INTERESTING AROMATICS …
PLANTS FOR PERFUME
There are an estimated 80,000 plant species in the world. However, pleasantly perfumed plants are rare. Only about one tenth of the known species are suitable for providing us with the aromatic resins and essential oil required in the production of perfumes.
FLOWER COLOUR
The colours of flowers relate to their perfume. White flowers predominant in having fine scent, then yellow, red, blue, violet and with green far behind. There are very few orange or brownish coloured flowers that possess an attractive perfume.
SCENTS CAN ALTER IN CHARACTER
Most women are aware of the fact that skin perfumes are variable both upon their own body as upon another, sometimes quite dramatically so. Scents can alter with temperature, atmospheric influences and chemical alterations. In perfumery it is well evidenced that skin perfumes alter with a woman’s health as well as changing external conditions.
In nature we have changes that are dramatic with some flowers seeming without perfume in the day but at night exuding potent perfume, and vice versa. This allows for some scents being advised as night perfumes and others for day use.
Many perfumes are extracted by the process of crushing, called maceration. However, the plant Henna has an exquisite scent until it is crushed, and then it becomes almost unpleasant.
TIME – How long does a perfume last?
Modern perfumery uses alcohol and ‘fixatives’ to help stabilize the product chemically so there is little likelihood that an expensive quality perfume will deteriorate to cause concern with age.
There is evidence that oils and scents of ancient times, for instance, can sometimes still retain a vestige of perfume after thousands of years – how is this possible ?
MYSTERIES
The perfumes of flowers usually exude in waves and cycles but much of this process still remains mysterious. We only find that their differing habits must relate to the activity of the insects upon which they depend for pollination.
An American perennial, known as the Musk Plant Mimulus moschatus perplexed botanists when the plants all over the world suddenly and simultaneously lost their perfume. Even plants in the wild lost their scent at this time. It remains a botanical mystery to this day.
ELUSIVE NATURE OF VIOLET SCENT
One’s enjoyment of the perfume of the violet flower is fleeting because a substance within the violet flower called ionine inhibits our sense of smell. The flower does not lose fragrance – we lose our perception and must take a few breaths to recover before enjoying another sweet sniff!
GARLIC SCENT
Cassia flowers, that possess the scent of violets, make the breath of one who inhales it, smell of garlic. The scientist, Sawyer, thinks there must be some connecting link between these two scents. Yet another flower joins in – the Lily of Buenos Ares flower has an exquisite scent of violets until it is crushed and then it too, smells of garlic!
POISONOUS PERFUMES
Not all perfumes are pleasant or have a positive influence upon us. Catherine de Medici, with the help of her infamous perfumier Rene, concocted special lethal perfumes which were used as poisons to kill the unwanted, and the unwary!
PERFUME OF SAINTS
Accounts are not uncommon of extraordinary and beautiful perfumes around the bodies of saints and this is often referred to as ‘the odour of sanctity’.
CREATION OF PERFUMES
The Indian adept Vishuddandha, is reported through reliable witnesses as having an extraordinary ability to utilize the sun’s rays to materialize any perfume an onlooker would request. He used only a simple magnifying glass and the handkerchief of the onlooker. After concentrating for a few minutes he would return the handkerchief to its owner, and it would be filled with the requested perfume! He became known as ‘the perfumed saint”.
CREATION OF COMMERCIAL PERFUMES
These are created by skilled perfumers who are not only extremely sensitive but who are able to construct chemicals in such a way as to complement natural perfumes in creation of the huge and enjoyable range of modern perfumery.
PERSONAL PERFUMES ENJOYED BY OTHERS
Perhaps one of the strangest and regrettable aspects of the sense of smell is when scents are used as a personal perfume. Soon after we apply a cologne, our olfactory sense becomes dulled or ‘tired’ through familiarity and after a very short few minutes we are usually no longer aware of it. Others however, may be acutely aware, sometimes to their disadvantage, but hopefully to their pleasure, through receiving intermittent wafts of delight !
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