Tanaise

Known since Antiquity, tansy is an emblematic species of the Asteraceae family, rich in active principles. It was used in monastery gardens for its many medicinal and insect-repellent properties. This perennial plant, with its finely dissected, intensely green leaves, bears eye-catching yellow flower heads on roadsides and meadows in summer.

Tansy is distilled at the end of flowering to produce a powerful essential oil rich in thujone, camphor and chamazulene, the latter giving it its characteristic bluish hue. Although toxic in high doses, tansy essential oil is prized for its anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic and insect-repellent properties. The hydrosol, milder and less concentrated, is no less precious, used for its purifying and soothing effects, particularly on the skin. Harvesting tansy is a delicate operation, as the quality of the oil and hydrosol is highly dependent on cultivation and distillation conditions, making this plant a true aromatic curiosity.