Tiare Flower

lat. Gardenia tahitensis (Rubiaceae)

Group: Flowers

Tiare is a type of gardenia which grows on Tahiti, the largest Island of French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean. Tiare is a soul and a symbol of Tahiti. Both men and women wear these fragrant flowers during special ceremonies and holidays. This natural jewel of Tahiti is a real gift for adventurers and tourists who drop by on the coasts of the islands of Polynesia. Traditional floral necklaces made of Tiare and other local flowers, are typically given to guests in Tahiti, as a sign of welcome.

Tiare flower is a sub-sort of gardenia, and its Latin name speaks of this familiar relationship: Gardenia Tahitensis is known all around the world as Tiare from Tahiti or Tiare Mahoi. Tiare is a national symbol of Tahiti, often celebrated as the flower of affection, having delicate snow-white petals that stand for the language of love. The scent of Tiare is heady and hypnotic, spreading sweet and exotic aromas.

This flower is adored on Tahiti by both men and women. Both genders use flowers of Tiare for decoration, putting it behind their ears to highlight the beauty of their face, especially during holidays and special ceremonies. Tiare flower, used as a decoration, has a special significance for Tahitian people – if worn behind the left ear, it signifies that the particular person is happily in love, while behind the left ear shows that the person is free and searching for that special someone. If the flower is set on the nape it almost clearly says: 'follow me'.

Tiare has a sweet and intensive, heady and attractive scent. The home-made fragrant oil called Monoi is made of Tiare flowers and coconut oil. The flowers are picked by hand, but before the blossom open its petals, and quickly put inside refined coconut oil to sit there for 15 days, till they start showing all their opulence and range of aromas. This process is called "enfleurage", which is a French term for a special method of extraction.

Tiare in perfumes is a dominant floral ingredient that awakens and excites the senses. It is found in many perfume compositions for both men and women, spreading a sweet and exotic aroma and symbolizing the spirit of distant exotic islands.

Tiare is the dominant floral ingredient in perfumes such as: L'Erbolario -Tiare, Comptoir Sud Pacifique - Aloha Tiare or Avon - Tahitian Holiday, where it is combined with coconut notes. The scent also dominates in Thierry Mugler - Alien Eau Luminescente, accompanied by fresh and sweet mandarin, Mariah Carey M – where Tiare blends with gardenia, marine and sweet accords and incense.
 

Tiare is found also in floral compositions such as Cacharel Anais Anais Eau Legere, in floral-fruity Michael Kors- Island Fiji, as well as in romantic composition of Annick Goutal - Songes, intertwined with ylang-ylang, jasmine, frangipani and orange blossom fondling with vanilla. Another perfume inspired by Tiare bouquet is Montale Intense Tiare.

 

Sources: Tahiti Tourisme, Monoi
Photo credit: Polynesia, Hair decoration - Peter Hendrie

 

 

Perfumes and Colognes With Tiare Flower