Iris

lat. Iris

Group: Flowers

These butterflies of ours –
If they could speak, what pretty dreams
We’d hear about the flowers.

Reikan

Iris is a special flower. It’s not common in bouquets or arrangements. It’s very fragile. That’s probably why many don’t even know about this flower. But once you see an iris for the first time you will fall in love.

The name “Iris” came from old Greek Rainbow Goddess Irida. According to the legend Irida used a rainbow to come from sky to earth to bring the will of Olympic Gods to the people. When she touched the ground, beautiful iris flowers came out of her footprints.

Amazingly we can find all the rainbow colours and shades on iris flower. Also the sparkling petal texture brings us unbelievable impression. There are hundreds of iris societies in the world as well as gardens and botanical collections. For example in Europe the most famous iris garden is the Giardino dell'Iris in Florence which every year hosts one of the most famous iris breeders' competitions in the world.

Iris is perennial plant from the Iris family (Iridaceae). The genus is widely distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone. Their habitats are varied, ranging from cold regions to the grassy slopes, meadowlands and rivers of Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa, Asia and across North America. In spite the fact that there are hundreds of species most popular are Iris Pallida, Iris Germanica - with purple flowers and Iris Florentina (with white flowers) are used in traditional medicine and aromatherapy.

Rhizomes (commonly called roots) of the German Iris (I. germanica) and Sweet Iris (I. pallida) are harvested as orris root (the term is used for Iridis Rhizoma) and are used in perfume and medicine, even more commonly in the ancient times than today.
The iris root preparation is an extensive time and labour-consuming process.

For orris root production, iris rhizomes are harvested, perfectly cleaned, cut, dried, and aged for 3 to 5 years. The scent is said to be similar to violets. Probably they mean Viola Tricolor cultivars that smell is fragile and beautiful. Also only long dried rhizome get the aroma. The aged rhizomes are steam-distilled which produces a thick oily compound, known in the perfume industry as "iris butter".

Iris oil is one of the "strongest" and doesn’t loose the quality within years. The best way to "keep" it in alcohol. But the most important that iris root scent is the "heart not" in many perfumes. The aroma is mystical, languorous, elegant, soft and cold a little bit... It's a shady pair to rose and jasmine music... Good for meditations iris opens up you soul and a third eye. The flower symbolism associated with the iris is faith, cherished friendship, hope, promise in love and wisdom.

Iris roots (Rhizomes)

                         IRIS

White Iris, how pure, how lovely, 
Like a virgin In her starched lawn fete dress 
Iris, pallid blue, gold veined, 
And as if coloured from dawn chills, 
Or from the yellow-fingered touching
Of curious starlight 
Purple Iris, 
Streaked with amethystine memories of the night,
Health-glossed and firm are those ripe wings
Of Oriental butterflies 
So in my garden
Undulating ranks of Iris, 
Slimly holding their broad flat blooms 
(Like tripods of incense)
Aloft towards the moist spearing 
Of morning sunlight.

                            By Michael Strange

IRIS IN FRAGRANCES: