Hyssop

Hyssop: the forgotten aromatic of our gardens for great fragrances Hyssop is a typically Mediterranean aromatic plant of the garrigue. Beyond its slightly lemony, gentle scent, it offers pretty little blue flowers as attractive as they are fragrant. A sacred herb for Catholics, notably used to consecrate temples, this lovely hyssop has many virtues. Its essential oil, with medicinal properties, has been used for about ten years in perfumery to bring fine aromatic notes to floral fragrances.

The tangy aromatic herb that reigns over the garrigue: hyssop

Hyssop, this small garrigue flower, has the distinction of being mentioned in one of the most widely read books in the world, the Bible: “And you shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin […]”. The little plant is indeed sacred and considered a purifying plant for places of worship. In Hebrew culture, hyssop is also clearly known as the plant symbolizing humility. And yet, despite all these noble and ancient references, hyssop was forgotten for centuries in favor of its cousins, oregano and marjoram.

It has been reappearing for a few decades in our gardens and scrublands, to the great delight of our eyes and our noses. Moreover, its essential oil has powerful antiviral properties (once its toxic part has been removed) and is of course highly fragrant. Hence its recent appearance in beautiful, highly original floral compositions.

The hyssop note in floral fragrances

The hyssop note is particularly characterized by its aromatic power as well as by the delicacy of its scent. So while aromatics traditionally appear more often in masculine fragrances, hyssop pairs particularly well with the new floral, fruity and fresh fragrances so favored at the moment.

Thus the fruity florals Oxygène by Lanvin and Purple Fantasy by Guerlain use hyssop both as a heart note paired with jonquil or osmanthus, and as a top note in unison with green notes and that famous fresh accord.

Hyssop is also the note found in even more original floral fragrances such as the floral and aquatic Givenchy Oblique Play by Givenchy, or the floral woody Premier Jour by Nina Ricci, which does not hesitate to use the hyssop note as a base note paired with white musks.

It seems that hyssop has found an attractive way to stand out in perfumery through the floral family. Moreover, it inspires the creativity of noses, who have not hesitated to pair it also with a vanilla oriental, MV5 by MAC, which uses it at the heart of fragrances built on fruits, aromatics and amber. Finally, despite its delicacy, the growing appeal of original aromatic notes within the masculine fragrance range may soon bring hyssop into the beautiful woody aromatic compositions made for men.