The Kalmus flower is a plant that can be found in proximity of rivers and dams, blooming in the months of July and August.
Originally from India, the plant was brought to the water streams in Randers by French monks during the Middle Ages, where the tanners by the river found it very useful due to its characteristic scent. It was furthermore known for its healing properties and had been used as a medical plant in eastern medicine.
The kalmus has a charming aroma with a hint of citrus and cinnamon, reminding one of Eau de Cologne. It was this characteristic smell, together with the gloves' incredible softness, that made European Royals and Aristocrats, including the French Queen Marie Antoinette, specifically request gloves from Randers.
Today, the Kalmus plant is not commonly known in society. However, the plant has one of the longest and most storied legacies, both internationally and as part of Danish cultural heritage - much like RHANDERS itself.
The Holy Bible, Exodus
Surprisingly, the mystical properties of the Kalmus plant dates all the way back to Moses’ time. Exodus 30: 22 reads:
GOD spoke to Moses: “Take the best spices: twelve and a half pounds of liquid myrrh; half that much, six and a quarter pounds, of fragrant cinnamon; six and a quarter pounds of fragrant cane (Kalmus); twelve and a half pounds of cassia—using the standard Sanctuary weight for all of them—and a gallon of olive oil. Make these into a holy anointing oil"
Though be aware, the scripture further reads that no one should copy the holy anointing oil recipe for personal use. If doing so, you will be exiled from your community and excommunicated. The oil is holy and should be kept holy (Exodus 30: 22-38).
Flora Danica, 1648
The royal physician and botany professor Simon Paulli, who served both King Christian 4. and Frederik 3., wrote in his book "Flora Danica” in 1648 about the Kalmus plant. He excitedly noted: "But in any way and manner it remains ready as it is an exceeding beautiful and good medicine for him who has a bad stomach and heart”.
Later, in the Age of Enlightenment, the renowned Danish comprehensive atlas of Botany "Flora Danica" was published in 1761 and had indexed the Kalmus plant (Acorus calamus) in the section ‘medical plants’. It describes furthermore the plant's healing powers and how it also was used for everything from cleaning water and disinfecting wounds to helping toothache and promoting blood circulation.
Moreover, the plant also contains asaron, which is a hallucinogenic oil, and the Kalmus was therefore originally used by the Canadian Indians, but was also taken on by the Danish pharmacies as a substitute for slant tobacco.
Author Jeppe Aakjær, 1905
The famous danish author Aakjær writes about the wonderful scent of Kalmus in the last verse of his 1905 poem “Mens Maanen skjarer”: "Og Kalmus dufter saa æblesødt som Liljer i Brudens Kammer”.
In his time the Kalmus was one of the best-known medical plants in Denmark, specifically loved for its characteristic scent and was therefore widely used in soaps and perfumes.
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Author and Nobel Price winner Henrik Pontoppidan, 1933
Pontoppidan writes in his book “Drengeaar” in 1933 a wonderful description of the Kalmus plant in Gudenaaen, it’s properties and cultural place in society: "We.. wallowed in the water like tadpoles, stuck our legs in the air and dived to the bottom between the reeds for calamus root. This root was the chewing gum of the time, which could be sold to the town's pharmacists. It was said to be able to protect against the local plague, cold fever, and everywhere in the region old people sat and enjoyed themselves with a piece of calamus between the toothless gums”.
As a homage to the heritage and history of Randers glove-making, the graphical shape of the kalmus flower is now adorning all RHANDERS products.
The kalmus is plated with 14 carat gold for women and hematite for men - with the choice of plating being rooted in the beneficial properties of the flower. E.g., gold is known to attract happiness and amplify positive feelings, linked to the heart chakra. Hematite, on a similar note of positivity, has a grounding and balancing effect. It activates the root chakra, the energy center that anchors us to earth and provides a feeling of stability.
In the RHANDERS line, the kalmus roots us to our the heritage and makes every pair of gloves a treasure. And, if you desire an extra special treat, you have the opportunity of engraving your very own monogram on the kalmus jewellery. Simply add to cart together with your selected gloves.
