A Nose for Every Flower

The root base on this thing is HUGE, fyi.

Everything seems to have burst into bloom here recently. I got to thinking about it – flower season is more condensed here, 6 – 8 weeks later in arriving than it was in D.C., so maybe that’s why it feels like there’s more overlap in terms of what’s blooming (e.g., lilac and wisteria) at the same time? Anyway, all my sniffage over the past few weeks has been flowers and herbs, getting my scent buzz right from the source.

Look at this massive wisteria – there’s a cautionary tale, right? That’s a hotel and I know they’re keeping an eye on it as it climbs right up over a two-story building to the rooftop, so it doesn’t swallow the building. It smelled absolutely incredible, and I spent some quality time out there underneath it, near the entrance from the parking lot. Did you know that wisteria is from the same family as sweet pea? Makes sense when you think about the shape of the flowers, and the scent. Did you know there’s a native wisteria in the U.S.? I did not. Chinese wisteria is, I think, considered a noxious invasive throughout the continental U.S., which doesn’t stop people from planting it. It’s very popular out here over walls and pergolas, providing shade in the summer. I’m glad I don’t have to wrangle one myself, but I can’t help admiring them. Portia did this great post on wisteria not too long ago.

Wisteria pops up as a note (and in some cases, the name) for several fragrances in Fragrantica, mostly things that are white florals with green or spicy notes. Not all wisteria is scented, just like not all roses are scented. I’m always a little disappointed when the wisteria don’t smell, because it’s a lovely sweet note with a hint of green.

The wall o’ yellow roses in my back yard.

We’ve had this discussion (maybe more than once): it’s funny which flowers get sorted into the “smells yummy!” consumer pile and which don’t, although perfumistas are certainly more aware than the general public.  Nobody besides us is blathering on about how fabulous some irises can smell. Also wisteria – which also doesn’t make anyone’s best-of list for flower arranging, and I want to give that a go: what would I do? Drape it decoratively down the side of a tall vase as an accent to a larger floral arrangement, sort of like a bunch of grapes?

What is even the point of a mostly-unscented rose? I don’t care how gorgeous it is. Also, I read this description of Persian roses on Wiki: the rose is named for its smell–foetida is Latin for “having a bad smell”—which is reminiscent of boiled linseed oil, a smell which some find objectionable. However, according to others “the smell is not all that bad.” Well, I disagree, I think they smell nice, generally a combo of incense and butter… you know, but in a good way.

These probably smell like feet.

The cacti here are blooming, and I got down there and sniffed but I couldn’t smell much of anything. Here’s the thing, though, the blooms attract tons of those little bees that look like flies (or flies that look like bees?), which is generally a sign that the flower smells rank like old socks or sweat or something meaty. There’s a lot of that going on in this neck of the woods high desert.

I’m now on the hunt for a French tarragon plant, pretty sure I saw them at the local plant nursery. Out here it’s always the dodge-y (Russian?) one that grows bigger and better but doesn’t have anywhere near the aroma and flavor of the French. And I’m going to stick a couple more lavender plants around the yard, no such thing as too much lavender. If I ever wind up owning a place again (or at least feeling more settled) I’d do a ton of lavender and rosemary, they’re common here in commercial landscapes, every time I pass one I run my hand over it just for that wonderful smell.

Do you take every opportunity to stick your nose in random flowers, even/especially if you have no idea whether they have a scent? Have you been surprised by the smell of any plants, flowers or foliage recently? There’s a rose down the street that smells like Smarties candies taste, if that makes any sense at all. If it came in a bottle I’d buy it.

all images: mine