HISTOIRE DE PROVENCE

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Mimosa

Radiant and soft at the same time

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Mimosa brings back memories of childhood in southern gardens in winter.  A delicate fragrance, deliciously soft and powdery. Its olfactory description is very often linked to a powdery, honeyed, almondy green floral note. The leaves are distilled at the same time as the yellow balls.

 

There are several names for mimosa, but in perfumery we use winter mimosa. It is a species of tree called Acacia dealbata. The mimosa is now widely grown in France, in Grasse and the surrounding area such as the Tanneron hills, but historically it originated in Australia. It wasn't until 1804 that the first mimosa plants were introduced to Europe.

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Its planting on the Côte d'Azur during the Second Empire in the 19th century was chosen for the climate it enjoys.

 

The mimosa grows in dry, siliceous soil. The mimosa tree can grow to around 20 m tall. The mimosa's flowers are like little yellow silky pompoms. The fruits are slightly flattened brown pods. The branches of the mimosa are not thorny, they are velvety. Mimosas can be found in the wild in France, as some have escaped from cultivation. Since 2003, this species has been part of the Fabaceae family. Previously, it belonged to the Mimosaceae family.

 

In perfumery, mimosa flower absolute is obtained by extracting small mimosa branches with volatile solvents. The result is a powdery, floral, warm and rich absolute with a honeyed, straw-like scent. The scent is mysterious and subtle. Mimosa is said to express a sense of balance and comfort.

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