Laboratorio OlfattivoJasminade

“Never be a bad smell for a whole kingdom, my son. Walk like a jasmine among men.”. Jean Giono, Le Hussard sur le toit, 1951.

Jasmine has many faces. The Jasminum officinale that graces our gardens has the recognisable character of jasmine, yet surprises with strikingly fresh, almost cool nuances. A remarkable contrast, for scents, like colours, have a temperature all of their own.

For Jean-Claude Ellena, Jasmine Grandiflorum is the ultimate jasmine. This much-loved flower of perfumery is known for its warm, creamy and sensual character. The harvest is a picture of patience and craftsmanship: over a few weeks, thousands of flowers are picked by hand. Almost 8,000 blooms are needed for a single kilogram of fresh petals, which in turn yields only a few grams of precious essence.

The scent unfolds like a journey through the day. In the early morning, the jasmine is fresh, green and airy. As the hours pass, refined accents of orange blossom emerge, finally settling into a warm, velvety sensuality that lingers deep into the night.