harvesting jasmine sambac makes it possible to extract a rare essence

At the first light of day in these plantations in southern India, a most delicate mission takes place: the harvest of white buds or jasmine sambac. It is a variety that can only be found in India and whose fragrance is sought after all over the world. Every day, there are dozens of them crowding between the rows, you have to pick them just before they bloom. Part of the jasmine is then sold on the markets. In India, jasmine is used to make garlands of flowers that adorn temples, but also chignons or braids.

Up to 4,500 euros per liter

On the stalls, the price can vary from day to day. “It can go from six euros up to twenty euros”, says a seller. Most of the jasmine harvested in the region ends up in the Diwakar Mohan factory. He receives that evening nearly 3.5 tons of jasmine which must first be dried. “The flowers must be processed on the same day, because they cannot be stored without losing the fragrance”, explains the manager. The flowers are subjected to several chemical processes to extract their essence, which is found in the largest French perfumeries. The price goes up to 4,500 euros per liter. Almost 200,000 tons of these flowers are grown every year.