Desert Peach (Australia)

Desert Peach (Australia)—also known as Quandong (Santalum acuminatum)—is a uniquely vibrant and sun-warmed fruity note in perfumery, native to the arid heartlands of Australia. Unlike conventional peach notes, Desert Peach offers a drier, tangier profile with nuances of tart apricot, red fruit skin, and a subtle herbal greenness. Its aroma is simultaneously juicy and slightly astringent, evoking the scent of wild stone fruits ripening under desert sun, with soft woody undertones and a touch of desert flora. Typically used as a top or heart note, Desert Peach brings a fresh yet grounded character to fruity, woody, or gourmand compositions.

History & Production: Revered by Indigenous Australians for centuries as a bush food and medicinal plant, the desert peach grows on resilient trees in harsh, dry climates—symbolizing survival and sustenance. In perfumery, the note is usually constructed through a blend of fruity esters, lactones, and subtle green or woody materials to replicate its complex scent, as direct extraction is rare. When paired with native Australian botanicals like wattleseed, sandalwood, or eucalyptus, Desert Peach introduces a distinctly local and contemporary twist—bright, wild, and sensorially rich, evoking the colours, textures, and flavours of the inland Australian landscape.