| 🧴 Cosmetic Use | Tooth powders, mild skincare | Widely used in tooth powders, body powders, facial masks |
| 🛁 Use in Spa / Aromatherapy | Sleep sachets, bath soaks | Potpourri, bath products, calming herbal blends |
| 🍷 Use in Flavor Industry | Rare, mostly in bitters (trace use) | More common in bitters and some gin/liqueur formulas |
| 🧵 Textile & Craft Use | Scented herbal sachets, traditional use | Niche in natural scented linen or artisanal crafts |
| 📦 Commercial Availability | Limited, mostly local or niche trade | Widely cultivated and traded globally |
| 💎 Economic Value | Moderate (local value, heritage product) | High (especially orris butter after 3–5 years aging) |
| 🧠 Key Distinction | Used more in traditional, artisanal, and regional blends | Industrial-scale perfumery source with global trade appeal |
✅ Summary:
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Iris persica is more regional and artisanal, with traditional medicinal and mild aromatic uses.
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Iris germanica is the primary commercial source of orris root in perfumery, cosmetics, and export trade, producing orris butter and other high-value fragrance ingredients.
PRODUCT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
Persian Name: زنبق، ایرسا/ Zanbagh, Irsa
German Name (Deutschland, Austria, Switzerland):
1- –
2- Deutsche Schwertlilie, Iriswurzel
French Name (France, Belgium, Switzerland, Quebec):
1- –
2- Iris bleu d’Allemagne, Iris d’Allemagne, Racines d’Iris
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To order Orris Root, please contact us.
About Iris Spp.
Iris is a perennial plant that reaches sixty centimeters in height and has many species.
The leaves of this plant are relatively thick and very elongated and grow directly from the rhizome of the plant.
From the middle of the leaves of this plant, one or more straight stems grow with a circular cross-section, and a flower grows at the end of each stem. These flowers are large and bluish purple. Each of them has 9 petals: three petals are larger, slightly hanging and tongue-shaped. The other three petals grow almost vertically. The last three petals are the smallest and are located in the middle of the flower. The edge of all the petals of the Lily plant is wrinkled. The flowers of some species are yellow, white, blue, purple, or red, and the flower of some species is a combination of several colors.
The fruit of the Lily plant is green, slightly elongated, oval and almost pointed, and several deep longitudinal grooves can be seen on its surface. Inside each fruit, there are three longitudinal and parallel reservoirs, in each reservoir, there are seeds in the form of a column. The seeds are pale brown, slightly wide, drop-shaped and have a tip.
Its root is relatively thick, fleshy, and knotty, and the color of its external surface is blackish brown. But it is white inside. Dried and peeled Iris is gray. Fresh Iris has a bad smell. But the dried one has a pleasant aroma, almost like violets. Its taste is spicy.
The best Iris is fragrant, knotty and has medium size. It has a rather pungent taste and makes you sneeze when crushed.
Iris Chemical Constituents
Tannin, starch, Iridin, volatile essential oil, Myristic acid, Oleic acid, Methyl ether.
Iris Temperament
The flower of Iris is hot in the second degree and moderate (not dry, not moist). Its flower oil is hot in the second degree and dry in the first degree. Fresh Iris root is hot at the end of the second degree and dry at the beginning of the second degree. Old Iris root is hotter and drier than its fresh one.
Iris Health Benefits
Iris flower strengthens the brain. Its flower oil is laxative, expelling yellow bile, diuretic, and tonic for body organs. Iris root is warming, sternutatory, reducing moisture, liver tonic, memory tonic, repellent to poisons, diuretic, and weak soporific.
Iris root is useful for chest diseases, cough, phlegmatic diphtheria, phlegmatic pneumonia, paralysis, stroke, convulsions, cirrhosis of the liver, jaundice, headache, hemorrhoids, uterine diseases, cessation of menstruation, and forgetfulness.
Orris root expels phlegm from the chest, removes bad smell from the mouth and nose, and removes brain waste through sneezing. Eating 10 to 20 grams of this root with honey and water causes to expel phlegm and yellow bile thick chymus from the body. Iris root and vinegar boiled drops in the ear are useful for removing tinnitus. A drop of Iris root decoction in the nose or gargle removes the bad smell from the mouth and nose.
An enema with Orris root decoction kills intestinal worms and improves sciatica.
Iris root uterine suppository with honey removes the dead fetus and removes uterine swelling. Its poultice along with vinegar and Rose (Rosa Damascena) oil relieves chronic headaches.
Its poultice is useful for treating diseases of the spleen, splenitis, and coldness of the liver.
Washing the head with Iris root decoction removes head diseases.
In India, the rhizome of Iris persica is used as a medicine to purify the blood and relieve sexual disorders. In addition, this type of Orris is very useful for liver disorders. The fruits of this species are prescribed as a diuretic, hemostatic, reliever of postpartum discomfort, cold, fever reliever, and in cases of rheumatism. In addition, it is used to relieve colic, laryngitis, cessation of nosebleeds, and excessive secretions of white or yellow uterine mucus. Its rhizome is used as a febrifuge. Its flowers are prescribed to treat abscesses.
Iris germanica rhizome is prescribed as a diuretic, laxative and to treat bladder diseases. The extract of the leaves of this kind of Iris is used to treat frozen feet. This rhizome is also used for bronchitis and liver disorders.
According to the experts of traditional medicine in Iran and other regions of the world, a small amount of fresh Iris root has a diuretic and expectorant effect, but a large amount is a strong laxative and emetic and causes stomach cramps and expels a large amount of feces. Eating a proportionate amount of it gives positive results in improving lung diseases, asthma, pertussis, flu, spleen pain, liver pain, uterus pain, and hemorrhoids, and it is emmenagogue. If about 30 grams of Iris oil is consumed alone or as a decoction, it is an appropriate laxative and is useful for uterine diseases and expulsion of the fetus, and to relieve stomach cramps and nerve pain.
Drinking a decoction of 40 to 60 grams of fresh Iris root in 1000 grams of boiling water is useful for relieving paresthesia, tremors, paralysis, asthma, body weakness, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and for increasing memory and relieving throat pain. And if it is mixed with water and honey and eaten, it is useful for cirrhosis of the liver, cleaning the bladder from slimy moisture, relieving thirst, relieving sciatica pain, and preventing involuntary and untimely sperm secretion.
Chewing Iris root is beneficial to remove bad breath caused by eating smelly things like garlic and onion.
The poultice of its leaves is useful for burnings caused by hot water and in cases of reptile bites. Iris root powder is useful for removing excess flesh in the eyelids. If its root powder is mixed with vinegar and brewed in a copper dish, it is effective for healing wounds and chronic wounds and growing flesh near bones, either by eating or rubbing. Its brewed enema is useful for sciatica, to remove the bad smell of hemorrhoids, and to remove excess flesh from hemorrhoids.
If Orris root is boiled in olive oil and sprinkled in the ear, it reduces the heaviness of ear. Iris seed is soporific.
Rubbing Iris oil on the head is useful for relieving headache and insomnia caused by moisture. Eating this oil is useful to relieve convulsions and fasciculation. Moreover, if a few drops of it are poured into the nose, it is also useful for curing insomnia in elderly people.
How to prepare Iris root oil:
Grind its rhizome completely, soak it in 8 times its weight of water for 24 hours, then boil it and let it evaporate until it reaches a quarter of its total weight. Then strain it and boil it with 7 times its weight of Sesame oil or olive oil until the water evaporates completely and the oil remains. Then cool it and keep it in a porcelain or glass container.
How to prepare Iris powder:
Grind some Iris rhizome, and dry them completely in a hothouse with a temperature of approximately 40 degrees Celsius. Then grind it soft and pass it through a fine sieve. This powder is expectorant and is useful for the expel of chest mucus.
Iris Dosage
Orris flower oil as laxative and diuretic 10 grams. Iris roots up to 5 grams.
Iris Side Effects
Iris is harmful to the lungs. Inhaling fresh Iris causes nausea.
Iris Modifiers
Honey to prevent Iris damage from the lungs. Sour pastes to relieve nausea caused by Iris.
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