Crocus

This herbaceous plant grows to a height of 10 to 30 cm. Its flowers feature six petals, three stamens with yellow anthers, and a style divided into three dark red thread-like stigmas which release an aromatic, slightly bitter and spicy fragrance. These stigmas are harvested and sold as a spice: the famous saffron. Growing the crocus flower for its saffron originated in Ancient Greece and Asia. The Arabs brought it to Spain from Asia minor in the 10th century before it was introduced to France during the Crusades in the 12th century. This precious spice is the most expensive in the world! Inspired by the beneficial interaction of dietary polyphenols on intestinal flora to strengthen and protect the body, Clarins Laboratories has searched the botanical world for a plant particularly rich in polyphenols to help rebalance strains of skin bacteria: saffron flower.