Floral Bouquet

Jean Patou's Joy (1930), composed by Henri Alméras, is built on jasmine and rose with a large share of absolutes. Nina Ricci's L'Air du Temps (1948), composed by Francis Fabron, is a bouquet with a clear carnation and spice facet.

Each flower contributes its own part. Rose brings phenylethyl alcohol, geraniol and citronellol. Jasmine brings benzyl acetate, cis jasmone and indole. Ylang-ylang brings linalool, benzyl benzoate and p cresyl methyl ether. Carnation and clove bring eugenol. Orris brings irones. The overlaps blur the edges between flowers.

Rules to note: rose, jasmine and ylang-ylang oils and extracts are named individually on the expanded allergen list of Regulation (EU) 2023/1545; new products placed on the EU market after 31 July 2026 must be labelled according to it. Geraniol, citronellol, eugenol, isoeugenol and benzyl benzoate are on the earlier list of 26 allergens; natural rose oil contains methyl eugenol, restricted in Annex III and by IFRA.

The SFP website publishes only subfamily names; perfume lists per subfamily are in the printed Classification officielle des parfums. Perfumes named here are commonly cited examples, not official SFP placements.

B3 is the centre of the Floral family. With aliphatic aldehydes the bouquet moves to B4 Floral Aldehydic; with green leafy notes to B5 Green Floral; when one flower stands out, back to B1 Soliflore.

B3 is the easiest branch to build with natural materials, since flowers are the strength of absolutes and oils: rose, jasmine, ylang-ylang, tuberose, carnation, orange flower, mimosa.

The challenge is balance so that no single flower dominates. Jasmine and tuberose absolutes are very strong; rose and geranium bind the flowers together; sandalwood and benzoin hold the bouquet in the base. Check IFRA limits and the EU allergen list for each material. This page gives no formula percentages.