Product Overview
The plants used for this absolute are certified organically grown, but the resulting Carnation Absolute cannot be certified organic because solvents used in the extraction process are non-organic. However, this absolute is far above standard Carnation Absolutes with regard to its exquisite aroma – there is no trace of petrochemical solvent vapors, just a clean floral aroma of tremendous tenacity.
There is a mysterious palpable allure that exudes from the aroma, perhaps from its provenance; indeed, history tells us the flowers were associated with love, weddings and fidelity[1], and in the Victorian language of flowers, Carnations symbolize pure love.[2] It was the main flower used by the ancient Greeks in the making of garlands and coronets, thus its name 'coronation' from which the name Carnation is derived.[3]
In modern perfumery, Carnation is mostly used to modify a fragrance to provide warm spicy floral nuances. "Spicy notes are appealing to men, and many men's fragrances … contain Carnation,"[4] an example being one of the most popular and a classic – Shulton's Old Spice introduced in 1937.[5]
1 McIntyre, Anne. The Complete Floral Healer, 2012, p. 14.
2 Ibid, p. 15.
3 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World, 1994, p. 186.
4 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ffj.2730010104/abstract
5 http://www.basenotes.net/ID26121214.html
6 Rhind, Jennifer Peace. Fragrance and Wellbeing, 2014, pp. 325-6.
7 Wells, F.V. and Marcel Billot. Perfumery Technology – Art: Science: Industry, 2nd ed., 1981, p. 211.
8 Tisserand, Robert and Rodney Young. Essential Oil Safety, 2nd ed., 2014, p. 233.