Immortelle
Immortelle is also known as “everlasting” because the flowers retain their form and color when dried. This small yellow flower with enviable properties is said to hold the secret to eternal youth.
The Immortelle flower grows all over the world. Of the more than 600 varieties only one, Helichrysum Italicum, contains the optimal amount of a key active anti-aging component. This Immortelle flower, organically grown on the island of Corsica, the “Island of Beauty,” is the superior ingredient used in L’OCCITANE products. This sets us apart from any competitors.
The Legend
According to a Greek legend, Ulysses was shipwrecked on the island of Pheacia. There he met the king’s daughter, who was renowned for her goddess-like beauty. The people claimed that to preserve this beauty she anointed herself with a precious golden oil extracted from Immortelle flowers, said to have considerable regenerative properties. To help Ulysses recover, she gave him a vial of this famous Immortelle essential oil. After applying it to his body, Ulysses regained the strength and beauty of a demi-god and was able to resume his fabulous voyage.
The Exceptional Properties
L’OCCITANE has registered a patent on the effectiveness and use of Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) essential oil. This largely unknown oil has exceptional properties, thanks to its unique composition. Its primary constituent, neryl acetate, is present in particularly high levels in the flowers harvested in the Monts de la Balagne in northwestern Corsica. Neryl acetate gives Immortelle essential oil its specific anti-free radical and anti-wrinkle properties.
The essential oil of Immortelle is:
- Pure: organic, it does not contain any chemical residue (neither fertilizer, nor pesticide).
- Rare: more than 1 ton of Immortelle flowers are needed to obtain 1 liter of essential oil.
- Precious: this low production rate explains the high price of the essential oil
- Highly concentrated: even a small amount of essential oil is enough to deliver all the effectiveness of the flower.
Immortelle Collection
The Immortelle range is an expert anti-aging collection that is dynamic and fast growing, and so are our essential oil needs. Traditionally, Immortelle flowers are picked in wild fields in Balagne, Corsica.
In 2003, in accordance with our
L’OCCITANE values, we decided to start the
first Immortelle cultivated fields to:
- Guarantee a source of Immortelle flowers for our essential oil needs
- Produce our own traceable organic crop
- Preserve the integrity of the wild Corsican landscapes (sustainability)
In 2007 in association with 10 farmers and 4 distillers we are operating a parcel of 7 hectares of Immortelle plants.
Pleased with this encouraging result, we have planned a project of 50 hectares targeted for 2011.
Discover the Immortelle Collection >