Scents and Sensibility
In the plant world, blossoms get their pollinating done by being the showiest posies around. Bees and other buggy propagators are drawn to the most visible blooms. In the human realm, a bright, striking arrangement is a good way to make a splashy first impression. But if you want your gift to leave a lasting memory, it’s just as wise to follow your nose. Scented flowers give another dimension to floral arrangements, the subtle (or not so), subliminal power of perfume. Don’t know where to start? Sniff these…
Garden roses: While long-stemmed roses are too often called upon to do Cupid’s work, most of these hot-house blooms are as leggy and insipid as a super model. From faintly fragranced to positively scentless, their beauty is merely stem-deep. Meanwhile, their less-flashy and often short-lived cousins – the full-bodied garden roses, are as sweetly perfumed and old-fashioned as the girl next door. These heavy, drowsy blooms waft truly heavenly scents, their fragrances rich with tea and spice and “rose” to the tenth power. A bedside bouquet of these will definitely bring sweet dreams.
Tuberose: These long stems of small, creamy blooms carry a perfume that packs all the charm of a grass-skirted Tahitian maiden. Their scent is heavy, honeyed, tropical – with a vague, curious note of zinc oxide at the end. Potent and delicious, it only takes a couple of stems in an arrangement to perfume an entire room.
Freesia: Freesias come in a delightful array of shades from bridal white to deep, rusty orange and magenta. Growing in delicate sprays of small, tulip-like blossoms, they bring a bright, citrus and honey scent to mixed bouquets – they’re gorgeous paired with roses and lavender. Beware of the mass grown grocery store varieties though – often these have no scent and if they do it might be of sneezie pepper.
More scents and sensibility to come.
