Papier d'Arménie

As Armenian Paper ( Papier d' Arménie ) is called with styrax, the resin of the Storaxbaumes, impregnated paper, the smoke smells of incense. The smoke is said to have antiseptic, anti odor, purifying the air and enthusiasm promoting effect. This is explained by a 25% share of benzoic acid in the resin - Benzoin is also used for making incense. For Use is allowed to fade a piece of paper.

The French Orient travelers Auguste Ponsot learned in the Ottoman Empire the practice of Armenians know, to perfume their homes with the smoke of blazing benzoin resin. The pharmacist Henri Rivier developed to a method for ease of use: He solved benzoin in 90 % alcohol and thus impregnated paper was then dried again.

Papier d' Arménie was at the Paris Exhibition in 1888 hygiene immediately successful, and a year later at the World Exhibition; there is demonstrated the effect by two superimposed pieces of meat a week under glass bells. Under an even Armenian paper had been burned down, and this piece was still edible even after a week, the other has not.

For 120 years, Armenian paper is manufactured in the same factory on the outskirts of Paris. Rivier descendant, Mireille Schvartz, produced the fourth generation with ten employees two million scented paper book per year. Although the manufacturing process of the book is partially automated, nothing has changed fundamental to the production. In the basement macerate in tanks for three months, benzoin, vanilla and other ingredients that are a closely guarded company secret. In order to better accommodate the fragrance, the absorbent paper is dipped, dried, and pressed, before it enters the aromatic bath in brine. It is then dried in an oven, pressed again, and stored for two months until it is cut, perforated and is attached to a booklet. The appearance of the envelope was not changed for decades.

For a while, the demand and a new fragrance mix is offered: 2006 France celebrated L' Année de l' Arménie the 15th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Armenia. Half a million live armenia -born persons, including the perfumer Francis Kurkdjian successful, who created a new fragrance composition for the anniversary issue of Papier d' Arménie in France.