Is Lupin natural or synthetic?

A fantasy or concept note, not a single material.

Lupin

AccordFLOWERSfloral · fresh · rich

HeartPyramid

—Strength

—Tenacity

4Origins

Editorial noteWe own no rights to this material, its name or its trademark. This entry is independent editorial journalism, published under freedom of expression.

Specimen

Lupinus

Fantasy/Concept

Definition

Lupin is the common name of Lupinus, a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae. Lupins are widely cultivated both as a food source and as ornamental plants.

FLORAL GREEN SWEET WARM FRESH CREAMY

Lupine, bluebonnet

Type: Accord
Olfactive family: Florals
Subfamily: Green florals
Cluster: Green-fresh florals

Instruments

Pyramid

TTop

HHeart

BBase

Producing countries

Australia Europe Russia the Americas

Scent

The scent of Texas bluebonnet blossoms has been diversely described; many people say they give off no scent at all, while a few have described the scent as 'sickly sweet'. The flowers of the Mojave lupine, Lupinus odoratus, have a scent similar to that of violets.

In PREMIEREPEAU

DISCOVERY SET7 × 2 ml →EXTRAIT DE PARFUMThe seven extraits →

The Full Story

The genus

Lupinus, known as lupin, lupine or regionally bluebonnet, is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae. The genus includes over 199 species, with centres of diversity in North and South America. Smaller centres occur in North Africa and the Mediterranean. The species are mostly herbaceous perennial plants 0.3-1.5 metres (1-5 feet) tall, but some are annual plants and a few are shrubs up to 3 m (10 ft) tall.

The flower and the seed

The flowers are produced in dense or open whorls on an erect spike. The pea-like flowers have an upper standard, or banner, two lateral wings, and two lower petals fused into a keel. The flower shape has inspired common names such as bluebonnets and quaker bonnets. The fruit is a pod containing several seeds. The seeds contain alkaloids which lend them a bitter taste.

Cultivation and uses

Lupins are invasive in some areas, and lupine has become an ecological problem in Iceland since the beginning of the 21st century. The part of the plant that is eaten is the leguminous seed. Because they are bitter and contain strong alkaloids, the seeds must be pickled before consumption to avoid toxicity. The seeds can also be made into a flour and used as fertilizer.

The pearl lupin of the Andean highlands, Lupinus mutabilis, known locally as tarwi or chocho, was extensively cultivated. The seeds of tarwi must be soaked in water for two to four days to remove the water-soluble alkaloids that make them bitter. The seed of Lupinus mutabilis contains 42% protein and 18% fat on average. Users soaked the seed in running water to remove most of the bitter alkaloids and then cooked or toasted the seeds to make them edible.

Low-alkaloid cultivars called sweet lupins have been bred, and are increasingly planted. Three Mediterranean species of lupin (blue lupin, white lupin and yellow lupin) are widely cultivated for livestock and poultry feed. Although lupins are not native to Australia, it has produced 85 percent of commercially grown lupins in the past decade.

Allergy

Lupin allergy may cause life-threatening anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals. In the EU, lupin must be listed as an allergen in pre-packed foods where it has been used.

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History

Seeds of Lupinus digitatus, already domesticated in those times, were discovered in tombs of Egypt's Twelfth Dynasty. Seven seeds of this species were also retrieved in tombs of this dynasty dated to the 22nd century BC, and they are the most ancient evidence of lupin in the Mediterranean. Seeds of various species of lupins have been used as a food for over 3,000 years around the Mediterranean and for as long as 6,000 years in the Andes.

It is more likely that white lupin was originally introduced into cultivation in ancient Greece. White lupin dispersed from Greece to adjacent regions and states over time, particularly Egypt and Ancient Rome. The Andean lupin Lupinus mutabilis was domesticated by pre-Incan inhabitants of present-day Peru.

In the late 18th century, lupins were introduced into northern Europe as a means of improving soil quality. Lupinus polyphyllus was brought by David Douglas from North America to Britain in the 1820s. Almost a century later, George Russell, a horticulturist from York, UK, started to breed the Russell hybrids.

Did You Know?

Lupin seeds were popular with the Romans, who cultivated the plants throughout the Roman Empire. In Egypt, lupin is called termis and is sold by street vendors and in local markets as a snack, especially during the Sham el-Nessim festival. Bluebonnets, including the Texas bluebonnet, are the state flowers of Texas.

Extraction & Chemistry

Extraction method

Oil extracted from the seeds with ethanol contains higher levels of antioxidants, phenolic compounds and polar lipids.

Botanical: Lupinus
Synonyms: Lupine, bluebonnet

IFRA status

See note

No IFRA Standard for the material itself (51st Amendment)

In Perfumery

This is often overcome by adding flavouring agents to plant-based products to mask the typical aroma notes. Aroma addition is an effective and customizable way to improve the aroma of plant-based foods.

Role in the formula

01diffusion enhancer

02modifier

03signature note

04lifting agent

05naturalizer

06volume builder

Available as

synthetic accord fantasy note