Carnation brings a spicy and warm coloring to floral accords. Its distinctive undertone is bright and vivid, and pairs lovingly with notes of rose. However, the experience of smelling a fresh carnation is incomparable to the rather lacking experience of the carnation note. Regardless, the carnation is the crux of many Ambrée fragrances for its biting vibrancy.
Extracting an absolute from carnations is notoriously difficult. For this reason, the fragrance has always been replicated using a blend of both natural and synthetic raw materials.
Heralded by some and held in careful suspicion by others, the carnation has forged a tumultuous yet enthralling path. In more recent history, the carnation has been linked to equality: Oscar Wilde was known to don the dainty flower upon his shirt as a subtle nod to his sexuality. Others associate the carnation with bravery, recounting the aristocrats who wore carnations on their way to the guillotine during the French Revolution or the soldiers of Grand Condé who thread the flower through the buttonholes of their uniforms. In Medieval art, the carnation symbolized betrothal—much akin to ancient Athenians who wove garlands of carnations for festivities to honor their gods and adorned the drinks of young fiancés in celebration of their engagement.
Colombia, France, United States of America
The fascination of L’Air du Temps lies in its extreme simplicity, which, based on noble natural raw materials, gives it a real richness. Francis Cabron created in 1948 an exceptional spicy carnation accord, on a subtle bouquet of natural essences: rose, jasmine, and a creamy and enveloping base of sandalwood. Robert Ricci will say "L'Air du Temps diffuses a mysterious power of seduction. "
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