Archive for May, 2010
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PORT WINE MAGNOLIA
Wednesday, May 19th, 2010
A special floral is Michelia figo as it is generally labelled and that we know in our gardens as the Port Wine Magnolia. It originates in China as so many of our wonderful flora and is enjoyed for its scented flower oil used on the hair and valued for the fragrance it offers in the garden environment. The flower shares the genus of the famous Champaka.
The tiny flowers of this wonderful plant when sniffed in the warmth of the day, or when they exude what can only be called an intoxicating and intriguing scent. Some are known to have an aversion to its strong , sweet perfume and yet others, as myself would happily swoon with pleasure if I could only inhale greater quantities of it! Such is our individual reaction to aromatics.
Landscape gardeners are usually aware of the likelihood that some will not appreciate a port wine magnolia shrub in close proximity and adapt the placement of these exotics to suit the owners or the environment. The shrubs would be enjoyed near schools or in parks that young people frequent as their sensitivity is keen. We may think that older people would not be able to indulge in the same way but sometimes a hint or memory can compensate to echo past delights experienced by a port wine magnolia lover.
The essential oil from the flower is rarely known and expensive as all the exquisite florals and we will welcome its future availability.
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EXQUISITE FLORAL SCENTS
Saturday, May 15th, 2010
It is understandable why we may think first of the Rose, Orange Blossom or Honeysuckle when we are considering the sweetest of all the floral perfumes. However there are many that can add to that list. Some are rare or exotic and not commonly known enough for everyone to be able to recall a scent. Most of us have to use always a little imagination when trying to enjoy a memory of something so subtle as the soul of a flower. There is often an associated event or situation that can help us.
Although we allow for individual taste and that some people even recoil from a strong perfume that others admire, it is usual to find that, according to its strength, or whether it is as a gentle essence, the following flowers offer a treasure house for those who wish to become more familiar with perfumes in nature that offer universal appeal. Many of them have been well known and used by the great perfume houses in their creations of sophisticated blends that are released on the market for both men and women to enjoy.
Depending upon our climate and circumstances many of us will be restricted in their cultivation in our own home garden but may be able to sample them in florists or when travelling to foreign countries.
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Boronia megastigma is a native wildflower of Western Australia
Cananga odorata (see Ylang-Ylang) best known in Burma, China, S.E.Asia
Champaka – Michelia champak from China found in Tibet and SE Asia
Daphne – Daphne odora is highly cultivated in Europe but originates in China
Gardenia – Gardenia jasminoides from India and Asia
Hyacinth – Hyacinthus orientalis originated in Syria and the Middle East
Jasmine – Jasminum officinale, J. polyanthamum , J. sambac from China and India
Lilac – Syringa sp. Is a European delight originating in Iran and northern Asia
Magnolias- Magnolia sp. All are from the northern hemisphere –Asia and the USA
Mock Orange Blossom – Philadelphus coronaries from the northern hemisphere
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Murraya,- Cosmetic Plant – Murraya paniculata, M. Exotica from Malaysia
Narcissus – Narcissus poeticus, N. Jonquilla one of common bulbs in Britain and Europe
Port Wine Magnolia – Michelia figo originates in China
Rose – Rosa centifolia, a native from Eastern Europe
Sweet Olive – Osmanthus fragrans originates in China
Tuber rose – Polianthes tuberose from Mexico
Viburnum – Viburnum carlesii, V.fragrans from Korea and China
Ylang Ylang – Cananga odorata var. Genuine (syn Unona odorantissimum) Indonesia
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USE NATURAL SCENTS AND AROMATICS
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
The use of essential oils is on the increase. Not only for indulging in the sensory satisfaction of scents but the value of aromatics in healing has been successfully promoted by professional aromatherapists and psychologists.
Although natural oils offer a gentle and enjoyable subtle form of therapy that is dependent upon both physical application and inhalation of its fumes directly to the brain, it is the therapy that utilizes massage of oils into the skin that has captured the market.
Or current market is apt to function in a climate where demand for the pure essential oils has outstripped supply. However in many countries it is easy enough for individuals to purchase samples from a large range of oils offered for aromatherapy and home use. But the perfume houses are forced to promote assured supplies of the raw product in order to continue in producing their complex sophisticated creations of fashionable scents that continue to fascinate women and increasingly, a male clientele.
Toiletries and body colognes are presented abundantly in the major stores, with a range that is somewhat bewildering to the newcomer who may be seeking a product that reflects a desired influence or for a perfume that enhances a quality of the personality.
Although many fashionable perfume products contain a degree of natural ingredients and essential oils they are strongly dependent upon chemical additives and fixatives and therefore unsuited for use in aromatherapy. For their healing powers and purposes, it is the pure and unadulterated essential oils that consumers and professionals are now demanding.
Not only for personal toiletry, scents are used in many products used in the domestically in kitchen, bathroom, and increasingly in bedroom and living quarters both to deter or overcome unattractive odours or to create a pleasing atmosphere or ambience. Many households regularly burn lavender oil at outside barbeques for instance to ward off mosquitoes and other insects.
The use of bath oils is steadily growing as people find the several benefits and above all, the pleasure in this indulgence designed to reduce stress.
Oils and other aromatic gums and substances are used widely in religious rituals and devotions as they have been from time immemorial and special church incense is produced to satisfy spiritual and ecclesiastical purposes.
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Perfumes for Personal and Home Use
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
Everyone enjoys the inhalation of a beautiful perfume. There is no better example than the common spontaneous desire to sniff a rose. We hope for an exquisite sensory experience that may be subtle and elusive yet we seek to be reminded of it and to repeat the pleasure, although never prolonged to our full satisfaction.
In spite of this, scent and perfume play a strong and lasting role in human life, both in personal use and in the environment, remaining a challenge to our desire to ‘have and to hold’ beautiful experiences.
The modern perfume industry is demonstrating constant growth. We enjoy the freedom to choose from an ever widening range of scents to suit our personal preferences in our grooming and in our use of household products. High class perfumery continues to remain in high demand as affluence allows high expenditure by consumers in the perfume market. Although the market has been generally undercut by chemists able to analyse the ingredients used and replicate the famous brand products, the originals retain a selective market.
Natural essential oils and essences remain in demand for the sophisticated commercial perfumes which utilize a high percentage of them but the general public has been made aware of the advantage in being able to purchase the individual oils to blend and use according to their health needs as well as for their olfactory enjoyment.
Aromatherapy has expanded in popularity as a profession that offers a gentle form of non- invasive therapy that has the potential to result in benefit to body and brain. The psychological benefits are well known now with inhalations of lavender, for instance, providing relief from mental stress.
The choice of lavender as a personal perfume is used to soothe but also to harmonize with the individual’s gentle qualities, moods and personality as the stronger, woody oils such as pine, cedar and sandalwood are more masculine in their influence.
We cannot ignore the negative things that also register on this sensitive instrument of olfaction that we possess that alerts us to potential dangers of increasing toxic chemical fumes that are polluting our environment. These are larger issues that must be dealt with on national and international levels to help preserve the health of our planet.
But we do have the power to use beneficial aromatics on our person and in our homes.
Included in the many ways we employ essential oils are as natural deodorants and skin care, or in perfumed baths, massage oils, as direct inhalants, in scented pillows and pot pourri or lit as incense.
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