Why "Immortelle"?
Because its flowers never wilt. Even when cut or dried, Immortelle keeps its golden colors for months. It is this extraordinary resilience—this ability to concentrate its vitality in the face of adversity—that makes it the most precious cosmetic active ingredient of the Corsican maquis.
It can be found everywhere on the island, in the mountains as well as by the sea, in the maquis and along roadsides. There is no mass cultivation; it is not harvested by huge machines but picked by hand. It grows at its own pace, in poor soil, under intense sunlight. And it is precisely this harshness that concentrates a rare botanical power within it.
The Gold of Corsica
Aromatherapy specialists have a name for it: the queen of essential oils. Not for poetic reasons—but for scientific reality.
Corsican Immortelle essential oil (Helichrysum italicum) is radically different from all other global varieties due to its unique biochemical composition. Where a Balkan oil contains less than 10% neryl acetate—its signature molecule—Corsican oil contains between 30% and 45%.
This difference is not anecdotal. It is fundamental. It explains why Corsican Immortelle is the global benchmark for high-performance dermatological care.
Two Molecules, Exceptional Efficacy
Neryl Acetate — The Skin's Architect
This is the dominant molecule in Corsican Immortelle. A major scientific study published in PLOS ONE (Lemaire et al., 2023) demonstrated that it significantly increases ceramide synthesis in human skin.
Ceramides are the "bricks" that make up the skin barrier. By stimulating their production, neryl acetate strengthens the skin's protection, improves its hydration, and reduces its sensitivity to external aggressions. The result: denser, more supple, more resilient skin.
Italidiones — The Emergency Team
These rare molecules—present only in significant concentration in Corsican Immortelle—are responsible for its most spectacular effects. Their anti-hematoma action is so powerful that a single drop applied immediately to an impact can prevent a bruise from appearing. This is why it is also called "boxer's oil."
But their action goes far beyond: they stimulate cell renewal, reduce scars, and deeply repair damaged tissues.
This duo is supported by other molecules such as γ-curcumene (approximately 12%), a
powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that strengthens soothing action and
protects tissues from oxidative stress. It is this perfect balance, shaped by the Corsican terroir,
that is unique.
The Corsican Terroir — A Protection in Progress
The Association of Corsican Essential Oil Producers (APROHEC) has filed an application for a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for Corsican Immortelle essential oil. The specifications require a minimum concentration of 33% neryl acetate. A guarantee of origin and quality that few oils in the world can claim.
In Our Products
Immortelle is the signature active ingredient of INTINOÏ. It is present throughout our range—from Micellar Water to Belle de Jour Cream—because we believe that truly nourished skin needs this active ingredient daily, not occasionally.
"Skin doesn't need more. It needs real."
