Plant Essences & Origins
It may be hard to believe, but there are about 380,000 named plants on our planet!
However, only about one-tenth of those are known to have aromatic essences that humans want for fragrance, perfume, culinary spices, flavorings, and incense.
Because there are close to four-hundred thousand known plants, it’s easy to get lost in even a small collection of their names and attributes. Especially if our intention is to seek our own personal fragrance, one that’s made from natural aromatic plants.
Two ways to look at these plants and their aromas are provided here. The first is organized by use, along with details about the plant’s origins or native land. See more on the page entitled Botanicals are the Source.
The second way focuses on the types of essences and fragrances they represent in the world of perfumes. You’ll find them listed by name and described by their aromatic properties on the page entitled Aroma Blending Salon.
Botanicals are the Source
The source of botanical aromas are specific plants.
The aromatic plants have been adored and worshipped since ancient times. Just look at history to see how humans have admired and idolized the plants!
Today we have two ways to devote our attention to the aromas of plants. One is to apply perfumes, which may or may not be made of pure plant matter. We also obtain the scents we desire directly from nature, by connecting with the plants themselves in nature or gardens, etc. Before they are processed, we find common ground between plant’s offerings and their effects on us.
Looking at the Botanicals we find the sources of aromatic oils. They are supplied by the Flowers, Leaves, Fruits, Resins, Seeds, Woods and Roots of specific plants. The origins of these protective essences are the treasured aromas of Aromatherapy, Perfumery, and the Cuisine Arts of all cultures.
See the Botanical plants – illustrated — on this page.
Categories in the Aroma Blending Salon
A Category indicates a scent or aroma type.
For example, the leaf of a citrus tree is steam-distilled to make the essence known as Petitgrain. As a leafy essential oil, it has an herbal scent. As you would expect, this oil is also fruity and sweet, blending well with other fruity and spicy scented essential oils.
Look at the Categories — Green, Herbal, Floral, Fruity, Spicy, Woody–Resinous, Cineolic
— and select one or more essences that intrigue you. Then begin an “aromantic” journey with botanical aromas that are trying to get your attention with their scent.
Choose a Category, a scent or aroma type on Aroma Blending Salon, here.