Nissaba Andevalo 2026: A Labdanum and Leather Homage
Swiss house Nissaba's 2026 extrait, Andevalo, is a tribute to Spain's Andalusia region, built around labdanum and a leather accord.
The Swiss perfume house Nissaba has released Andevalo, a 2026 extrait de parfum celebrating the Spanish region of Andalusia and its primary aromatic export: labdanum. Perfumers Fabrice Pellegrin and Coralie Spicher returned to collaborate on the scent, which the brand says is composed of 90% natural origin ingredients.
According to founder Sebastien Tissot, the project aimed to spotlight labdanum as a solo protagonist. "While labdanum grows all across the Mediterranean basin from Lebanon to Morocco, the Andévalo region of Spain accounts for more than 70% of the labdanum extracts used in perfumery," Tissot told CafleureBon. He described labdanum as one of perfumery's oldest and most essential materials, though it is rarely celebrated on its own.
The Scent of a Place
The creative direction focused on capturing the terroir of hot, dry Andalusia, a landscape dominated by Mediterranean woodland and aromatic plants like the rock rose (cistus), which produces the labdanum gum. When searching for other locally sourced naturals to pair with the labdanum, the team found none that stood out. Instead, they turned to more figurative elements inspired by local culture.
Tissot explained that in Puebla de Guzmán, where the cistus is extracted, horses are central to community life. This deep equestrian tradition inspired the choice of leather as the labdanum's counterpart in the fragrance. The resulting leather accord is described as coarse, dry, and dark, with a hint of saffron's mineral quality.
A Fruity Twist
A vibrant red fruit facet forms the third pillar of the composition. Tissot noted that Andalusia produces approximately 25-30% of all strawberries in the European Union. The perfumers introduced a strawberry CO2 extract, layered with black cherry and raspberry nuances, to create a vivid red-fruit twist in the top note.
This fruity element is reported to soften the more arid aspects of the leather while lifting the ambery facets of the labdanum. The overall effect is described as a tenacious fruity leather extrait that shifts the scent's character from a dark brown to something more ruby in hue.
The Composition
The full note breakdown for Nissaba Andevalo is as follows:
Labdanum, a material with a warm, balsamic, leathery, and animalic aroma profile typically obtained through solvent extraction or steam distillation, is the cornerstone of the fragrance. The scent is presented in a smoked glass bottle, reflecting its dark, resinous core. The fragrance continues Nissaba's conceptual arc of creating perfumed portraits of specific geographical locations, a modus operandi the brand has followed since its 2023 launch.
