PASSION FOR PERFUME INGREDIENTS
How expertise and nature blend in perfumery
Nature offers perfumers hundreds of ingredients with which to create. Each perfume is a blend of carefully selected ingredients, pure craftsmanship, and creativity. In this blog, we will explore the world of natural perfume ingredients together, and the Skins Experts will take you to the perfume capital: Grasse.
Let's start at the beginning. Perfume is derived from the Latin 'per fumum', meaning 'through smoke'. Thousands of years ago, priests tried to communicate with the gods through smoke. Herbs and balms were added for an intense scent experience.
In the 12th century, the first steam distillation techniques were invented, allowing pure ingredients to be converted into oils. Thanks to these inventions, rose water and rose oil were used for the first time in various perfumes. The possibilities are endless today, with both natural ingredients and molecular formulas. In this blog, we tell you more about perfume ingredients of natural origin.
From natural ingredients to essential oil
The best ingredients come from places where the weather and soil are just right for their unique scents. Take, for example, vetiver, a type of grass from Haiti and Indonesia which gets its intense, smoky scent from the moist earth. The rose, the queen of flowers, finds her ideal terroir in Bulgaria and Turkey, where the flowers are carefully handpicked to preserve the integrity of her oil.
For those who have ever attended one of our Masterclasses, you know that transforming a raw material into an essential oil is an art in itself. Distillation, one of the oldest and most widely used methods, requires precision and patience. Fresh or sometimes dried raw materials are heated above water; the released steam is cooled and condensed. The oil separates from the water and is collected, a pure essence rich in the scent of the original flower or plant. Other methods include cold pressing, headspace technique, and enfleurage. In the latter, petals are spread out on a layer of wax that absorbs the scent. This wax is later treated with alcohol to extract the fragrant oil.
Grasse – the perfume capital of the world
This city in the sunny south of France is known as the heart of perfumery. Grasse has a perfect climate and a wealth of expertise in how to make perfume. Many of the world's finest perfumes have come from here for centuries. Traditionally, three central flowers are grown in Grasse for perfume: roses, jasmine, and tuberose. But you will also find beautiful purple-lavender fields as far as the eye can see.
The tuberose has a rich, seductive scent and is mainly picked in the evening when the smell is most intense. Harvesting tuberose is also done by hand and is a time-consuming task.
It is no coincidence that the combination of this beautiful, rich nature and the ancient expertise was the reason for many brands, such as Marie Jeanne, to settle here. But every year, many perfume lovers worldwide also travel to Grasse to experience the beauty for themselves.
Marie Jeanne: a symbol of Grasse
A brand that embodies the essence of Grasse is the perfume house Marie Jeanne. The brand was founded by Georges Maubert, who comes from a family with a long history in the perfume industry. With roots deep in the perfume tradition of this city, the Maison combines traditional techniques with a modern interpretation of perfumery. Marie Jeanne distinguishes itself by its complete dedication to the craft of perfuming, from carefully selected natural ingredients to the creation of its perfumes in Grasse. In collaboration with various 'noses' and experts, Georges Maubert leads the in-house team to give each perfume a unique character. The creations are a tribute to Grasse's natural beauty and fragrant richness, created to leave an indelible impression on the wearer.
Jorg – Educator
The first time I experienced Iris Pallida, I honestly had an "Oh yes" moment. A clean, powdery fragrance with musk and warm ambroxan. The hazelnut in the composition makes it just a bit more earthy. It is a delightful perfume to share for any occasion.
The art of perfumery
Creating perfume is a delicate balance between science and art; it is a harmony of scent notes that together form a symphony of fragrances. The choice of ingredients, their origin, and how they are processed play a crucial role in the final composition of the perfume. Each ingredient tells a story, and every drop of perfume oil contributes to the complexity and intensity of the aroma.
If you want to learn more about Marie Jeanne or are looking for a perfume with a specific ingredient, please get in touch with our online Skins Experts.