Narcissus

lat. Amaryllidaceae

Group: Flowers

Narcissus is a botanical name for the sort of springtime bulbous plant of amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. There are around 26 of wild and several hundreds of cultivated variances, and although it is mainly considered to be a spring-time flower, some sorts bloom in autumn. Sorts are different by color, shape and size. The flower can be yellow or white, but also combined white and yellow, orange, red, and pink. The flowers, growing on a strong stalk, can be star-shaped or trumpet shaped, simple or multi-flowered. The leaves are long and light-green.

The cultivated varieties are roughly divided into three categories, based on their general characteristics. Those are: a Daffodil with four to six flattened, grass-like leaves, and its flower stalk bears a single flower with a long, trumpet like corona; a jonquil, with two to four narrow, cylindrical, rush-like leaves, and its flower stalk bears two to six relatively small flowers with short coronas; and narcissus, similar to Daffodil, but its flattened flower stalk bears four to eight flowers with short coronas. Narcissus is very resistant, and almost all sorts can survive the winter without problems, and therefore once planted bulb can grow flowers for many years.

Narcissus originates from South-West Europe and North Africa, but some sorts can be found in Central Asia and China, and some sources claim that narcissus originated from Persia, and was brought to China in the 8th century by the traders traveling on the Silk Route.

The name narcissus was probably derived from the Greek word ‘narke’, later adopted by Romans as ‘narce’, meaning ‘to be numb’, what referred to narcotic effects of narcissus, which sometimes can be overwhelming.

Narcissus was used from the ancient of times for various purposes. Romans were using narcissus unguent for creation of fragrance called Narcissinum. Arabs used it in their perfumery, as well as to cure baldness. In India, the oil of narcissus, as well as fragrant oils of sandal, jasmine, and rose, is applied to body before prayer. In France it was used for treating epilepsy and hysteria. It was used in cosmetics as an additive to powders, soaps and lipsticks. In China narcissus is associated with good fortune and gain. And today narcissus is a symbol of awaking and hope.

The scent of narcissus oil is strong and rich; it reminds of smell of dark green leaves with traces of hyacinth and jasmine. The oil is extracted by enfleurage (technique of extraction of fragrant components by oil). Nowadays it is also extracted by volatile solvents, a technique that produces both concrete and absolute. It takes 500 kilograms of flowers to produce 1 kilogram of concrete, or 300 grams of absolute, what makes narcissus oil expensive. Today, the major quantities of narcissus essential oil are produced in the Netherlands and in the Grasse region of France.

The essential oil of narcissus is rather strong and heady, and may influence the nervous system. It calms nerves and helps release stress and tension. Still, it requires careful handling, because higher doses of narcissus oil can cause headache and vomiting. Also, allergic reactions to narcissus oil have been reported.

The oil is extracted from several variances of flowers: Narcissus poeticus, Narcissus tazetta and Narcissus jonquill. Sorts that bloom in May, among which the most important and quite rare variance is Narcissus poeticus, are used for production of essential oil for perfume industry.