Narcissus and Daffodil

Narcissus in perfumery 393
Figure 17.1 Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) can be seen like white sheets in pastures. On
the right of the photograph there are some Jonquils (N. jonquilla), which
generally flower 2–3 weeks before the narcissus. Both flowers can be
found in the same area, but they never blend.
anemone, arnica, St. John’s wort, wild pansy, mallow, burdock, cat’s foot, foxglove,
balm and gentian. Today, all these products have become part of a more modest
flower gathering operation, sometimes very small scale, and among some of the
principal products its scale is strictly controlled: bilberry and mushroom on the
one hand, and tree moss, narcissus and jonquils on the other. The last three products
are virtually the only materials of the region destined for use in perfumery.
The narcissus, the jewel in the crown of the region’s plants, has become its
emblem. In the last days of May, the meadows suddenly become white in successive
waves, reaching ground as far as 1500 metres above sea level. Narcissus generally
grow in damp meadows, and the intensity of the white covering that forms in the
fields can reliably indicate the presence of water or a stream from a distance.
FLOWER GATHERING
Thirty years ago, some flower picking was still done by hand, but even at that time
the use of the ‘comb’ (le peigne) was becoming more common (Figure 17.2). The comb
was a kind of rake with cutting teeth, and it was designed to allow the collection of
just the flower head on its own, without the stalk. In fact, it is only the centre of the
flower itself that is of interest in perfumery. Gradually, one saw appearance of a
larger, improved comb, a cart mounted on wheels (le chariot). The cart is somewhat
cumbersome, but is more efficient than the comb on large areas lush with flowers;
however, it is not particularly suited to all situations, and the comb continues to be