Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum and Helichrisum arenarium) adores the sun. It grows along the Mediterranean coast. It likes dry climates, rocky, sandy soil with good drainage, so growing immortelle on fertile fields in Vojvodina is not recommended. The plant has grayish tiny leaves and golden-yellow flowers with a beautiful, unusual, intense scent that comes from a precious essential oil.
Immortelle essential oil is obtained by steam distillation of the flowering plant. Distillation must be done 24h from the moment of picking, which is one of the reasons why this oil is expensive. Another reason is its small amount in the plant (less than 0.05%), so that about 9 liters of essential oil can be obtained annually from a hectare of planted immortelle. This oil is a complex mixture of esters, terpenes and monoterpene alcohols. Varieties of oils rich in italodions are most valued.
In addition to the essential oil of immortelle, it also contains flavonoids, coumarin, vitamin K, flavon apigerin.
In our folk medicine, immortelle is primarily used as a medicine to treat the liver, stimulates the secretion of bile and pancreas.
Distillation of immortelle and extraction of essential oil are relatively new procedures, but the power of immortelle was once used by dipping the golden flowers of this plant in olive oil, so the blasam obtained after 40 days was used for care and treatment. Proof that for centuries it has been known that immortelle slows down the aging of cells caused by external or internal stress is its Italian name imortlle (immortal).
There are many species of immortelle and the most famous is Helichrysum italicum. Its significance was recognized and best used by the French, who called it "immortelle", which means immortal. He carries this nickname of immortelle with pride and right. Reason? Ability to erase wrinkles, scars, stretch marks and bruises.
The only disadvantage of this miracle plant is the amount needed to turn it into essential oil, and thus its high price.
A ton of immortelle per liter of oil
Why is immortelle so precious and desirable? The answer lies precisely in the valuable elixir that it contains in very small quantities. Namely, immortelle has very little essential oil (less than 0.05 percent), so it takes more than a ton of the plant to get a pound of essential oil.
This unusual plant was nicknamed immortal due to the fact that it never withers, even after it has been harvested. Otherwise, her tree is erect and overgrown with silky, thick hairs. It can grow up to 60 cm in height, and some species, up to 90 cm. It blooms from May to July.
Also, fresh, not dried, plants must be distilled. Now it surely becomes much clearer to you why the price of immortelle is mostly high? That's right - for a kilo of this essential oil you will have to pay between € 1,500 and € 1,800. Numerous women around the world are satisfied with the effects, and growing this plant is becoming an increasingly attractive and lucrative business for many.
Immortelle in Serbia
Although this medicinal plant was associated exclusively with the Mediterranean area, it can recently be found in Serbia as well. Namely, the change of climate has conditioned the change of conditions under which immortelle can be grown, so don't be surprised if you find the miraculous plant right among the beautiful Serbian meadows and fields.
Immortelle balm for extremely dry and damaged skin
If you have extremely dry skin, the care of these nourishing balms will suit you.
Ingredients and accessories:
90 g of immortelle macerate
10 g of beeswax
5 drops of immortelle essential oil (optional)
4 drops of CO2 rosemary extract
1 laboratory beaker
balm jar
Making procedure:
We need a water bath, which we will improvise: we put a vessel with water on a low heat, in which we then immerse a laboratory beaker with the material we need to dissolve. In this case it is wax, immortelle macerate and CO2 rosemary extract. The amount of water should be approximately enough to slightly exceed the level of the material in the immersed laboratory beaker.
The water bath is ready before boiling, approximately when bubbles begin to form at the bottom of the vessel. If you have a thermometer, the ideal temperature is about 70-75 ° C.
1. Prepare a water bath
2. Weigh the wax and immortelle macerate
3. Mix the wax, immortelle macerate and CO2 rosemary extract in a water bath until they melt and combine (the wax melts more slowly). If it lasts too long, the bath is not heated enough. When the ingredients are combined, add the immortelle essential oil (optional).
4. Pour the mass into a bowl and do not close it until the balm has cooled
The flowers look so funny and beautiful