Quandong, or desert peach, is a fruity note inspired by the tart red fruit of Santalum acuminatum, a small tree native to arid central and southern Australia. It is an accord created by the perfumer and appears mainly in Australian niche fragrances that celebrate native botanicals, bringing a bright, tangy, peach-like fruitiness.
What does Quandong smell like?
The quandong fruit tastes tart and fruity, often compared to peach, apricot and rhubarb, and perfumers interpret it similarly. A quandong note usually smells tangy and juicy with a soft apricot-peach sweetness and a slightly sour, red-fruit edge. It is sharper and less creamy than peach and brighter than plum, with an earthy, sun-dried quality in some compositions.
How perfumers create Quandong
Quandong fruit is not extracted for perfumery, so perfumers build the note from lactones such as gamma-undecalactone for peach and apricot softness, fruity esters for juice and green or rhubarb-type materials for tartness. Some compositions pair it with native Australian notes to underline its origin.
- Also known as: Desert quandong, desert peach, native peach, Santalum acuminatum
- Fragrance family: Fruity
- Type: Accord (created by the perfumer)
- Main origins: Inspired by the fruit of arid southern and central Australia
- How it's obtained: Reconstructed from lactones, esters and tart notes
- Key aroma molecules: Gamma-undecalactone, fruity esters
Quandong in perfume history
The quandong is a member of the sandalwood genus, Santalum, and is a semi-parasitic plant that draws nutrients from the roots of neighbouring trees. Aboriginal Australians have long valued the fruit, rich in vitamin C, as a food source, and the kernels were also used. CSIRO began experimental quandong plantations in the 1970s, but as a perfume note it is very recent.
Quandong in modern perfumery
Quandong features in Australian niche perfumery, for example in Goldfield & Banks' Sunset Hour, where brands draw on native plants to create a distinctive sense of place. It remains rare in mainstream fragrance, which gives it novelty appeal.
How Quandong wears and what it pairs with
Quandong is a top-to-heart note that brings brightness to a composition. It pairs well with native Australian botanicals such as boronia and lemon myrtle, as well as sandalwood, citrus, rose and musk.
