CaFleureBon: Jasmine in Perfumery + “The King and Queen of Flowers” 10 Perfume Prizes

 

No perfume without jasmine” is the old saying and most perfumers passionately agree. Jasmine flowers exhale a nearly perfect scent that is intensely floral and warm with undertones of fruit and tea with perhaps a touch of tobacco or leather. Jasmine has been called both the King and Queen of Flowers and is synonymous with weddings, romantic love, temptation, passion, seduction, and beauty in various cultures. 

 

In India, jasmine is the queen of flowers and is called “moonlight in the grove” for its night-blooming habit.  The Hindu god of love, Kama-deva, shoots arrows decorated with jasmine flowers from a bow made of sugarcane. In the Philippines it is the national flower and is called sampaguita.  The buds are harvested in Tunisia where they are used to make small bouquets called machmoums that are gloriously scented and sold throughout the spring and summer.(MC: Interestingly, the  revolution  in Tunisia in 2011 is known as 'The Jasmine Revolution' after the beloved flower that grows in abundance there). Machmoums are used by both brides and grooms on their wedding day. 

In Arabic Yasameen means white flowers and symbolizes feminine beauty and temptation. Cleopatra, one of the world’s most seductive  queens (and gifted perfumers!) went to meet Marc Antony in a ship with jasmine-scented sails. 

Jasmine has been cultivated through the ages in many parts of the world for its beautiful fragrance but likely originated in the Middle or Far East. The jasmine plant was first introduced in Europe in the 16th century where it quickly gained immense popularity because of its scent. French perfumers especially took an interest this lovely climbing plant.   It’s a member of the olive family and is generally vine-like in growth but may also be shrubby.

There are two species of jasmine that are generally used in perfumery, Poet’s Jasmine (Jasminum officinale var grandiflorum or jasmine grandiflorum) is the most commonly used variety and is also the most elegant, floral and creamy jasmine. This is the Jasmine of the perfumery trade, one of the flowers most valued by perfumers, and grown at Grasse. Its delicate, sweet odour is so peculiar that it is without comparison one of the most distinct of all natural odours, and until quite recent years, it was believed that it was the only scent that could not be made artificially

 

Jasminum sambac is called Arabian Jasmine, (which is a misnomer as it orginates from Southeast Asia) and is fresher, slightly green and jammy, but can also be a bit funkier than jasmine grandi. Jasmine sambac comes in both single flowers, Maid of Orleans for example, and lovely double-flowers that looks just like tiny, creamy roses called Grand Duke of Tuscany.

The Hindu word for offering is puja, which means the Flower act.

Two other types of jasmine extracts can be found for those desiring even more of a good thing.  Jasminum auriculatum is also called jasmine molle or Juhi and is more reminiscent of gardenias than the other jasmines but may also have a touch of the fecal. Juhi is considered a sacred flower and is used during Hindu religious festivals.  A new one, at least to me, is Jasminum flexile which is described as soft, floral, clean and elegant with perhaps a touch of spice. There are many other types of true jasmine, and perhaps other extracts, but these are the most commonly available.

 

 It is often said that the presence of indoles in jasmine result in a fecal/animalic note, which may be true but not entirely accurate. Indole and the closely related skatol are found in feces but indole is also found in many white flowers and is very characteristic of that floral signature. By itself, indole actually has a moth-ball, musty, inky smell but when diluted and added to florals it can add elegance and lift to a perfume.

 

In aromatherapy, jasmine is used as an aphrodisiac and it is known to uplift and aid in depression.  It’s called the king of oils for its many uses and is also used for sensitive or dry skin, for exhaustion, and for labor pains.  Jasmine sambac is used in jasmine tea for a beautifully floral and relaxing drink.  The flowers are picked when in bud and as soon as they open are mixed with green tea leaves and heated gently.  The flowers may be removed and fresh ones added several times to obtain a strong fragrance.

 

Other sweetly-fragranced flowers may be called jasmine but are not related.  Night-blooming jasmine is in the potato family; it has trumpet-shaped flowers with the petals arranged in a star and the fragrance is intensely sweet and powdery.  It’s often recommended to plant night-blooming jasmine away from windows that may be open at night because the power of the scent may become overwhelming.  Carolina jessamine has a sweet fragrance from its yellow, trumpet-shaped flowers and it will climb trees and show off its yellow blooms at the tops of pine trees in the southeastern United States.  Confederate jasmine is also a climber and has fragrant white star-shaped flowers.

 

Photo: Pierre Bernard

Arabian jasmine is grown in the gardens of Ambouli, Djibouti (fol) where it is a symbol of joy and love and the flowers are worn at weddings in a necklace, headband or as earrings.  In Madhurai, Tamil Nadu, India – also called the City of Jasmine – it is cultivated for perfume companies and the scent is said to be unique. 

Grasse, France was historically the center of cultivation for jasmine grandiflorum, and jasmine de Grasse is the most expensive jasmine known.  Harvest in Grasse begins in August and requires highly skilled pickers to gather the flowers without bruising them. Flowers are picked quickly and delicately between dawn and 1 pm. After picking they will continue to exhale for at least 24 hours with the scent changing and becoming slightly sweeter as the flower ages.

Grenouille creating an enfleurage in the movie Perfume, A story of a Murderer

Historically, enfleurage was the preferred method for obtaining scent but is labor intensive and too expensive, so solvent extraction has replaced it as the primary production method. After picking, flowers are quickly added to the extractors and between 600 and 1000 kilograms of flowers are needed to make one kilo of jasmine absolute from solvent extraction. 

It is said that 10,600 flowers were required to produce 1 ounce of Jean Patou’s Joy perfume by perfumer Henri Alméras when introduced in the 1930s, making it the ‘costliest perfume in the world’. There are many types of jasmine but few perfumes without at least a bit of jasmine.

Elise Pearlstine, Contributor

"Sweet days of Summer the jasmine's in bloom…Summer Breeze makes me feel fine blowing through the Jasmine in my mind"-  Seals & Croft

For our draw, we chose some of our favorite fragrances from niche and natural perfumery that use many varieties of Jasmine…

Courtesy of Histoires de Parfums 1804 2.0z "George Sand" with Indian Jasmine

 Courtesy of  Parfums M.Micallef 100ml  Jasmin-Vanille aka Watch with Jasmin de Grasse click here for the olfactive pyramid

 Thanks to  40Notes by Miriam Vareldzis Sampaguita Jasmine Perfume Oil with Sampaguita Jasmin Sambac

From Fragrance & Arts  50 ml Parfums d'Empire cult floral 3 fleurs jasmin de grasse

Courtesy of Natural PerfumerTanja Bochnig of April Aromatics 10 ml of all natural  Jasmina with Jasmine grandiflorum and Jasmin Sambac India

Courtesy of  Natural Perfumer Adam Gottschalk Of Lord's Jester Daphne Extrait de Parfum jasmine grandiflorum and jasmine sambac absolue

Courtesy of Anya McCoy of Anya's Garden  15 ml All Natural  Moon Dance Eau De Parfum  with jasmine sambac absolue

Courtesy of Natural Perfumer Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co. Jazmina Solid Perfume Indian Jasmine Sambac

Courtesy of Natural Perfumer Christie Meshell of House of Matriarch Destiny with Jasmine Sambac Absolue and Jasmine Grandiflorum Absolue

Thanks to our Author, Natural Perfumer Elise Pearlstine of BellyFlowers Blue Jasmine  with organic jasmine from Egypt, jasmine grandiflorum absolue from India, jasmine sambac absolue from India, and jasmine auriculatum absolue from India

Courtesy of  Natural Perfumer JoAnne Bassett of JoAnne Bassett 1 oz of Chantelle  with Vintage Jasmine Sambac absolute from India, Vintage Jasmine Grandifolium absolute from India, and Vintage 2000 Jasmine Juhi absolute

Thanks to Natural Perfumer Liz Cook of One Seed Company a reader's choice of 5ml of Grace (contains Egyptian jasmine, jasmine sambac C02, and jasmine absolute from India). Courage (contain jasmine sambac absolute from India)

In order to be eligible, please leave a comment about something interesting you learned about Jasmine in Perfume, which fragrance(s) interest you And at least one other note in the fragrances you leave a comment on other than Jasmine . There will be ten winners. Draw is by random.org and ends June 13, 2013 PST.

We announce the winners only on site and on our Facebook page, so Like Cafleurebon and use our RSS option…or your dream prize will be just spilled perfume.

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89 comments

  • Linnea Wiedeman says:

    Loved reading about the history of this wonderful flower. I didn’t know there was more than one kind of jasmine. I have it planted outside my bedroom window, ilove waking up to the warm sweet smell of the flowers on a warm morning <3 <3 <3 one of my fave flowers. if I won I would pick Sampaguita Jasmine which have green honeysuckle as another note.

  • I found it interesting that it took 10,600 flowers to produce 1 ounce of fragrance, imagine picking that many! The fragrance that interests me is the Parfums M.Micallef Jasmin Vanille, with its notes of peach, prune, mandarin and neroli.

  • Jasmine is the mother of all in my book, its just so damn sexy yet know how to button up as well especially as it dry downs with other players. Thats the mark of elegance and glamour I reckon. It can play the part of the east and the west and skips not a beat in between acts.
    Joanne Bassets Chantelle looks very much up to my visionand I’m fascinated to see the influenece here with the Bulgarian alba rose otto that is also in the mix. Such a powerful line up, perhaps thought of as Meryl Streep, Catherine Deneuve, the late Melina Mercouri and Dame Judi Dench, not necessarily in that order but all on the one stage working together.

  • A very interesting fact about jasmine is that it is an aphrodesiac and is appealing to both sexes. I have used Jasmine to create both perfume for women and cologne for men.
    The use of vanilla rounds out the jasmine notes and is used extensively in creating many other scent variations.
    The fragrances that interest me are various. I like both floral and oriental perfumes. Sandalwood, although considered to be a male fragrance appeals to me. I just can’t get enough of it

  • The different varieties stood out for me. In particular, your comment on night blooming jasmine made me wish I had one outside my wndow! (I suspect Maine is too cold, alas.). Of the prizes on offer, 3 Fleurs is probably the one I’d like the most, though the Micallef also shares the second note that interests me, the rose.

  • Heather F says:

    I never knew the distinctions between all the types of jasmine, particularly those that aren’t really true jasmine. Parfum d’Empire’s 3 Fleurs (with galbanum) and the Micallef fragrance (with neroli) sound equally lovely!

  • Interesting to learn about arabian jasmine. I’d love to try all but that Sampaquita Jasmine, with honeysuckls and Tuberose sounds like a white floral blockbuster.

  • It’s amazing to me the sheer numbers of flowers required to make a kilo of jasmine absolute, 600-1000 kilos of flowers!!!

    I’m interested Destiny, because the tangerine and benzoin notes are unusual. Also the Blue Jasmine with its blue lotus and blue chamomile notes because I’m a sucker for anything “blue.”

    Thank you for the draw!

  • Amberosmanthus says:

    Thank you for detailing so many kinds of Jasmine! I’ve been meaning to look them up for a while because it seems there are just too many to keep track of. I think it is humorous that Arabian Jasmine originates in asia.

    I’m most interested in Blue Jasmine because I generally love aquatics and the blue lotus sounds mysterious. I’m also drawn to Daphne Extrait De Parfum from LordJester since I adore immortelle and can’t resist a good chypre.

  • I love hearing stories about Patou’s Joy…over 10,000 flowers!

    I’m a fan of Parfums d’empire so would love to try 3 fleurs…I love the mix of jasmine and rose…and wonder how the mint fits in…

  • Farawayspices says:

    An interesting fact about jasmine that I leaned is tht it is part of the olive family. If I was so lucky as to win I would choose 1804 George Sand,which has notes of pineapple. I would be interested to see the fruity aspect of jasmin mingling with a note of tropical pineapple.

  • I didn’t know that the uprising in tunisia was called the jasmine revolution
    So many types of jasmine and they all smell a bit different fascinating
    My choice is George sand 1804 with pineapple

  • Scent trail says:

    This was fascinating and I enjoyed the post very much
    I love the opening line that without jasmine there would be no perfume
    I love big feminine florals so my choice would be PdE 3 fleurs with notes of rose and tuberouse
    Thank you for a fascinating read

  • Thanks for a beautiful write-up on the wonderful jasmine. I have never heard of jasminum auriculatum and flexile.
    My pick, if I was going to win, would be 40Notes’ Sampaguita, which also has nuances of tuberose and honeysuckle.

  • Thank you Michelyn for including 40notes Sampaguita Jasmine. When describing it to people I create the vision of a fresh green-vine accord wrapping the sensuality of the Jasmine floralcy. It’s an uplifted Jasmine with a bit of South Pacific breeze. Enjoy ! Miriam

  • Miriam
    Thank you ! I am not a huge fan of white florals, in fact I can’t wear most and I tried so many , but I adore 40 notes jasmine sampaguita

    I always think of a Gaugin painting when I wear it as there is sweetness and tropical fruitiness that whisks me away to a tropical beach
    That is why reading notes never tell a perfume’s story

  • I learned that jasmine was introduced to europe in the 16th century and I learned that there are two main types of jasmine used in perfumery, jasmine grandiflorum and Jasminum sambac . If I won I would be in interested in Lord Jesters Daphne which also features marigolds.

  • The pictures alone are making me weak, gorgeous. I have never been able to wear white flower fragrances, as they made me feel kind of sick. I think that’s because they were synthetic. I am not having that problem with natural and now I am falling in love with them all over again.
    Great article!
    I would love to win Anya’s Moon Dance.

  • I was most interested in the cultural practices surrounding jasmine; particularly the Tunisian machmoums. Also, I found the description of the Grasse jasmine harvest particularly interesting.

    There are quite a few I’d be interested in from this list, as I’m a floral lover, but I have to say the 40notes Sampaguita Jasmine sounds amazing, with the tuberose and and honeysuckle alongside green notes. The Matriarch Destiny would be a close runner-up with tangerine and benzoin.

  • d3m0lici0n says:

    Interesting to know all the different kinds of Jasmine used in perfumery but the most interesting fact I learner from reading this article is the insane amount of flowers 600 to 1000 kills just to produce 1 Milo of absolute! Amazing fact!
    My picks is George Sand that besides jasmine has rose, muguet and gardenia! What is not to like from that combination…

  • Wonderful article! I didn’t know that “After picking they will continue to exhale for at least 24 hours with the scent changing and becoming slightly sweeter as the flower ages.” I would love Chantelle by JoAnne Bassett and another note in this beautiful perfume is Tuberose. Thank you for the draw!

  • I was very interested to learn about the varieties as well as the history of Jasmine, particularly the different scent profiles associated with various Jasmines- If I won, I would be most interested in trying 3 Fleurs (with galbanum and mint- this sounds amazing). George Sand would be my second choice (with Pineapple…I’m curious), and my third choice would be Sampaguita Jasmine (because I like pure perfume oils). THANKS for the draw, and for the education!

  • 10,600 flowers — not petals, flowers! — to make 1 oz. of Joy. What a wonderful bit of trivia! Jasmine is definitely a note that plays well with others. My “cheap thrill” is LUSH’s Silky Underwear (in powder or spray), but I’d be very interested to try the 1804 George Sand; I can’t eat fresh pineapple, but I love the smell of it. And nothing can boost the spirits like a fresh, tropical spray! Jasmine and Vanilla is another favorite combination, so I’m also intrigued by the M. Micallef Watch — I’d have all the time in the world for that! And Parfum d’Empire — 3 Fleurs sounds delish, too!

  • Laurentiu says:

    I concure with “In aromatherapy, jasmine is used as an aphrodisiac and it is known to uplift and aid in depression.”. To me jasmine has a very carnal feeling, very animalic. No wonder that it is used as an aphrodisiac and as a medicine against depression.

    A great article. I love these articles about flowers. It really improves my knowledge.

    I would like to win 1804 by HDP. It has pineapple, peach and vanilla besides the jasmine. Delicious!

    Thanks!

  • I didn’t know that other types of “jasmine” like flowers were related to the (of all species) potato family. Separately, I love jasmine tea; it’s so refreshing and the fragrance is really beautiful.

    I’d like to win the Micallef Jasmin Vanille – with additional notes of peach, prune, neroli and tuberose.

  • Another great article Elise! Funny all these years, i have been familiar with Puja, but had no idea it meant “the flower act.” Divine indeed. I also found it sort of jarring.. that one would name an act of violence after a flower; “The Jasmine Revolution” – named after a region or not. I wonder what Jasmine’s demands would be if it really were to revolt? anyway, i digress… i would love to try Blue Jasmine from Bellyflowers, with it’s jasmines, lotuses, sandalwood and blue chamomile. A personal and practical puja in it’s own right.

  • I was very interested to read about the varieties of flowers that look like jasmine but aren’t really because a year ago I came across one such at the Adriatic coast which I mistook for jasmine and it wasn’t.

    Other notes that interest me alongside jasmine is always other types of white flowers like tuberose and gardenia, so the most interesting perfumes here would be for me George Sand, Sampaguita Jasmine by 40notes or Chantelle.

  • Ooo I always love the write ups on particular notes… the pictures are always such a treat as well on them!

    I didn’t know that jasmine is part of the olive family… and am now longing to go to this Tamil villiage with all the jasmine (I also remember some sandalwood coming out of there) it sounds like a most lovely and fragrant town!!!

    Also it was intresting to me that jasmine flowers are picked so late in Grasse. I always imagined them being picked in the evening, when the southern ones with in full smell

    I would love to try Daphne by Lord Jester, which has Frangipani and Immortelle joining the sultry jasmine

  • Oh, the allure of Grasse! Whenever this beautiful place is mentioned, I almost always want to go.
    I loved reading the process in which jasmine grown in Grasse is cultivated and harvested. Such beautiful imagery imagining those skilful pickers, collecting the blooms in baskets and taking such care as not to bruise them before distillation. Nice to know that the scent also changes as the flower ages. A lovely article.
    From those 12 fragrances listed, I would love to win Lord’s Jester Daphne Extrait de Parfum with added notes of rose, frangipani and immortelle.

  • I must admit that I am usually more of a vanilla/amber/patchouly kind of girl. That’s why M.Micallef’s Jasmin-Vanille aka Watch sounds like the perfect fragrance to get me to know and love jasmine. Also, the image of Cleopatra going to meet Marc Antony in a ship with jasmine-scented sails is such a wonderful, romantic concept, that get’s me more excited about jasmine all by itself.

  • What a treat this article has been for jasmine lovers like me Learning about its use in various cultutres ranging from seduction to devotion is just amazing. The end quote is so true
    “Sweet days of Summer the jasmine’s in bloom…Summer Breeze makes me feel fine blowing through the Jasmine in my mind”- Seals & Croft
    catching a whiff of flowering jasmine is an almost surreal and comforting at the same time..
    If I am lucky I would like to try Anya McCoy`s Moondance as the pairing of jasmone sambac with opoponax and tuberose seems divine!!
    thanks for the draw

  • All these perfumes interest me, I can’t choose, because I’m a jasmine nut! I guess Charna’s solid would be high on my list, because I’ve been trying lots of solid perfumes lately. I’ve smelt juhi before, but not the flexile, I’ll have to find some of that!

  • noetic owl says:

    I did not know that the jasmine from Grasse is the most expensive jasmine- it must smell divine! And so many flowers in Joy! WOW!
    Would love to try M. Micallef Jasmine-Vanille with neroli and peach notes.
    Thanks you for the draw!

  • I did not know that Night Blooming Jasmine was in the Potato family, very interesting. Would like to win Destiny, the vetiver note sounds great. Thanks for the wonderful draw!

  • Thanks everyone for their kind words! It’s been so much fun researching the various jasmines, one of my favorite florals. The different types are definitely jasmine but each with their own personality. And I absolutely love seeing the artwork from Michelyn that brings my words to life. Gorgeous art.

  • I like the name “moonlight in the grove”,May be I should make a perfume and call it that, jasmine has always been a favourite everywhere, in the Arabian gulf what is called Jasmine sambac is called “ful” here and the ladies love it.They even grow it here and you find in the house and officesand in the perumes of course
    Chantelle and grace must smell great with Jasmin sambac.However there is an “embarras de choix” will all the above, since they contain Grandiflorum and sambac and also Jasmine grasse. I am not fussy.

  • I loved learning that Cleopatra went to meet Marc Antony with jasmine scented sails. What a lovely image.
    Many of these scents sound wonderful, but I think I would be interested in picking PdE 3 fleurs for it’s mint and skin musk addition. Great read!

  • I did not know that the jasmine fron Grasse was the most costly. I would love to try the Jasmine-Vanille with the neroli and peach notes form M. Micallef…all my favorite notes! Also would like to try 3 fleurs from Parfums d’Empire.

  • Night blooming jasmine is not related to jasmine at all–it’s in the potato family. I also found it interesting to find out about all the types of jasmine available. Jasmine flexile is one I’d like to work with since it’s “soft, floral, clean and elegant with perhaps a touch of spice.” Sounds less fecal/indolic than the others. Might be nice for a fresh more youthful perfume.

    I’d love a perfume to be entered into the draw for Anya’s Garden 15 ml All Natural Moon Dance Eau De Parfum with jasmine sambac absolue. It also contains water mint and I’d like to find out more about that.

    As I’ve never experienced blue lotus I would love to enjoy BellyFlowers Blue Jasmine.
    Thanks so much!

  • Very informative and captivating information on all the different types of jasmine and characteristics. I had no idea it was so diverse. Also enjoyed very much the historical notes.

    I am most interested in Anya’s Moon Dance, in which she has combined Jasmine Sambac (Arabian Jasmine) with violet flower and opoponax.
    Thank you for the lovely article on Jasmine!

  • Wonderful article!! I didn’t know that Jasmine is part of the olive family! And Cleopatra went to meet Marc Antony in a ship with jasmine-scented sails!! That is a pice fo history I enjoyed learning! All of the prizes are magnificent the M.Micallef is what I prefer most the combination of Jasmine with prune, mandarine, neroli ylang ,musk and vanille are mouthwatering!! Thank you for the draw!

  • I didn’t know that sambac was the variety used in making jasmine tea…or that jasmine is related to olives. I would love to try Grace by OneSeed, which also features notes of peru balsam and vanilla. Thanks so much for this lovely article!

  • A bit of information I find interesting about Jasmines is that they continue to strongly emit thier fragrance after being picked, I think in a strength that is uniquely thiers.
    oh, and who knew that it was of the olive family?! cool!
    I would love to meet (should my name be drawn) Blue Jasmine, by Bellyflower

  • Queen Cupcake says:

    I liked learning that there are several different varieties of jasmine and that it is related to olive. I wonder if I could grow any jasmine… I also liked reading about the symbolic and mystical role of jasmine throughout history.

    If I won, I would choose Micallef Jasmin Vanille, with notes of jasmin, neroli, mandarine, tuberose, peach, ylang-ylang and vanilla. Thank you!

  • Borko Boris says:

    Really nice to read about jasmine and how it is seen in the oriental culture. A great article!

    I would like to win Jasmin Vanille which also has tuberose.

    Thanks

  • Elise, what a great essay on the queen of flowers. (I think definitely ‘queen’) So informative, many things I learned, I had never heard the story of Cleopatra wearing jasmine when she met Marc Antony. I liked that one.

    I love HdP, so would love to win 1804 with it’s fruity peach and pineapple top, but am also most interested in Elise’s own blue jasmine, with it’s lotus and sandalwood notes.

    Thank you very much for the generous draw- spectacular!

  • ringthing says:

    I didn’t realize that what’s considered perfumer’s jasmine is of the olive family and that night blooming jasmine is of the potato family. It’s interesting to read about jasmine’s lore in different cultures. I would pick Daphne Extrait de Parfum if I won; love the idea of a jasmine “woody chypre lover’s dream” that has cypress as a note.

  • I learned that real jasmine is in the olive family and the night-blooming jasmine that grows in my chilly climate is actually related to the potato. Glad you didn’t overlook this perfumery staple in the rush to write about oud and [whatever color] pepper, etc.

    The 40notes Sampaguita Jasmine with its note of honeysuckle appeals to me this sunny June day.

  • I didn’t know night-blooming jasmine was a member of the potato family! I suppose that makes it a nightshade?

    I’m interested in the George Sand (1804) — peach, jasmine, rose, benzoin, sounds great — OR the 3 Fleurs, love tuberose and mint together.

  • Very well researched article on jasmine in every way …culturally, in perfumery and even in the movies , religion , politics and songs
    I had no idea that is helpful for labor pains and that some jasmines have a tobacco like odor
    Really most everything is new to me especially the different varieties
    I would be interested in m micallef jasmine vanille watch which also has peach note
    Lovely art, btw

  • I found it interesting to learn about the two different types of jasmine used in perfumery, such as Jasmine Grandiflorum, which was believed to be one of the only scents impossible to be made artificially. I also learned Jasmine de Grasse requires skilled flower pickers who do not bruise the flowers they pick.

    I am very interested in Jasmin Vanille from M.Micallef, with tuberose and mandarin notes.

    I am also interested in 3 Fleurs, with Tuberose and Rose notes.

    Thank you!

  • I really liked the description of how the jasmine in Grasse is picked “quickly and delicately between dawn and 1 pm.” And that the flowers continue to exhale for a full days as the scent ages.

    I would be interested in 3 Fleurs, which also has a tuberose note. (Parfums d’Empire).

    Another interest is Parfums M.Micallef Jasmin-Vanille, also with rose as an additional note.

    Wonderful draw!

  • As I like India I liked to know that there, jasmine is the queen of flowers and is called “moonlight in the grove” for its night-blooming habit.
    If I win I would like to try M.Micallef with Neroly and Ylang

  • Gail Sims says:

    I was unaware that Confederate Jasmine was not actually a true jasmine! This is the only one that I have smelled for myself still on the plant.

    If I win, I would like all of the listed scents 🙂 But if I have to pick, I would say Parfum d’Empire 3 Fleurs with it’s notes of jasmine, rose and tuberose, or Anya’s Garden Moon Dance which adds violet and mint to the jasmine, or Histoires de Parfums George Sand which adds pineapple, clove and nutmeg to the jasmine.

    Thanks!

  • What a fantastic article! Jasmine is one of my favourite notes. It is quite traditional here in Spain, due to the Arabic presence here centuries ago. I didn’t know that jasmine was related to the olive tree. I also didn’t know that the sampaquita was a type of jasmine.
    I would love to win Micallef’s Watch, with also a peony note, or Parfum d’Empire’s 3 Fleurs, with also a rose note. I also would like Histoires de Parfums 1804, with also a clove note.

  • It was interesting that Jasmine de Grasse is the most expensive Jasmine in the world. Before this article, I when thinking of Jasmine, I would think of warmer and more exotic climates. Of course, I have jasmine on my patio and I live in Washington DC so I guess that doesn’t make much sense!! In any case, I would be interest in 3 Fleurs by Parfum d’Empire which I love as it also is comprised of rose and tuberose for a lovely and rich composition. I would also be interested in the Parfum M.Micallef Jasmin-Vanille – Jasmine and Mandarin sounds lovely and the bottle is a real treat!

  • I enjoyed the hindu myth of Jasmine laced arrows being shot from a sugar cane bow by the god of love! Very fitting since jasmine is in my opinion THE sexiest scent ever.

    I like jasmine so much that natural is the only way to go. Anya’s moondance would be my jasmine elixir of choice with tuberose, mint, violet and opoponax

  • Let me start out by saying that I have a hard time with Jasmine fragrances until I tried Heeley Bubblegum Chic which now inspires me to want to try more Jasmine scents. Well i find it amazing that Night-blooming jasmine is in the potato family, who would have known. And that there are are two species of jasmine that are generally used in perfumery, My choice would be Jasmina by April Aromatics and another note in this glorious fragrance is Pink Grapefruit. Thank you for the wonderful draw 🙂

  • What a beautiful, cosmopolitan tribute to a splendid flower!

    I did not know that the recent revolution in Tunisia was called “The Jasmine Revolution”

    I’d love to win any of these perfumes, but my first choice will be Matriarch Destiny, which also features oakmoss and galbanum. Yum.

  • I had no idea that jasmine is from the olive family. I thought it was more from the tea family (camellia). If I could choose from the ten perfumes in the contest I’d like Parfums M.Micallef 100ml Jasmin-Vanille aka Watch or Histoires de Parfums 1804 2.0z “George Sand”. Also, if I win, 100ml is too much. 15ml would be more than enough.

  • I also did not know that the revolution in Tunisia was called “The Jasmine Revolution”. I do know that jasmine sambac is known in Hawaii as ‘pikake’ which also means peacock. Apparently jasmine and peacocks were the favorite flower and bird, respectively, of a Hawaiian princess

    I’m interested in Blue Jasmine, which in addition to all those wonderful jasmines also contains amazing blue lotus-one of my favorites!

    Jazmina with rose de mai and nutmeg(yum) also sounds delicious as does Moon Dance including opoponax(which I’ve been very interested in lately).

  • Thank you Elise for such an interesting and thorough article.

    So many interesting cultural details, but as related to perfume I was I interested to read of the differences among the various jasmine extracts. And that night blooming jasmine is a completely different plant species (related to potato rather than olive) Nor did I know that it was in the 16th century that jasmine was introduced to Europe, but it is no surprise that it was taken up so quickly by perfumers. Fascinating to learn how jasmine develops in the 24 hours after harvest
    Also new to me is that in aromatherapy one of the uses of jasmine is for labour pains.

    It was delightful to read more about each of the offered scents and incredibly hard to choose a favourite. If I’m the lucky winner, my top three choices would be:
    Anya’s Garden Moonflower with its intriguing combo with violet flower; 40notes Sampaguita Jasmine with its green honeysuckle; or Parfum d’Empire 3 Fleurs with its rose and galbanum.

    Thanks for the generous draw opportunity.

  • taffynfontana says:

    I love learning more about the smells I love. The article had a wealth of information. In particular I learned that it was a member of the Olive family. I also found interesting how jasmine grandiflorum is harvested in Grasse so much care and labor is invested in this magnificent flower. I would love to try Histoires de Parfums 1804 “George Sand”. I am eager to see how pineapple with its juicy fruitiness melds with Indian jasmine. Thanks Again.

  • I love jasmine and enjoyed this article. I like the mental picture of jasmine in Grasse being carefully picked in the early hours so “as not too bruise the jasmine”. These perfumes all sound lovely. I am intrigued by the Micallife with notes of rose and vanilla or the 40Notes with honeysuckle.
    Thank you to all of the perfumers for the draw.

  • I didn’t know that jasmine is called Sampaguita in the Philippines.
    And I found interesting to know that there are at least four kinds of jasmine used in perfumes. I wonder which of them is the one I naturally know (where I live there are lots of jasmin flowers in summer).

    I would be interested in trying Jasmina by April Aromatics.
    According to the official site, this fragrance contains nothing else than jasmine, but it has been infused with pink coral and moonstone.

    Thanks!

  • I was also stunned of how many blossoms went into 1 ounce of Joy!
    If I win I’d love to win the Grace, from One Seed company, which apart from jasmines also has gardenia and champaca. Thanks for this draw!

  • I had no idea that jasmine is from the olive family. Neither that the Jasmine from Grasse is the most expensive one. Also very laborious process. Very interesting article.
    I’d like Parfums M.Micallef Watch ( with rose ) or Parfum d’Empire 3 Fleurs with its rose and galbanum.

  • gypsyqueenmother says:

    What a wonderful and informative article.

    Cleopatra sailed in a ship with jasmine scented sails…and was a perfumer? THAT is cool!

    Very interested to win M.Micallef’s “Jasmin-Vanille (aka Watch)”. The bottle is gorgeous (I collect watches!) and the scent sounds amazing. The ylang ylang is the note that got my attention.

    Thanks again. It is so nice to share (especially perfume!) 😉

  • I was surprised to learn that the recent revolution in Tunisia in 2011 is known as ‘The Jasmine Revolution’ after the beloved flower that grows in abundance there. I didn’t know that!
    I would love to win M. Micallef’s Jasmin-Vanille which also contains Bulgarian Rose, or Histoire de Parfums 1804 George Sand that also has pineapple, or Lord’s Jester Daphne Extrait De Parfum with cypress and marigold! 

  • Jasmine is my favorite flower ! Very interesting and detailed article about how it is used in so many civilizations
    I didn’t know there were so many species and is used in aromatherapy for labor pains and in Hindu religious festivals
    Jasmine sampaguita sound great with honeysuckle and Chantelle with rose
    Great site btw

  • Night blooming jasmine is in the potato family is news to me!

    I choose HdP 1804 (George Sand) with benzoin and pineapple.

    Thanks for the chance to win.

    Great article, Elise! Keep ’em coming…

  • I loved learning about how jasmine is used in aromatherapy. “In aromatherapy, jasmine is used as an aphrodisiac and it is known to uplift and aid in depression. It’s called the king of oils for its many uses and is also used for sensitive or dry skin, for exhaustion, and for labor pains.” Fantastic! We could all stand to be a bit more uplifted in our daily lives. I would highly value this use of jasmine, as well as for exhaustion, which I am battling right now! I have long wished for the opportunity to try Micallef’s Watch aka Jasmin-Vanille, with its jasmine, as well as vanilla and musk, I know we would surely hit it off. That would be my choice. Fabulous article, and thanks for the generous draw.

  • TimeaZsofia says:

    I found very interesting, that there are 4 different smelling jasmine in Perfumery (and more…), I never heard of about Jasminum auriculatum and Jasminum flexile, but I am very courious about them, particularly Jasminum flexile because of the spice. 🙂
    I would choose Histoires de Parfums 1804 2.0z “George Sand” with patchouli and gardenia.
    Thank you for this fantastic draw.

  • Interesting that jasmine is in the olive family.

    First choice is Fragrance & Arts 3 Fleurs, which includes mint and white musk.

    1804 Histoires de Parfums is my second choice (includes peach and vanilla in addition to the jasmine)

    Thank you for educating us on jasmine!

  • TimeaZsofia says:

    I found very interesting, that there are 4 different (and more…) smelling Jasmine scent, I have never hear about Jasminum auriculatum and Jasminum flexile, but I am very courious about them, particularly Jasminum flexile because it’s spicey smelling 🙂
    I would choose
    Histories de Parfums 1804 with Patchouli and Tahitian Gardenia!
    Thank you for this fantastic article, and draw!

  • Oh, I love jasmine not wisely but too well. I almost wish that, as the article said, the scent of jasmine could not be duplicated synthetically. That was interesting to learn — that it was thought you couldn’t.

    I would looove to try the 40 Notes Sampaguita Jasmine Perfume Oil I think jasmine with tuberose and honeysuckle sounds divine.

  • I’m surprised how many blossoms are required to create Joy! Interesting.

    I love jasmine. I’d love to try Histoires de Parfums 1804 2.0z “George Sand” with Indian Jasmine, which contains patchouli. 🙂

  • Tourbillion says:

    Well I learned that there are more than 2 types of Jasmine, I wish I could find several to try in my garden.

    I am most interested in Sampaquita Jasmine, as it contains honeysuckle! However, 3 Fleurs with it’s galbanum, and Chantelle with tuberose are also quite alluring.

  • I loved reading about the different types of jasmine and what it takes to grow and harvest it. I also loved to read about honeysuckle! If I win I would like the Parfums d’Empire! THanks.

  • I am a white florals girl and love jasmine, so I loved the info on the different types of jasmine and where they are grown.

    There are so many tempting fragrances in this draw, but I would most like to try Parfums d’Empire 3 Fleurs because it has mint and galbanum and I love green florals. Second choices would be April Aromatics Jasmina or 40 Notes Sampaguita Jasmine because I love a jasmine oil soliflore or near soliflore in the summer.

  • I had heard the national flower of the Philippines was is Sampaguita but had no idea it is actually Jasmine! Also that night blooming Jasmine is in the potato family.

    I’d love to try House of Matriarch’s Destiny as it includes my other favorites Neroli and Tuberose. Or second choice would be 40Notes Sampaguita – the honeysuckle in it sounds fantastic. Wonderful article, thank you!

  • Sweet days of summer the jasmine in bloom love that song
    Informative and well researched as well as entertaining with great
    photos
    I would love to win sampaguita jasmine with honeysuckle I think kena dava’s arrow has struck

  • I dont know much about jasmine but this has certainly piqued my interest. I found most interesting the bit about fecal notes in jasmine essences. I find dirty scents intriguing and appreciate the faced personality of the jasmine scent. Very interesting.

  • Paul Bunch says:

    It was interesting reading about how many parts of the world have an affinity for jasmine: the Middle East, India, southeast Asia, the Philippines, multiple countries in Europe, and northern Africa. Jasmine species seem to be quite the international travelers. What a great article!

    I would like to try either Daphne Extrait or Chantelle. I would be happy with any of the natural perfumes. Thank you.

  • I had no idea how different the two types of jasmine were! To win any of these would be wonderful, particularly the 40notes jasmine, with notes of tuberose and honeysuckle. Thanks!

  • Thanks, Elise! I learned that there are 4 different jasmines. Even though it’s one of my favorite notes, I somehow never realized that.

    I’d like to win Lord’s Jester Daphne extrait de parfum. Besides jasmine it has cypess and rose.

  • I was really interested to learn about the different types of jasmine, their various scent profiles and uses and the different names and cultural practices involving jasmine. I am now somewhat less confused!
    I liked learning that sampaguita is a Phillipine word, that there are indeed a lot of varieties, that “Jasminum sambac is called Arabian Jasmine, (which is a misnomer as it orginates from Southeast Asia) and is fresher, slightly green and jammy, but can also be a bit funkier”….

    I would enjoy most if not all of these scents! One which looks most interesting is Daphne which also has cypress and immortelle.

    Also very appealing to me: Watch, with vanilla and mandarin; Moondance, with violet and opoponax; and Blue Jasmine has blue lotus and blue chamomile.
    George Sand features pineapple and Destiny has gardenia–both very tricky notes for me to wear but ones I enjoy smelling,

  • It was very interesting for me to learn that in aromatherapy jasmine is used as aphrodisiac and is known to uplift depression.
    I’d really enjoy Sapaguita Jasmine because it has a tuberose note which make a great combination.

  • Great article! I learns so much about different varieties of jasmine, and thos flowers that are not jasmine. I also learned that jasmine sambac is used in my beloved jasmine tea.
    Should I win, I woould cboose April aromatics Jasmina with notes of jasmine, ylang ylang and pink grapefruit.
    Or Histoires du parfum 1804 with notes pineapple, jasmine and gardenia.
    I’m in Slovenia, EU