Published November 1, 2023 | Version v1
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Potpourri (pot-pourri)

  • 1. Université de Neuchâtel

Description

The French term "pot-pourri" can be heard in many languages, but its origins seem to date back to sixteenth century Spain, to a stew-like dish known as "olla podrida". This recipe – in which a variety of ingredients are simmered for a long time so that they decompose – evokes the idea of a pot whose contents have rotted, i.e. whose flesh has softened. The term "pot-pourri" first appeared in French literature in 1564 in Rabelais's Cinquième livre, in reference to the same stew, the expression of which was translated into French (Furetière 1690, "pot"). Then, in 1711, associated with the field of music, the expression "pot-poury" was used to describe a sequence of fragments of airs, before finally making its appearance in the field of olfaction to describe a fragrant mixture with multiple ingredients. Although the term originated in Spanish, it is the French meaning which has remained and been adopted by other European languages: perhaps out of practical use, "pot-pourri" or "potpourri" - with a few spelling variations – came to describe the same device in English, German, Italian and even Spanish. Finally, through a lexical shift, "pot-pourri" has become a "pot" again, with the expression describing both the contents and the container (Trésor de la Langue Française, "pot-pourri"). The potpourri vase is therefore a container with a simple design - a body, a lid and openings - containing and diffusing this particular fragrance.

If the term has prevailed in its French form, it is perhaps due to the great enthusiasm this type of vase was met with in France from the mid-eighteenth century onwards. Fear of miasmas and of the transmission of disease through pestilence encouraged the French aristocracy to protect themselves against such a threat. Perfume burners, cassolettes and potpourri vases were thus subsequently added to interior spaces for prophylactic purposes. However, the quest for high and healthier living standards gradually led to the emergence of an interest in the pleasure that a delicate fragrance could provide (Coquery 1998, 19 / Elias 1974, 12 / Corbin 2008, 237 / Dejean 2009). At that time in France, particularly in interior settings, the notion of pleasure became an important issue, as a result there was a stark increase in the demand for fragrance diffusers with added decorative value.

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Publication: https://encyclopedia.odeuropa.eu/items/show/29 (URL)