Chamomile

lat. Matricaria chamomilla

Group: Flowers

Chamomile is a daisy-like plant of the family Asteraceae, often served as herbal tea with honey and lemon. This delicate plant is very gentle on our senses and well known for its soothing properties, ability to reduce stress and provide aid in sleepless nights. The plant is native to southern and eastern Europe and western Asia, and even celebrated as the national flower of Russia.

Numerous benefits of this gracious plant were known since the ancient times. The Egyptians dedicated chamomile to their solar god Ra, as the shape of the flower strongly reminds of the Sun. The Greeks have discovered plant’s numerous health benefits and called it Kamaimelon, meaning “ground apple.” However, the Romans were the first to investigate this plant more closer and use it for medical purposes to cure the upset stomach, cleanse wounds and ulcers, heal gout, various inflammations and prevent nightmares. In modern use, chamomile is consumed in teas, as a warm and delicious aromatic beverage. It is also used to address and relieve symptoms of indigestion and bloating, and to treat mild sleep disorders. Being so beneficial to our skin, chamomile is a common ingredient in cosmetic creams, shampoos, bath oils, and other skin care products. Of course, it has a special place in perfumery, where rich and fragrant chamomile essential oils provide an abundance of flavor.

It may come as a surprise to hear that the sweet-smelling naturally extracted oil from chamomile actually has a distinctive dark blue color. The coloring agent, Azulene, is responsible for chamomile’s potent anti-inflammatory benefits and antioxidant protection. However, this is just one of the many active compounds found in chamomile, whose amazing holistic effect on our health is nothing but the result of all of the components working together.

Although we know a lot about health benefits of chamomile, some other of its active compounds still remain mysterious. In herbal folklore and myths, chamomile attracts money and good fortune. A handful of chamomile, added to the bath, is believed to attract love and all kinds of winnings. Sprinkled around the house, chamomile repels negative energy, curses and spells, while ensuring good and prosperous fortune to the residents.

Most commonly used in perfumery are three types of chamomile: German, Roman and Wild. German chamomile has a sweet smoky scent that somewhat reminds of apples. The oil of German chamomile adds warm and enduring base to a fragrance. It appears sweet, heady and calming to our senses, and often lingers on for hours. Roman chamomile is commonly used in perfumery, and it goes very well with fruity and floral notes of jasmine, bergamot and neroli. The aroma of Roman chamomile is warming heady and sweet, but not as durable as that of the German one, even though it makes s a great note in rich masculine perfumes. Wild chamomile goes well with woody notes of cypress, citrusy and musk scents; it is very fresh and indistinctively herbal, with sugary-fruity twist. Wild chamomile often lends sweet and balsamic long-lasting base to a fragrance.

One of the perfumes where chamomile note dominates the composition is certainly Dior’s iconic Fahrenheit for men. Launched in late eighties, this deep and masculine fragrance still captivates our attention, spreading the heady soul of chamomile right from the top notes. Chamomile note lends to this fragrance its distinctive petroleum hint, which can be felt in the very opening. In this calming and manly interpretation, chamomile is combined with soothing scent of lavender, a hint of lemon, and some deep and sensual nuances of wood and musk.

 

Perfumes and Colognes With Chamomile