ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A soft, mellow fragrance? discover the sensuality of mimosa

Of the thirty or so varieties that exist in France, two in particular are used in perfumery: cassia and common mimosa. The former resemble florists' mimosas, but have thorns all along their branches. These are the most fragrant: the Acacia Farnesiana, known as the ‘Farnese acacia’ or the ‘Roman or ancient cassia’.

When distilled, they produce a concrete and an absolute called cassier, which perfumers use in combination with other notes to delight us.

There is also the four-season mimosa, which is widely available from florists. Although it flowers constantly, its olfactory qualities are not as good as those of the first mimosa. You can use it for decorative purposes only.

The history of the French Mimosa: Originally, it originated in India in very desert regions. Today it can be found on the Côte d'Azur, where entire hillsides are covered in a veil of gold. To discover it, take the MIMOSA route from Bormes les Mimosa to Grasse. Numerous festivities and activities will enhance your fragrant journey, including the perfumed gardens you'll discover in the region.

Among the richest in terms of scents, I particularly recommend the MIP garden: the garden of the international perfume museum. It brings together in one place the cultivation of the various perfume plants used in fine perfumery. You'll also appreciate a stopover in Mandelieu-la-Napoule or the Tanneron massif to appreciate the beauty of this plant gold.

Don't forget to make a stopover in GRASSE, the world's oldest perfume-making town.

You'll be immersed in the atmosphere and the fragrant culture of the mimosa, with the feeling that the MIMOSAS have always been there.

In fact, the mimosa was not discovered until the ^18th century, thanks to James Cook, the great English navigator and cartographer, who is said to have brought back a few flowering branches from one of his voyages to Australia and New Zealand. In France, at the same time, tourists were discovering it and marvelling at the new trees with their delicate balls of golden flowers that adorn the botanical gardens of Toulon. It was a gift from Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, following a trip by Nicolas Baudin, who had given her a few plants for the garden of the Château de la Malmaison.

It wasn't until the ^19th century and the introduction of the Calais-Méditerranée express train, whose terminus was Ventimiglia station in Italy, that the wealthy English, inventors of the ‘French Riviera’, built sumptuous villas that they adorned with trendy MIMOSAS!

Then, to attract tourists, the mayors of coastal towns planted large quantities of mimosas to grace the boulevards and avenues along the coast: Cannes, Antibes and Menton were all decked out in mimosas. They were such a hit that specialist shops set up shop there for good.

The fragrance of the mimosa did not arrive until a little later. It was only with the advent of volatile solvent extraction in the ^20th century that they succeeded in capturing its trail and obtaining a beautiful, high-quality absolute that surpassed the fragrant criteria of essences processed with steam.

Discover this beautiful raw material in these unusual fragrances:

Among the first 3, you'll clearly find the trail of mimosa as our heart note, while in the following fragrances, the mimosa is discovered in association with other floral notes:

1 Champs Elysées by Guerlain : We find the sensuality of fluffy flowers in its innocent and pretty simplicity. To our delight, the mimosa seems to be making a comeback with its almost gourmand facets veiled in a light, crisp green bitterness.

2 Montaigne by Caron: A creation of Parisian opulence. Montaigne is a sensual and refined fragrance. It surprises with the fascinating interplay of textures created around the mimosa.

      3 Esterel by Trudon, scented candle: recreate the scented ambience of the mimosa in your home. Simply light it for a few minutes and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this yellow gold!

Kelly Calèche by Hermès : A sensual floral and leather fragrance with the soft, honeyed scent of mimosa.

Mimosa scented candle by Géodesis: Powerful floral and powdery notes. A ray of sunshine in the heart of winter.