Essence of Tasmania: Why Mountain Pepper is one of my favourite natural perfume materials

I first fell in love with Tasmanian Mountain Pepper (Tasmannia lanceolata) as a culinary ingredient.  It's delicious in cheese, ice-cream, stews, gin, local liqueur and as a fresh or dried spice.

It goes by many common names including Pepperberry, Native pepper, Tasmanian Pepper, Mountain pepper and Pepperleaf.  While it's a plant most associated with Tasmania, it grows in other states, too. The leaves (often ground) and the small, dark purple berries (sold air-dried or freeze-dried) add aromatic, spicy notes.  Some growers are experimenting with finding the spiciest, 'hottest' plants to propagate, delicious!

Van Diemen's Land Creamery has created a Pepperberry Leatherwood Honey Ice Cream that is absolutely delicious. 

Unique Properties of Tasmanian Mountain Pepper

Tasmanian Mountain Pepper possesses a range of properties that I particularly value in perfumery. Its distinctive aroma profile sets it apart from other pepper materials, with a complex blend of spicy, woody, and slightly fruity notes.  It provides a wonderful lift and sparkle to compositions.

One intriguing characteristic of Tasmanian Mountain Pepper is its antimicrobial and anti bacterial properties (from the polygodial). This is not my reason for using it, but there's some interesting research in this space if you'd like to delve further.  The plant also contains other beneficial compounds, such as sesquiterpenes and flavonoids. These contribute to its antioxidant properties and potential therapeutic benefits that are also being investigated for nutriceuticals and medicinal use.

Collecting Mountain Pepper in Tasmania

Mountain Pepper flourishes after the removal of wet forest or rainforest canopies, and it's wild harvested from several stands on previously cleared land in Tasmania and Victoria. The berries are typically harvested between March and May when they reach peak ripeness for optimal flavour and aroma profiles.  Leaves are harvested between February and  flowering in late September. There are now some small areas of plantation, and I expect that in coming years commercial harvest will shift more towards plantation supplies.

If you live in the right climate, Tasmanian Mountain Pepper is a lovely garden shrub, just remember that if you want to have berries, you will need to grow both male and female plants.    

Why I've used it in Winter 25

As a perfumer, I've incorporated Tasmanian mountain pepper into my Winter 25 seasonal scent for its ability to blend beautifully with other spice notes.  It's also a way to ensure connection to Tasmania's biodiversity and environment in every bottle.  Tasmanian Mountain Pepper is a beautiful ingredient that adds depth and character and it pairs particularly well with the comforting gourmand notes I wanted to feature in my latest seasonal scent. 

"Tasmanian Mountain Pepper in Winter 25 is a reminder of the incredible natural resources of this beautiful island. It's not just about scent; it's about capturing a connection to place and time."