@merit
MERIT BeautyOakwood is a relatively new material in perfumery. In Cognac, France, oak trees have been used for centuries to create the barrels for the region’s high-end liquors. But while the tree’s heartwood is used to form the barrels, the remaining oak chips are discarded as waste. With those chips, IFF saw an opportunity. Working with one of the country’s most prestigious barrel makers, they developed a proprietary toasting process that turns them into something new, drawing out a deep, carefully crafted aromatic profile. The result is Oakwood CO2 — a sustainably sourced, upcycled ingredient exclusive to IFF. It’s what gives New Wave its rich, woody depth, and the smoky, rum-like facets that make it feel like “love at first smell.”
On the profile · Oct 15, 2026