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19:01 Apr 26, 2011
French to English translations [PRO] Cosmetics, Beauty / Sun protection
French term or phrase:Safran d'Océanie
An ingredient in a sunscreen with antioxidant soothing properties. Is this just Saffron? Or is it something completely different ?
Explanation: It is saffron in a way. There are a couple of widespread vernacular names, which are "turmeric" and "Indian saffron".
"Le Safran d'Océanie
Appartenant à la famille des Zingibéracées, le Curcuma longa est un proche cousin du gingembre. Egalement surnommé en Polynésie, Safran d'Océanie ou gingembre tahitien, le curcuma est une plante herbacée non ramifiée pouvant parfois atteindre jusqu'à 1 m de haut. Ses feuilles d'un vert brillant sont oblongues et engainantes."
"Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.[2] It is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.[3] Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and propagated from some of those rhizomes in the following season.
In medieval Europe, turmeric became known as Indian saffron, since it was widely used as an alternative to the far more expensive saffron spice."
Thanks everyone for all your time. I have decided to use "Indian Saffron (Turmeric)". English speakers will understand that this is not saffron but if I leave in the English vernacular that leaves the translation closer to the original text. All I have to do now is wait 2 hours to award points to Alastair!
Is this one item in a list of ingredients, or is it highlighted as a selling point of the product ? See my comment on Alistair's answer below.
BTW I have learnt something today - I thought I knew turmeric well but I didn't know it was used in sunscreen !
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Answers
25 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +5
Turmeric/Indian saffron
Explanation: It is saffron in a way. There are a couple of widespread vernacular names, which are "turmeric" and "Indian saffron".
"Le Safran d'Océanie
Appartenant à la famille des Zingibéracées, le Curcuma longa est un proche cousin du gingembre. Egalement surnommé en Polynésie, Safran d'Océanie ou gingembre tahitien, le curcuma est une plante herbacée non ramifiée pouvant parfois atteindre jusqu'à 1 m de haut. Ses feuilles d'un vert brillant sont oblongues et engainantes."
"Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, Zingiberaceae.[2] It is native to tropical South Asia and needs temperatures between 20 °C and 30 °C and a considerable amount of annual rainfall to thrive.[3] Plants are gathered annually for their rhizomes, and propagated from some of those rhizomes in the following season.
In medieval Europe, turmeric became known as Indian saffron, since it was widely used as an alternative to the far more expensive saffron spice."
Asker: Thank you Alistair - I had no idea that Turmeric was also known as Indian Saffron (traditionally used as a sunscreen). My apologies to Philgoddard for not trying harder.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +5