That came to the end of a series of articles about the aromas of plants, the world of which to know the end is simply impossible, but you can settle in your country those that could interest you, to charm or amazing appearance, or an unusual smell of leaves and flowers.
I hope my stories about the aromas of a wide variety of plants were interesting and informative for you. I hope that now our dear summer residents will be more confident to navigate in the vast world of plant smells.
In conclusion the topics I have prepared for you a little surprise: a story about plants with unique smells – woody, balsamic, and cooking.
Doubles of wood aromas
It is, first of all, a number of conifers: cypress, cedar, fir, pine, juniper, arborvitae and others. The aroma of some can be felt at a distance (pine, cypress), and to catch the smell of others, needles have to RUB in his hands (arborvitae, fir).
On a hot summer day, pine is especially fragrant. Among the most “fragrant” species:
- P. pallasiana)
- P. pityusa;
- P. halepensis and others.
Together with sea aerosols, they give a healing air cocktail that you want to inhale indefinitely.
Pine aroma is duplicated by many coniferous trees, shrubs, but they all differ in their chords and notes. Among them, a special place is occupied by junipers, a sharp phytoncid aroma of which with fresh woody notes is the most healing among all conifers.
To fully feel the aroma of junipers, you need to crush their berries. Sometimes, after strong winds that tear and throw them under your feet in large quantities, strong juniper smell is in the air for several days.
I love the resinous aroma of cypresses, especially the most common C. sempervirens, in the coniferous smell of which can be heard inherent only to him notes. Their aroma is a feeling of the South, vacation, rest, sea and happiness. Coniferous notes are very clearly perceptible in the smell of Majorana hortensis, they make it more saturated and luxurious.
There are many pine notes in the bouquet of eucalyptus aroma Rosmarinus officinalis. Mixed with floral shades of lavender, coniferous nuances make it not as tough as sage.
Many-faced perennial Salvia demonstrate in its aroma notes of pine, cedar, eucalyptus and pepper. And even in the peculiar aroma of S. sclarea – strong, fresh, nut-grass – perceptible woody notes.
Doubles with woody-balsamic aroma
As if the fragrance of such evergreen shrubs as Eucalyptus, Myrtus communis, Laurus nobilis is material-thick, fresh, resinous, balsamic. On a hot summer day, it envelops the plants like incense and floats on like an invisible fog.
Tart balsamic aroma with notes of pine needles and camphor is inherent in the whole shrub Pistacia lentiscus. Its delicious resin is used as a flavoring agent for the popular chewing gum in Greece.
Woody-balsamic resinous aroma with floral and amber notes is inherent in Cistus. Once the Garden was closely engaged in their study, introduction; there were frankincense planting. At any time of the year I was always accompanied by the wonderful aroma of frankincense. And today I know him from a thousand.
Pine-balsamic scent and my favorite among southern herb – Helichrysum italicum.
In addition, its astringent smell can be heard and delicate floral and fruity notes, and sweet shades of honey and roses.
Balsamic-scented doubles
Perhaps they are the owners of the most severe odors.
In some plants, the balsamic smell is slightly relieved by pleasant citrus shades thanks to limonene, in others it is even more gloomy because of camphor, terpineol, esters and other substances.
Today among these plants:
- Tagetes;
- Artemisia;
- Santolina;
- Tanacetum vulgare;
- Pyrethrum and others.
Many are familiar with tart balsamic scent of small-flowered chrysanthemums.
Especially this aroma is felt when chrysanthemums before autumn frosts are transplanted into pots and brought into the house.
Doubles with kitchen flavors
Under this name hides several smells:
- mustard;
- sulfur;
- pepper and other.
Mustard-scented plants
- Armoracia rusticana is like “explosive”;
- Brassica juncea with its characteristic spicy aroma;
- Nasturtium officinale with bitter peppery mineral freshness;
- Eruca vesicaria with notes of pepper and walnut;
- Lepidium sativum, which has a stronger mustard smell and taste than water, and others.
Doubles with a peppery aroma and hints
In addition to the already mentioned above, the shades of pepper in its aroma carries Satureja montana.
They are clearly audible in the subtle aroma of Petunia x hybrida.
But the most peppery smell of the familiar plants I can boast of Vitex agnus-castus.
The whole aboveground part of it has a strong spicy spicy aroma and taste, reminiscent of black allspice.
Plants with sulfur smell
They are familiar to every summer resident: it is Allium cepa and Allium sativum.
Their aromas permeate all of our dishes. Especially the sharp smell of sulfur appears in onion when we damage his scales.
But on one onion, which we use most often and most of all in the preparation of dishes, the light did not converge, it has many brothers:
- A. altissimum;
- A. odorum;
- A. sphaerocephalon;
- A. ursinum to be supplied;
- A. proliferum;
- A. saxatile;
- A. victorialis;
- A. porrum;
- A. nutans;
- A. schoenoprasum;
- A. fistulosum;
- A. ascalonicum and others.
Much more stable in this respect garlic with a high-pitched sulfurous aroma.
He was echoed by Alliaria petiolata, and others.
The smell of chicken broth copies Caesalpinia gilliesii.
I am sure that now, choosing plants for your garden, you will pay attention not only to their appearance, but also to evaluate the smell. And believe me, you have a lot of wonderful fragrant discoveries ahead of you, I know it for sure.
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