No 685 German Autumn Leaves - Ghost

Autumn leaves, really autumn leaves? We are usually met with incredulous amazement when we talk about this creation. But this product is exactly what DSM stands for: Trying out new, unprecedented things. Even seemingly crazy ideas are put into product development and if the result of the test optimization is what we expect, then it was worth all the effort and if not, then we are one experience richer.

But what do you expect from a ghost of autumn leaves? Presumably everyone has stored this beguiling smell in their olfactory memory. There is something deeply grounding about walking through an autumnal park or forest and noticing it, because it makes us aware of the cycle of things. And it is precisely this smell that we have captured in our minds from the autumn leaves. We went out and collected freshly fallen leaves, which had turned a beautiful yellowish to red color after the chlorophyll had decomposed due to carotenoids and anthocyanins, and macerated them immediately. The tasting then brought the final surprise, because in addition to the autumnal notes, there are also surprisingly fruity notes that complete the experience of this spirit.

It is therefore no surprise that it has already found its way into various cocktail recipes. But where do this smell and taste actually come from? We can't say for sure, but it is probably a combination of the decaying metabolic products of the leaves and the decomposition of the leaves by ray fungi found on the ground. These are bacteria of the species Streptomyces coelicolor, which among other things produce the earthy-smelling geosmin.