Iris is a plant rich in history and symbolism as it has always been appreciated in all civilizations. Frescoes depicting irises were found near the walls of the temple of Amun in Karnak (ancient Thebes) in Egypt, and in the botanical garden of the pharaoh Tuthmosis III (1516 -1426 BC). It is said that the first species of iris were transported to Egypt by the pharaoh, from Syria.
The ancient Greeks identified the iris with Iris the messenger of the Gods, handmaid of Hera, who was the medium that allowed men to receive the messages of the Gods. According to mythology, Iris slipped on the rainbow to descend among men (hence the genesis of the name).
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We enjoy today between sun and rain approaching BASILICA DI SAN MINIATO AL MONTE
STUNNING VIEW ACCROSS THE CITY OF FLORENCE! THE FINEST OF ALL TUSCAN ROMANESQUE BASILICAS WITH A FAMOUS FACADE, BEGUN C. 1090 DONE WITH WHITE AND GREENISH MARBLE IN A GEOMETRIC DESIGN REMINESCENT OF THE BAPTISTERY! WHEN WE COME UP HERE THE ATMOSPHERE IS DEFINITELY VERY SPIRITUAL AND RARE!
With TUSCANYES WE CAN REACH THE CHURCH DIRECTLY FROM THE STATION SANTA MARIA NOVELLA , FROM YOUR HOTEL , ON REQUEST WE CAN STOP AT SAN NICCOLÓ QUARTER HAVE A COFFEE, ENJOYING THE PITTORESQUE ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMB UP TO SAN MINIATO AL MONTE!
THE BEAUTY OF THE IRIS PALLIDA FLOWER( GIAGGIOLO)
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE ROOTS ( RIZOMA):
With its sweet purple hues, Iris, commonly called iris palllida animates the Tuscan landscape. From its roots, precious essences are produced through bulb distillation, a very delicate essence that smells like violet, for the creation of high quality products. Its delicate flowers are rich in history and a source of inspiration for art.
Did you know that the IRIS ESSENCE IS INTO THE BACARDI GIN SPIRIT RECIPE?
Iris is a plant rich in history and symbolism as it has always been appreciated in all civilizations. Frescoes depicting irises were found near the walls of the temple of Amun in Karnak (ancient Thebes) in Egypt, and in the botanical garden of the pharaoh Tuthmosis III (1516 -1426 BC). It is said that the first species of iris were transported to Egypt by the pharaoh, from Syria.
The ancient Greeks identified the iris with Iris the messenger of the Gods, handmaid of Hera, who was the medium that allowed men to receive the messages of the Gods. According to mythology, Iris slipped on the rainbow to descend among men (hence the genesis of the name).
Thanks to caterina dei medici
Caterina de ‘Medici is by far one of the best known historical figures in Tuscany. Moving to France at the age of 14, Caterina de ‘Medici left a profound mark on European Renaissance culture and modern French cuisine.
Caterina de ‘Medici, the Florentine queen of France
C.aterina de ‘Medici went down in history as the Florentine who led France, who revolutionized the cuisine and habits of the French court, definitively sealing the transition to a new and modern European culture .
Caterina de ‘Medici brings the Renaissance with her
Even though she was forced to make the best of a bad situation, Caterina did not remain idle, because if the fortunes of the Italian states had now to depend on the dominance of France or Spain , the cultural models of the Florentine Renaissance radiated and dominated Europe.
So if Francis I had already called men of genius such as Leonardo da Vinci , Rosso Fiorentino , Benvenuto Cellini to his court , the arrival in France of Caterina de ‘Medici and her entourage was also part of a far-reaching cultural development. and epochal significance .
When it comes to real changes of epoch it is often difficult, if not out of place, to try to identify the personal “merits” of individual historical figures; nevertheless, as Florentines, in the name of Caterina, we wish to accept the challenge.
The changes introduced by Caterina dei Medici to the French court
Undoubtedly, the young Caterina de’Medici introduced the way to ride the Amazon at court . The French ladies used to sit on a kind of side-oriented chair that forced them to travel very slowly , an unacceptable sacrifice for a hunting enthusiast like Caterina who needed to chase and shoot a bow against prey.
The sidesaddle style required, however, the ‘ use of a particular garment , France still exclusively male: the underwear ; it was a Florentine who taught the use to ladies.
However, do not believe that there has been a commitment to follow the real gallop or to avoid the most controversial point: the kitchen . Among the Italians who, thanks to the cooks of Caterina de ‘Medici , are credited with the invention of many renowned dishes of French cuisine and the transalpines who reject this hypothesis with disdain. Who is right? We will respond by citing French historians and chefs only.
Iris is one of Sylvaine Delacourte’s favorite raw materials, it is also one of the most expensive in perfumery.
You’ll find it in large quantities in L’Heure Bleue of Guerlain and in Florentina from the Sylvaine Delacourte Musk Collection.
The iris
The iris comes from the iridaceae family, originally from East Asia and the main producers today are Italy, Morocco and China.
There are 2 botanical varieties, the iris Pallida and the iris Germanica.
Iris flowers have a delicious scent. Almost at the price of gold, the iris hides its olfactory treasure in its roots often called rhizomes, or stems.
The origin of the name of powdery notes, comes from the first rice powders which were perfumed with iris.
Powdery notes are fairly dry, slightly woody with hints of violet.
If powdery notes were a color, they would be a pastel tone. It is a very evanescent and airy note, quite difficult to grasp.
Iris is one of Sylvaine Delacourte’s favorite raw materials, it is also one of the most expensive in perfumery.
You’ll find it in large quantities in L’Heure Bleue of Guerlain and in Florentina from the Sylvaine Delacourte Musk Collection.
The iris Pallida
The iris Pallida, native to Italy, is called a rhizome, an underground stem.
These odourless stems will be cleaned and dried for about 3 to 4 years because it takes at least 3 years before the iris reveals its perfume.
The iris stems will patiently secrete the irone, a major component of the iris scent. They are then stored in bags for another three years until they dry completely and the majestic scent appears.
It takes six years in total for Pallida iris to deliver its olfactive masterpiece.
Then, the rhizomes or stems are reduced to fine particles and treated by distillation, resulting in a paste called iris butter, whose maceration in an organic solvent and extraction finally leads to the iris absolute.
The iris Pallida flower is majestic and sovereign. In Greek mythology, the iris was considered the messenger of the gods. Iris means rainbow in Greek.
For perfumers, the iris is the embodiment of luxury, through the beauty and purity of each of its facets. In a perfume, it exhales a radiant heat, unique, both powerful and controlled.
Its scent is multifaceted with delicious notes between violet and mimosa, woody accents, light raspberry and carrot notes. In perfumery, we use carrot seed essence to replace or support the iris effect.
In Italy, the iris is cultivated on steep and poorly exposed land and harvested manually.
The plantation is done from mid-September to mid-October. The harvest takes place three years after its plantation between mid-July and mid-August.
The Germanica iris
In Morocco, Germanica iris is more robust and simpler to cultivate but the scent is less sophisticated. The rhizomes or stems are torn off and rid of their soil.
There are then two possible treatments:
Peeled rhizomes: they are peeled manually then washed. This step is long and tedious, one person treats 40 kg of rhizomes per day.
Unshelled rhizomes: they are cut into slices. The rhizomes are then dried for 10 days and stored in sheds under precise conditions of aeration and humidity for 3 years.
It is during air drying that the irone, the noblest and most expensive component of the iris, develops.
The rhizomes therefore require 6 years of treatment before reaching their optimal quality. After 6 years, the rhizomes are reduced to powder, 3 treatments are then possible:
Steam distillation of the iris powder which gives a waxy and white or concrete paste or butter (10 to 35% irone), then a vacuum distillation with wax absolute = Absolute Iris (65% to 85% irone).
Iris Powder treated with Volatile Solvent Extraction = Resinoid Iris Powder (viscous product containing 1 to 3% irone).
Iris powder treated with Iris Tincture or Iris Infusion containing tiny amounts of Irone.
The two main constituents of the iris are irone, a very expensive constituent representing the quality of the iris, and myristic acid. One can use irone alone, which is the product of absolute luxury.
Iris butter can be calibrated in terms of its iron content (8% for example) by adding natural myristic acid containing irone, which itself comes from the process of obtaining the absolute.
Perfumes where iris plays an important role
Iris Pallida by L’Artisan Parfumeur
Infusion d’iris by Prada
Iris Ganache by Guerlain
Homme by Dior
L’Heure Bleue by Guerlain
Après l’Ondée by Guerlain
Florentina by Sylvaine Delacourte
Dovana by Sylvaine Delacourte
Insolence by Guerlain by Maurice Roucel and Sylvaine Delacourte
Iris in Sylvaine Delacourte fragrances
MONTE
STUNNING VIEW ACCROSS THE CITY OF FLORENCE! THE FINEST OF ALL TUSCAN ROMANESQUE BASILICAS WITH A FAMOUS FACADE, BEGUN C. 1090 DONE WITH WHITE AND GREENISH MARBLE IN A GEOMETRIC DESIGN REMINESCENT OF THE BAPTISTERY! WHEN WE COME UP HERE THE ATMOSPHERE IS DEFINITELY VERY SPIRITUAL AND RARE!
With TUSCANYES WE CAN REACH THE CHURCH DIRECTLY FROM THE STATION SANTA MARIA NOVELLA , FROM YOUR HOTEL , ON REQUEST WE CAN STOP AT SAN NICCOLÓ QUARTER HAVE A COFFEE, ENJOYING THE PITTORESQUE ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMB UP TO SAN MINIATO AL MONTE!
THE BEAUTY OF THE IRIS PALLIDA FLOWER( GIAGGIOLO)
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF THE ROOTS ( RIZOMA):
With its sweet purple hues, Iris, commonly called iris palllida animates the Tuscan landscape. From its roots, precious essences are produced through bulb distillation, a very delicate essence that smells like violet, for the creation of high quality products. Its delicate flowers are rich in history and a source of inspiration for art.
Did you know that the IRIS ESSENCE IS INTO THE BACARDI GIN SPIRIT RECIPE?
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