Scots Pine, Pinus sylvestris, belongs to the Pinaceae family and is a resinous tree that can reach a height of 50 meters. It has a narrow and irregular crown, conical or globular in shape.
Its bark, initially salmon-colored, becomes reddish-brown over time and cracks into thick plates. The leaves of Scots Pine are flexible and bluish needles, measuring between 4 and 8 cm in length, grouped in pairs. The fruits are small ovoid or conical cones, measuring between 4 and 7 cm in length and 2 and 4 cm in width.
Scots Pine is widely spread in Europe, from Scotland to Russia, and even extends 300 km beyond the Arctic Circle. It is also found down to the Pyrenees and can grow up to 1,500 meters in altitude. This resilient and hardy tree withstands the cold and thrives on poor soils, whether they are acidic or calcareous.
The essential oil (EO) of Scots Pine is extracted through steam distillation of the needles. It is clear, colorless, or pale yellow, with a characteristic resinous odor.