Herbs for Fragrance
Herb Scents
English monarchs had Strewers of Herbs precede them in processions to scatter dried aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme and rue to ward off diseases. The medieval plagues were thought to be caused by foul air. Dried herbs and essential oils were incorporated into pot-pourris, snuff and scented water. Strange to say but research has shown that there is some substance to medieval ideas of hygiene.
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English monarchs had Strewers of Herbs precede them in processions to scatter dried aromatic herbs such as rosemary, thyme and rue to ward off diseases. The medieval plagues were thought to be caused by foul air. Dried herbs and essential oils were incorporated into pot-pourris, snuff and scented water. Strange to say but research has shown that there is some substance to medieval ideas of hygiene.
Fragrance Flowers Waste Products
Did you know that the scent we smell from many plants and flowers is nothing other than waste products of the plants metabolism. Substances such as geraniol, the principal scent of roses, or the thymol and eucalyptol in thyme are essential oils formed within the plant, and then stored in cells near the leaf surface. It is the release or evaporation of these waste materials that delight us as we walk on a thyme lawn or stand downwind from a bush of rosemary. I don’t see why humans could not have been made more like plants in this respect. That would be so cool!
Fragrance & Scent
Did you know that the strongest of human senses to trigger a memory is smell. Have you ever walked outside and said oh this reminds me of Paris. It is this aspect of smell that makes fragrance so powerful and this is also why perfume companies can charge so much for their products. We all have our favorite perfume. Particular fragrances have been used to heal disorders or change moods. In the garden plants can have a similar effect of raising our spirits or soothing tension. I love working in the garden and I still don’t know if it’s the dirt under my fingernails or the smells of nature that sooth me the most.
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I can certainly relate to the calming effects of gardening. If I’m having a hard day a few hours in the garden has me smiling again.
I always make my own pot pourris and gift them as hosting presents, it’s an easy thing to do, costs very little, and is very well received by my friends.
My favorite perfumes are made with a spicy smell not a sweet smell, but there are so many scents that can be created with these products of nature and have for centuries.