Cardamom perfume ingredient

Production

Growing wild in the tropical rainforests of southwest India, Sri Lanka and Guatemala, cardamom thrives in humid, mountainous forests well-above sea level. The lavish cardamom seeds are harvested from an otherwise inconspicuous tree: growing up to three meters tall, cardamom trees are perennial herbaceous plants, not dissimilar to reeds in appearance. The trees’ coveted and highly fragrant seeds can be found at the base of the plant, hidden within its stems in spindle-shaped pods.

History

A spice as old as civilization itself, the divine qualities of cardamom have been cherished for millennia. Our earliest known references to this coveted spice appear in ancient Egypt, as early as 1550 BC. Ancient Egyptians were well-versed in its aromatic and cosmetic benefits, often chewing cardamom to whiten their teeth or flavor their coffee. Legend has it that Cleopatra herself enjoyed the relaxing properties of cardamom and would douse her palace in its lingering fragrance in anticipation of Marc Antony’s visits. Once cardamom hit the ancient shores of the Mediterranean, Greeks and Romans alike were captivated by its essence—adding the newfound note to lavish perfumes. Alongside its rich fragrance, cardamom has been cherished throughout human history for its vibrant flavors. Its laborsome production makes cardamom the world’s third most expensive spice after saffron and vanilla.

Origin

Guatemala, India, Sri Lanka

Did you know...

Perhaps unsurprisingly, cardamom is considered the "Queen of Spices" (black pepper being the "King"). Cardamom is a spice which, in addition to its scent, has the advantage of delaying food putrefaction, which is very useful in tropical countries where refrigerators are rather uncommon. In India, it is customary to chew a few seeds after meals to refresh the breath. It stimulates both mind and body.

Most combined ingredients

Iconic Fragrance

Cartier

DÉCLARATION EAU DE TOILETTE

With Déclaration, Jean-Claude Ellena created one of his first masculine perfume, with this inimitable olfactory signature that we may notice in other creations. A fresh, spicy, woody scent that soars in the strength and majesty of cedarwood, refreshed by cardamom.