Tuberose
Written on 2 January 2023
Among the emblematic flowers of the town of Grasse, rose and jasmine are the first to come to mind as they are deeply linked with the history and renown of the world capital of perfume. Today, we would like to introduce you to another flower. Slightly less utilized due to the intensity of its fragrance, it is a fascinating element of perfumery that was celebrated by the writer and poet Frédéric Mistral in the 19th century :
« It descends promptly, and there it is,
from hill to hill, in the valley
Of those from Grasse : valley of love, incensory, promised land, Where the rock, the huts of dry stone,
Of olive tree forests enveloping, Where the women, with full baskets,
Cradle jasmine, tuberose, and roses ».
FRÉDÉRIC MISTRAL : Calendal, chant XI
The mysterious tuberose, a majestic white flower with an enveloping fragrance, is truly divisive – either you love it, or you don’t, there is no in between.
Where does this indulgent white flower, perfuming the gardens in the evening at the end of summer, come from? Imported from Mexico into Europe and Asia in the XIV century, it is now cultivated mainly in India where it is often used during celebrations and ceremonies.
Its powerful fragrance is the origin of a few anecdotes. There is one historical legend that young italian women were not allowed to walk in the gardens in the evening while these flowers were blossoming : since its sensuel fragrance could lead them to temptation !
In Grasse, its production is not as prolific as that of the Centifolia rose and jasmine, but in recent years, flower cultivators have taken a renewed interest in tuberose.
Tuberose bulbs are planted in spring, and the flowers are picked by hand starting in August, only at sunset, because that is when the fragrance is most intense. Its essence is obtained by extraction using volatile solvents. It is classed as a heart note in the olfactive pyramid.
From the 30’s to the 80’s the tuberose was well loved by perfumers, and used in heady and sensual fragrances. True Galimard fans may remember our perfume « Frisson » which featured tuberose in highlighting its « femme fatale » features.
In recent years its utilisation in perfumery has declined, as the mass market trended towards fruity and gourmand perfumes. Niche perfumery has always kept a place for tuberose, as it helps to create audacious and elegant compositions. It works wonderfully with tonka bean, amber, and orange blossom, with which it shares some olfactive notes.
If you are interested in learning more about tuberose, we invite you to come to our Studio des Fragrances. There, we can demonstrate all the facets of this captivating flower. If you end up loving the fragrance, you can even use it as a heart note in your own perfume creation.
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