Did you know that iris is the national flower of France?

It carries both religious symbolism and significance of royal power. When Clovis, the first king of the Frankish Kingdom, was baptized, the Pope gifted him the "iris" as a present.

The French believe that the iris, with its classical elegance, represents light and freedom, fully embodying the purity and integrity of the French nation. Since then, the French have used the iris as a symbol to commemorate their ancestors.

There are two main types of iris used in perfumes and skincare products: Florentine iris and German iris. The former is primarily produced in France and Italy, while the latter comes from Morocco.

Iris smells somewhat like violets, with a clean and bright quality, carrying a subtle French garden essence.

However, many people are unfamiliar with the scent of iris. Besides the fact that it's not as memorable as roses or jasmine, the fragrance of iris is hidden in its rhizomes rather than in the fresh flowers, so the flowers themselves have no scent.

One of the most luxurious fragrances

Iris must be hand-harvested, peeled, and left to dry naturally before slowly oxidizing into the waxy iris ketone, which becomes the absolute of iris fragrance. This process takes 3 years, and as a result, 1 kilogram of iris essential oil is worth 50,000 euros! (Bulgarian rose oil costs approximately 6,000 euros per kilogram), making it the most expensive essential oil on the market!

The complex process has made iris one of the most luxurious ingredients in perfume production. Consequently, over 90% of iris-containing perfumes today are made with synthetic substances.

The origin of the name "Iris"

The iris comes from its Latin genus name Iris, which is the name of the rainbow goddess in Greek mythology. The term derives from the Greek word for "rainbow."

The goddess Iris was responsible for guiding the "virtuous souls" of the deceased back to heaven. She was a messenger between the divine and mortal realms. When a good person passed away, she would transform into a rainbow and use the rainbow bridge to carry their pure soul back to heaven.

This is also the origin of the iris's flower language—"messenger of love."

For this reason, the Greeks often planted irises in cemeteries or carved iris patterns on tombstones, hoping that one day the messenger from heaven would come to guide them.

If you don't want to wear the same fragrance as others, iris is the perfect choice

Iris has very low scent recognition. It smells somewhat like violets with a hint of clean soapy notes, giving off a bright and positive feeling. Combined with its elegant and unique fragrance, it significantly reduces the chances of fragrance overlap!