Premise
How can we forget the wonderful and fragrant tiarè flowers that embellish the Tahitian necklaces? Faithful to the ancient tradition, the inhabitants of Tahiti donate a floral necklace to the tourists, being the tiarè symbol of a happy welcome. Tiarè flowers, immaculate and fragrant, are luxurious gardenias, particularly appreciated for their pure white color, as well as for the star-shaped shape artistically designed by its petals.
Tiarè: analysis of the name
The name tiarè derives from the term tiàra, as well as crown : this association refers ideally to the corolla (or crown) of the flower. The particular conformation of the corolla, in turn, refers to the headgear of some authorities (eg tiarà worn in ancient times by the popes as a symbol of power). Another nickname attributed to the tiarè is "flower of Candolle", in homage to the botanist herbalist AP de Candolle.
Botanical description
The scientific name of the tiare is Gardenia tahitensis, a shrubby plant belonging to the same family of coffee, china and uncaria (Rubiaceae); some authors speak of the Rubiaceae as a super family, given that over 6, 000 different species are included [taken from www.lerboristeria.com/]
The tiarè is a medium-sized shrub species, typical of tropical and subtropical climate regions: the plant fears low temperatures, therefore it is classified among those that are highly fragile and sensitive; just think that the tiarè flowers suffer from the "low" temperatures and already at 10 ° C they can easily be damaged. Due to this peculiarity, the cultivation of the plant outside the tropics is particularly difficult: the Polynesian, fertile, calcareous coral or volcanic soils are specifically suitable for the development of the tiare.
The tiare flowers are only quite large, pure white in color and, above all, very fragrant: near the evening, the tiarè flower erects its corolla towards the sky, permeating the air with a sweet, intense but at the same time delicate and unmistakable.
Flower uses
Tiarè flowers, in addition to the well-known ornamental and decorative use, are widely used also in the cosmetic field. Through the technique of enfleurage, a very fragrant oil is obtained; the tiare flowers are macerated in the oil extracted from the coconut pulp: at the end of the extraction - which lasts about two weeks - an oil known as monoi of Tahiti (or of tiare) is obtained. Similar to butter, monoi oil is solid when the temperature drops below 22 ° C. The monoi, the coconut oil perfumed with the essence of tiarè, is used in cosmetics for the formulation of moisturizing and nourishing products; in addition, the monoi of tiarè is used to repair the damage caused by tanning, taking advantage of the antioxidant and elasticising properties. Moreover, it seems that solar products formulated with monoi of tiarè are also effective to slow down the uneven fading of the tan [taken from www.lerboristeria.com, written by Dott.ssa M. Multineddu]
The tiarè lends itself to be a good aid for the beauty of the hair: the conditioning power of this flower protects the hair from the sun and counteracts its dryness, giving it combing and softness.
Thanks to the intense and decisive fragrance, perfumed waters and essences are formulated to be added to the pool water to perfume and soften the skin. Not surprisingly, a wide range of shower gel, milk bath, shampoo and body cream is prepared with the essence of tiaras.
Summary
Tiarè: to fix the concepts
| Tiarè |
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| Tiarè: analysis of the name | Tiarè:
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| Tiarè: botanical description |
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| Tiarè: uses of the flower | Decorative setting Cosmetic sector |
| Extraction of the essence of the tiare | Enfleurage → maceration of flowers in oil extracted from coconut pulp (monoi of Thaiti) |
| Tiarè monoi uses |
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