Enfleurage: Capturing the Soul of Flowers the Old-Fashioned Way

For five mornings now, my studio has opened to the scent of lilacs.
At dawn, I gently pick them, still fresh with dew. Every day, I repeat the gesture—like a ritual. Not to make a bouquet, nor an infusion, but to capture their soul.

Because there is an ancient, almost forgotten method, born in the perfumed salons of Grasse, and passed down from generation to generation: enfleurage , a patient, artisanal, almost alchemical technique, which allows us to preserve the fragrance of the most fragile flowers, those that no still can tame.

In this article, I'll open the doors to this fascinating practice—its origins, how it works, and why it deserves to regain its place in the creation of natural and artisanal perfumes.

🌿 What is enfleurage?

Enfleurage is one of the oldest methods of extracting the natural fragrance of flowers.
Before chemical solvents and steam distillation, people used this simple technique: place fresh flowers on a fat, then wait patiently for their essence to settle on its own. A slow dance between the flower and the fat, without heat, pressure, or chemical alteration.

This traditional technique originated in France, in the Grasse region, in the 18th century, when precious flowers like jasmine, tuberose, and lilac—known as "mute flowers"—could not tolerate heat or distillation. Their fragrance could only be extracted gently, through contact.

Cold enfleurage is the purest and most respectful method, the one I practice today, because it respects the natural cycles of flowers and reveals a lively, seasonal, intimate fragrance.

✨ Why choose enfleurage to extract the fragrance from flowers?

In an age of synthetic perfumes and industrial extracts, enfleurage seems slow, complex, and unprofitable. Yet, it offers an authentic and rich natural fragrance that is impossible to reproduce otherwise.

Enfleurage invites us to slow down, to honor each flower, to create in harmony with the season. Certain fragile flowers—lilac, lily of the valley, violet, daffodil—can only reveal their fragrance through this slow, repeated method.

The result is not just a smell: it is an olfactory memory , a balm charged with light, silence, poetry... a true living imprint.

This natural fragrance is perfect for handmade creations: soaps, balms, solid perfumes, body oils — all imbued with a unique, subtle character that changes over time.

🛠️ Equipment needed to practice cold enfleurage

• A neutral and stable fat : deodorized coconut oil (solid between 20 and 22°C) or a blend with shea butter or vegetable tallow. These substances capture and preserve fragrances well.
• Fresh, untreated flowers : picked in the morning, after the dew has settled. Freshness is essential to prevent the fragrance from being lost or the fat from spoiling.
• A wide glass or ceramic dish : shallow, to spread the fat evenly (about 0.5 to 1 cm thick).
• A wooden or silicone spatula : to spread the fat.
• A fine cloth or gauze : place on the dish to protect from dust while allowing the flowers to breathe.

🌸 Detailed steps of cold enfleurage

1- Spread the fat in an even layer in the dish, neither too liquid nor too hard.

2- Pick fresh flowers early in the morning, remove stems and leaves.

3- Gently arrange the flowers on the fat, without crowding them.

4- Cover with a thin cloth and leave to stand for 24 hours at room temperature (20-22°C).

5- Every day, remove the faded flowers and replace them with fresh flowers, for 5 to 10 days depending on the desired intensity.

6- Once the enfleurage is perfumed, use it directly in your preparations or transform it into an absolute.

Conclusion: Enfleurage, an ancestral art for a living and natural perfume

Enfleurage is more than a method: it is a tribute to the fleeting nature of flowers, a dialogue of patience and respect.

In this fragrant fat rests the soul of the lilac picked at dawn, captured without violence, ready to enhance your natural creations.

If this adventure inspires you, don't hesitate to leave me a comment under this post!

See you soon, my Toad!
The Mandrake

PS Are you a fan of flowers? I invite you to discover my section dedicated to the Floral Olfactory Family right HERE.

PSS And if you want to receive other plant-based recipes, botanical advice and ideas for fragrant creations, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter 🌿
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