Leonson Batista showing his forest garden where he has been cultivating rosewood for 18 years.
Leonson Batista showing his forest garden where he has been cultivating rosewood for 18 years.
© Ulrike Prinz. Used by permission.
The copyright holder reserves, or holds for their own use, all the rights provided by copyright law, such as distribution, performance, and creation of derivative works.
Urban, Karl and Ulrike Prinz. RiffReporter Podcast, “Können Waldgärten den Regenwald retten, Ulrike Prinz?” 2 March 2026. https://www.riffreporter.de/de/umwelt/riffreporter-podcast-parfum-industrie-rosenholz-raubbau-brasilien-waldgaerten-indigene.
The substance is found in the famous fragrance Chanel No. 5, and the perfume industry has been using it in its formulas for decades: the natural substance linalool, which comes from a tree in the Amazon rainforest. Rosewood, a natural source of linalool, was at times in such high demand that it almost wiped out the trees it comes from. The fragrance made the perfume world rich, but the forests poor. Not only the forest but also the Indigenous Sateré-Mawé People have suffered from linalool extraction. Today, however, the sustainable use of rosewood has become the Sateré-Mawé’s hope.
RiffReporter Podcast offers in-depth insights into topics related to science, the environment, society, and technology. In each episode experienced journalists explore complex issues, fascinating background stories, and current developments. From climate change and space exploration to artificial intelligence and biodiversity—the conversations with experts and authors are characterized by thorough research and diverse perspectives.
In this episode, Karl Urban sits down with ethnologist Ulrike Prinz to discuss linalool extraction from rosewood grown in the Amazon rainforest. Please note that the podcast is in German.
© 2024 Karl Urban and Ulrike Prinz. All rights reserved.