Lifestyle
10.3.2023
Orange blossom, rose, jasmine… Top 5 fragrances that smell of the Eastern Mediterranean
Some scents immediately evoke a country, a region or even a cause. Whether a national symbol or an iconic scent, discover the characteristic fragrances of the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East. Orange blossom, rose and jasmine are just some of the olfactory notes that immerse you in the warm atmosphere of Arab countries.
1 – Orange blossom
This fragrant white flower grows on the sour orange tree. The shrub was introduced to Spain, and then gradually to the Mediterranean region, by the Arabs in the 9th century. Grown in Egypt, Morocco and Algeria, orange blossom is used to perfume pastries and cosmetics in the south of France. It is also used for pharmaceutical purposes, thanks to its calming and antiseptic properties. Its sunny scent has become an emblem of the Mediterranean!
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2 – Rose
Grown for thousands of years in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, the rose symbolizes love, romance and beauty. Of all the varieties, the most resplendent and fragrant is the Damask rose. For thousands of years, its essence has been extracted to make cosmetics, essential oils and rosewater. Rosewater is also used in many Oriental desserts, such as Lebanese mouhalabieh.
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3 – Jasmine
Smell and close your eyes… The notes of jasmine transport us in an instant to the flower-filled lanes of Hammamet. The floral emblem of Tunisia, jasmine carries a message of love, hospitality and freedom. And with good reason: in 2011, this little white flower lent its name to the uprising of an entire people: the Jasmine Revolution. This delicate, immaculate flower has a bewitching fragrance and blooms abundantly.
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4 – Oud
Heady, mysterious and sensual, oud is a typical oriental fragrance. This very rare essence comes from the fragrant resin of the tropical Aquilaria tree. Although it is one of the mainstays of oriental perfumery, oud wood is also cut into shavings, then mixed with other resins to be burnt like incense. This is known as bakhour. A ritual of yesteryear, used to perfume the home, clothes and even hair.
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5 – Myrrh
Like oud, myrrh is an aromatic resin. The tree from which it comes grows in the arid regions of north-east Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Highly symbolic, myrrh is known to Christians as the gift offered by one of the three Magi to the infant Jesus. It is distinguished by its warm, balsamic scent, generally used as a base note in oriental fragrances.
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