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Cardamom: the plant and its fragrances

We continue our overview of raw materials used in perfumery with cardamom. You will learn everything about its origin, treatment, benefits and how it’s used in perfumery. 

 

History of cardamom

Latin name of cardamom is Eletarria cardamomum
Family Zingiberaceae

Legend says that Cleopatra, who was very much in love with Mark Antony, used to burn cardamom perfume before her dates.

Cardamom is a robust, perennial, herbaceous plant, 2 to 5 metres high that grows at medium altitude in tropical rainforests.
It is a plant with thick rhizomes that produce white flowers with red veins. Cardamom is a dry capsule type fruit.
Each capsule contains 10 to 20 angular, black, fragrant seeds. The fruits are hand-picked in India from September to December.
Cardamom belongs to the same botanical family as turmeric and ginger.

This spice, which is the queen of spices next to the pepper considered as the king, often has its name distorted, i.e. cardamom and not cardamone.

Cardamom is the typical spice of Indian cuisine and is used in Massala curry and chai tea.
It is one of the most expensive spices after saffron and vanilla.
When ground into a powder, it loses its fragrance very quickly.

 

Cardamom processing

In order to obtain the essential oil of cardamom, the seeds are flattened and then steam distilled for 5 hours before a purification and agitation phase. This is followed by a pre-export assessment. It is a fairly expensive spice, as its production is labour intensive.

 

Origin of cardamom

There are different varieties of cardamom: white, green, beige and brown. The colour will vary according to the drying technique.
Cardamom is mainly native to India and Sri Lanka, but it is also cultivated in Guatemala, which is the world's largest exporter of these precious green capsules, as well as in Tanzania, Vietnam and Cambodia. It is green, then turns yellow and starts to fall off, which means that it is time to harvest it.

Another quality exists: black or brown cardamom. It is a cousin of green cardamom, but larger, rougher, with a stronger, smokier fragrance and most commonly used in savoury preparations.

 

Scent of cardamom

Cardamom is used in all olfactory families and especially in eaux de Colognes. It is used in both perfumes for men and perfumes for women. It is particularly well suited to the woody, chypre and oriental families.

Guatemalan cardamom is more popular in perfumery than Indian cardamom, as it is purer, more uplifting and therefore more appreciated by perfumers.

 

 

Olfactive description of cardamom

Cardamom is a scent I particularly like, it is classified as a fresh, slightly camphoraceous, very aromatic spice with an eucalyptus and rosemary effect, with a hint of pepper and lemon. It is therefore both spicy and aromatic.
Cardamom goes well with chocolate, coffee and tea and with all other spices. It also goes very well with citrus fruits because of its rising citrus facet, which is extremely invigorating.

Other fresh spices:

  • Coriander seed
  • Pink pepper
  • Timut pepper
  • Ginger
  • Juniper berries 

 

Virtues and benefits of cardamom

The Egyptians chew cardamom to whiten their teeth and freshen their breath.
It has digestive and stimulating properties. It is also said to be effective against sore throats and coughs.
Cardamom calms nausea and kidney pain.
Cardamom is also used to perfume some cigarettes and is widely used in perfumery.
It is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine.
It is also used to flavour Lebanese coffee and oriental desserts.
In Scandinavia, it is used to flavour cakes, mulled wines, pies, as well as gingerbread.
The leaf can also be used to flavour Indian dishes.

 

Cardamom in the Sylvaine Delacourte fragrances

In Sylvaine Delacourte's Vanilla Collection, Vangelis contains many spices (cloves, pepper, cinnamon) including cardamom, a nod to the chai drink. A fragrance with a strong character, combining the strength of spices with woods (patchouli, vetiver, cedar, sandalwood) and the tenderness of vanilla. It is a spicy vanilla.

A memory of many trips to India, it is an encounter with Vangelis in a mysterious and intriguing Rajasthan palace in India, his face is dressed in a colourful turban, he is sipping a chai tea in which the spices crackle.

 

Perfumes containing cardamom

Cardamom is a spicy note that the great perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena particularly likes. Initially more masculine than feminine, it is now increasingly seen in perfumes for women, but especially in the so-called confidential niche perfumery.

  • Eau parfumée au Thé Vert by Bulgari
  • Déclaration by Cartier
  • Junniper Sling by Penhaligon’s
  • Intoxicates by Killian
  • Mimosa et Cardamome by Joe Malone
  • Kenzo Jungle by Kenzo
  • Dzongkha by l’Artisan Parfumeur
  • Allien by Mugler 
  • 1969 Parfum by Histoires de Parfums
  • Voyage by Hermès
  • Vangelis by Sylvaine Delacourte Paris

 

Sylvaine Delacourte fragrances

Discover Sylvaine Delacourte's brand with her Orange Blossom, Musk and Vanilla Collections. You can try them thanks to the Discovery Boxes (5 Eaux de Parfum x 2 ml) and rediscover these raw materials as you have never smelled them before.