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The origins of mate
Like our traditional coffee or tea in Asia or England, mate has long been the most popular drink in southern Latin America. This is a product that was introduced in Europe in the 16th century, a period particularly rich in discoveries and having considerably shaped our modern perfumery. If mate refers to an infusion, it is a brew made from a plant called Yerba Maté. This is widely distributed in Paraguay as well as in Uruguay. The populations of South America widely extol its virtues such as its richness in vitamins and minerals. Likewise, mate is a natural appetite stabilizer and antioxidant. However, note that mate contains caffeine. Thereby,it acts against physical and intellectual fatigue, improving cognitive performance. However, like our famous coffee, it creates a certain habituation and requires consuming more and more to see its benefits remain at a stable level. Its name, meanwhile, comes from Quechua mathi, which designates a kind of calabash, a container traditionally used to drink mate.
Mate in the form of perfume
In perfumery, mate is obtained by extraction with alcohol. Its smell comes directly from that of its dried leaves, as could that of tea. On the other hand, the cultivation of mate causes severe damage to the humid forest. Therefore, various pilot projects are being developed with the aim of finding less harmful production methods of this product for the local fauna of Paraguay and Uruguay. Thus, mate is at the heart of the concerns of small regional companies in South America who are constantly looking for methods of sustainable development and cultivation. Thus, mate could well soon enter a fair trade system. In the meantime, the mate then presents itself in two aspects, either liquid if it is diluted, or compact if it is pure.It delivers a herbaceous odor halfway between that of hay, tobacco and tea. As such, it can just as well be in the top notes of fragrances if it is introduced with fresh citrus fruits as a perfume base, accompanying enveloping ingredients such as vanilla, sandalwood or benzoin. .
Although still relatively uncommon in Europe and in perfumery, mate is making its way into some famous perfumes such as La Treizième Heure de Cartier, Love Chloé L'Eau Florale de Chloé, Majestic Rose by Yves Saint-Laurent. or Nina Fantasy by Nina Ricci.
