As I hike through nature parks in early Spring, I observed that not all plants or trees grow or sprout all together. Some plants develop leaves or flowers in early Spring and some in Summer. Nature seems to be choreographed perfectly to provide us with necessities. Questions that come to my mind is: How do plants know or who programmed them to grow at their optimum time? In addition, how are we connected to their sprouting time ?

There is one tree that catches my attention at the earliest Spring time, and it is Magnolia. As we transitioned from Winter to early Spring, we tend to be tired, feeling sluggish and often are sick from cold and flu. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we need the Yang energy to ‘wake’ up from hibernation. Magnolia is such an amazing tree that cannot wait to develop buds and flowers sooner before it grows the leaves. Magnolia trees develop these ‘ hairy’ buds and the little hairs remind me of nasal hair. When these hairy buds bloom, beautiful flowers, ranging from white to pink to dark red, emerge. Some species even have amazing scent.

So, why are Magnolia trees in such hurry to bloom in early Spring when temperature is still low?
Magnolia buds have traditionally being used in TCM for sinusitis (infections of sinus) and Spring allergies. The fuzzy hairs on the buds can be rubbed off when dried. The buds can be crushed to make tea for treating runny nose or sinus infections. The Magnolia flowers have warming energetic to provide us with the Yang (or warming) energy that we need to kick start and awaken our inner energy from hibernation.

Mother Nature has programmed the necessary botanicals for our well beings. In our modern high-tech society, I would say that we need to learn to use nature’s programmed applications (Apps) once we are connected. We learn from ancient experiences, observations and practices using our senses.
​
As mentioned earlier, Magnolia buds can be made into tea. Magnolia flowers, particularly the light pink type, can be cleaned and soaked in rice vinegar overnight. The petals turn into delicious appetizers that taste like Japanese ginger. The pickled petals can be a warming substitute on sushi platters.

When these petals fall from trees, I feel the generosity of nature, as if food and medicine are sprinkled’ for us to use. This is a classic example of our connections with the natural world.
I feel very grateful to live and learn old wisdom and to live as one with our natural world.

A Beautiful Way to Capture the Scent of Flowers

 Have you ever wished you could bottle the scent of fresh flowers straight from your garden? Some flowers, like roses or lavender, can be distilled into essential oils, but others—like lilacs, gardenias, and jasmine—are too delicate for traditional extraction methods. That’s where enfleurage comes in—a centuries-old technique that allows us to capture the pure, natural fragrance of flowers in a way that no other method can.

The Enchanting Scent of Lilac
One of the most magical flowers to experience in spring is lilac.. As soon as its blossoms appear, the air fills with a fresh, powdery sweetness that feels both nostalgic and uplifting. Lilac has a complex fragrance—a mix of honeyed florals, soft vanilla undertones, and a slightly green freshness that makes it truly unique. Walking past a blooming lilac bush on a warm day is like stepping into a cloud of pure springtime bliss.
But as beautiful as lilacs smell, their scent is heartbreakingly fleeting. Once picked, their delicate fragrance fades quickly, and unlike roses or lavender, lilacs do not yield an essential oil through steam distillation. This makes enfleurage one of the only ways to capture their true scent and preserve their beauty beyond the blooming season.
Imagine being able to enjoy the fragrance of lilacs long after their short-lived bloom is over—whether in a perfume, a solid balm, or a scented oil. With enfleurage, you can do just that. This method gently absorbs lilac’s aromatic molecules into a creamy fat base, preserving its scent exactly as it exists in nature.

​The Marigold (or Marygold) or Tagetes known in México as “Cempasúchil or Cempasúchitl”, (a Nahuatl word divided in two roots “Cemposalli”, meaning “twenty,” and “Xochitl, meaning “flower,” calling Marigolds the “flower of twenty petals,”) is a very emblematic flower during the month of November in Mexico. 
According to the legend,  Marigolds also known as Cempasúchitl or Cempasúchil were miraculously gifted to the Nahua (the Aztec people) by Tonatiuh, their Sun God, so that they might honour their dead.

In ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, Cempasúchil was deeply linked to cultural, medicinal, and religious practices. It was associated with the Aztec Rain God, Tlaloc, and was used in water and fertility rituals. Additionally, the plant had a recognized medicinal properties and was used to treat illnesses related to cold and water such as hydropsy, the build-up of fluid in the body’s tissue. This condition, known as a disease of water, along with ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen), was symbolically linked to the Rain God Tláloc and other rain and water deities. Cempasúchil was also used to promote menstruation, and ​aid urination.

Marigold is also used in perfumery by its sunny fragrance boasting a unique and uplifting fragrance that captures the essence of summer. Its scent is characterized by a blend of citrusy, green, and subtly spicy notes, evoking warmth, positivity, and joy. Definitively a heart note to use or even a base note combined with sandalwood.

REFERENCES:

1. Fragrenza - Marigold Essential Oil in Oriental and Floral Fragrances
2. Bailey Van Tassel  Home Garden - 9 recipes of edible flowers - Marigold
3. Flavour Fields Your culinary edge - Marigold Flowers
4. Valley of Roses - The enchanting marigold - a fragrant delight for summer perfumes
5. Aztecs Mexicolore - Tagetes erecta L (Cempasúchil) - López Estrada, Daniel

For many years the International Perfume Foundation (IPF) has been very proactive in supporting bees as being critical for returning flowers to nature.
Yet according to recent studies, this support is undermined by honey marketers who adulterate as much as 70% of the world’s supply of honey, making it the third most adulterated food, behind milk and olive oil.
“Honey can be faked and adulterated in many different ways to fraudulently control the market,” according to the World Honey Market. “Common strategies include diluting the honey with sugars or syrups or feeding corn syrup to the bees rather than allowing them to forage for pollen.” 
The impact of this fake honey threatens domestic beekeepers’ existence, while bees are prevented from performing their key role as pollinators by fake honey factories, putting our entire food supply at risk. All because of the efforts to flood the US and EU honey markets with fake honey, primarily from China. 
Again, from the World Honey Market: “Beekeepers in the United Kingdom have been hit particularly hard. The U.K. received 47% of Europe's honey imports from China in 2018, but a Honey Authenticity Project lab analysis of 11 supermarket brands found that none complied with E.U. labeling standards.”

Algeria's microclimate and geographical diversity provide several advantages for growing plants for perfume, aromatics, medicinal herbs, and essential oils.
Located in North Africa, Algeria has a diverse microclimate due to its vast territory and geographical features.  The country experiences a Mediterranean climate along the northern coastline, characterized by mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. Inland, the climate transitions to a desert climate, with extreme temperatures and very little rainfall.

Mediterranean Climate 
The northern coastal region of Algeria experiences a Mediterranean climate, characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. This climate is ideal for cultivating a wide range of aromatic plants, including lavender, rosemary, thyme, and geranium. These plants thrive in the moderate temperatures and benefit from the region's sufficient rainfall.

Mountainous Areas 
Algeria is home to the Atlas Mountains, which run through the country. The higher elevations in these mountainous regions offer cooler temperatures and greater rainfall, creating microclimates suitable for growing plants like rose, chamomile, and mint. These plants are commonly used in perfumery, aromatherapy, and medicinal applications.
Algeria is known for its production of high-quality rose and jasmine flowers. The flowers grown in Algeria's microclimate tend to have intense fragrance profiles, making them desirable for perfume production.

Sahara Desert 
Algeria's vast Sahara Desert, covering a significant portion of the country, presents unique opportunities for cultivating certain plants used in perfumes, aromatics, and essential oils. Desert-adapted plants such as myrrh, frankincense, cypress, and juniper grow well in the arid conditions of the desert. These plants have aromatic qualities and are valued for their essential oils. 

Indigenous Flora 
Algeria boasts a rich biodiversity with a variety of native plant species. Many of these plants have aromatic, medicinal, or cosmetic properties. For example, the Atlas cedar, Aleppo pine, eucalyptus, and various herbs like thyme, oregano, and sage are found in Algeria and can be utilized for their essential oils or medicinal benefits.
​
Organic Production Potential 
Algeria has vast areas of relatively untouched or minimally cultivated land, which presents opportunities for organic farming practices. Growing plants for perfume, aromatics, medicinal herbs, and essential oils under organic conditions can enhance their quality and appeal to the market.
Altogether, Algeria's diverse microclimates, ranging from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara Desert, provide favorable conditions for a wide range of plants used in perfume, aromatics, medicinal herbs, and essential oils. This abundance of natural resources contributes to the country's potential for cultivation and production in these sectors.

All of nature is sacred to those with animist beliefs, and so the abundant beauty of Bali’s natural world is deeply revered.
If you've ever been to Bali, you've likely seen small, woven baskets filled with colorful flowers, incense, and other small offerings. These are called Canang Sari, and they're an essential part of Balinese Hinduism

Canang Sari is a form of daily offering made by the Balinese people, usually placed in front of homes, temples, and other holy places. The word "Canang" comes from the Javanese word "Cenang," which means a small palm-leaf container. "Sari" means essence, thus, Canang Sari is a small basket filled with offerings that symbolize the essence of life.

The basket itself is made from young coconut leaves that are woven into a square shape. The Balinese people believe that everything in the basket is symbolic, and each element represents a different aspect of life.

The flowers, which are usually frangipani or other local flowers, represent purity, while the rice grains represent prosperity and gratitude. The betel nut and leaves symbolize the preservation of the five senses, while the lime represents health and beauty. The incense stick represents the connection between humans and the divine.

In Martha M. Tyson’s wonderful book: The Healing Landscape: Therapeutic Outdoor Environments, she perfectly sums up what is so essential about gardens:
“The garden or landscape is connected to people in a way that is uniquely healing in its essence. The restorative qualities of gardens span the human spectrum and have no social, cultural, or ethnic boundaries. Gardens may contain elements that are specific to culture, climate, or time; however, the simple truth of their existence reflects the universal for human interaction with nature, with humans as stewards of the land.”

Tyson is talking about one of three benefits to human healing that gardens can provide.
The first benefit is the restorative power of enjoying a completed garden.
The second wellness benefit is a prequel to the completed garden: the therapeutic effects gained from the process of gardening.
Anyone spending serious time gardening will feel the amazing positive effects that come from the gardening process.  The satisfaction coming from gardening and major stress reduction are two great reasons for gardening. And once the gardening process is completed, the wellness benefits of a completed garden kick in!
The third benefit is The Healing Garden.

Plants and flowers offer tremendous healing benefits that include rebuilding immune systems, detoxifying organs and tissues, and even slowing the aging process.
And there are many ways you can bring plants into your home and lifestyle, using them safely and effectively to enhance your wellbeing. 

You can learn more about the benefits of healing gardens from Dr. Danica-Lea Larcombe, who has a background in environmental health and has completed a PhD on biodiversity and human health through the Centre for Ecosystem Management at Edith Cowan University. Her "study from home" MasterClass starts each first Monday of the month. 
Reconnecting with nature is such an important activity for all of us in today’s stress-filled environment, and gardening and gardens (especially healing gardens) can lead us to health and happiness in several significant ways.

By JAN KUSMIREK, IPF Chair UK, 
Essential Oils Expert, Aromacosmetologist, and Aromatherapist 

It surprises me how many Greek gods and goddesses have retained their provenance if nothing else than by name. The world of plant entomology throws up both common and botanical naming. Daphne, Artemis, Nerine, Adonis, Zephyr to name just a few, and then of course, Narcissus.

Narcissus was a young and handsome hunter. You may recall a nymph called Echo who fell in love with him. Echo had been cursed by Hera, the wife of Zeus, because she had helped Zeus avoid being caught philandering with nymphs, as was his way.  Echo chattered so much with Hera distracting her from realising that Zeus had gone on his way.

Hera condemned Echo to silence, allowing her to speak and repeat only the last words spoken to her. Effectively, this curse killed any conversation. The only recourse Echo had to express her love to Narcissus was to follow him around and repeat the last word he said. Not much fun for either party. Narcissus was tired of her attention and always rejected any advances she made. Eventually she just faded away in despair and left only her voice which can sometimes be heard in certain places.

Now some of Narcissus’ actions might be understandable but he was primarily in love with himself. He felt himself to be admirable in every way. Now Nemesis, the goddess of retribution, seeing what had befallen Echo and his unkind treatment of Echo, decided to punish Narcissus. She so placed him looking into a clear mirror-like pool where he saw himself reflected. He was in love with himself already, but this reflection was a hammer blow of infatuation. But once he saw that his reflection was unobtainable and so out of reach he went out of his mind. He lost his will to live and committed suicide. 
​
Two sad stories about the whims and vicissitudes of the pantheon of gods who behaved like humans. But how come the Daffodil was named for Narcissus?
Some think it was so named because its flowers bend down or horizontal to admire themselves. Nice thought, but the Greek name is derived from the word “narkos” the route of our word “narcotic”. It can also mean numbness without feeling which perhaps was the emotion shown to Echo.

Aromatic plants come from a variety of plant families, and it is important to know the difference between shrubs, herbs, roses, climbers and ground cover and also their fragrant parts.   Some plants are known for their scented foliage while others rely on their flowers. Plants such as lavender have both.
For this article I will cover fragrant flowers.  

Shrubs with scented flowers
Many aromatic shrubs are Mediterranean, growing best in full sun and being able to tolerate drought conditions.  When the oils in the foliage are released in hot weather, the leaves give off scent.  You may brush past one of these shrubs for the scent to be released, or you may notice the scent when handling the leaves.  An example of this is the lavender plant.  Mediterranean plants need soil that is well drained and light. 

Climbing plants with scented flowers
You will be fortunate if you can remember a wall of sweet peas growing in your childhood garden.  The scented flowers on mass give off an intoxicating fragrance that is forever etched in your memory.  I challenge you to invoke that fragrance right now!  And then there is honeysuckle and sweet jasmine…
The beauty of growing climbers with scented flowers is that you invoke these memories for yourself and others by the sheer power of mass aromatic wonder.

​
Ground cover plants with scented flowers
Aromatic ground cover plants can give off an aromatic scent when their leaves are brushed against or lightly crushed underfoot at the edge of a border, or they can offer scented flowers in garden beds and borders. Ground cover plants spread over bare soil, shading out weeds and providing a visual link between plants or different areas of the garden..

​If you would like to know more I would love you to join my six-week course to learn Healing Gardening and why not... decide to 'Become a Certified Healing Gardener'.

More info on the course 

It was New Years Day, the Great Hall doorway bedecked in the red and green of Ivy, holly and red berry shadow the portent felt to come.
​The wind slithers its chill beneath the oaken door floating tiny snow flakes that sparkle before wetting the herb strewn floor turning to shining water droplets by the warmth of the blazing fire, the great Yule log. For fifteen days the feast of Christmas had been in play. The air is heavy and tainted by the smell of candle and reed light burning bright light to cheer and banish cold dark night away. The air smells of roast meats and foods, garlic and onion, of warm breads of dank clothing, sweat and dogs, mulled wine and spilled ale, crushed strewing herbs all souped to the feeling of conviviality and warmth. The harping is silenced by the sound of Horse and Rider coming closer. Conversation dampens and ceases with an uneasy sense of expectation as eyes turn toward the doors. 
The thud of heavy horse hooves sounds outside, loud and worrying. Jingle bell notes of steel accoutrements sound in rhythm to the thudding hooves. Chill fears creep to heart and stomach preluding the unexpected, the unknown. The knights reach for sword and dagger whilst the damsels and ladies cluster. Only Arthur the King remains undisturbed.
The great doors swung open as though by a hidden force and in rides a great knight in full armour emblazoned green and his destrier painted green and the knight himself of green pallor. The stranger held a large and menacing axe in one hand but wore no breastplate, neck-guard or helmet or other battlement protections, and in his other hand he held a sprig of holly. Around his broad shoulder hangs a garland of ivy and holly with pines and evergreens woven fast. His presence distils a sharp note of freshness a cleansing feeling that pushes aside the redolent warmth and yet there is the smell of earth and fern of scented power without powder, so smelled Purdue the court perfumer laying back at table scenting the air like the war hounds by Arthurs great chair. 

Now was this scented giant from the Fougère or Woody family? Purdue began to sniff but surely Aromatic?
Surely a hint of hay from the now pawing steed, oakmoss and musk are strong yet the first notes were floral like but no lavender or clary sage like the great Fougère Royal he foresaw to come. Whilst some elements were there it was the Woody facet that shone through with pine absolute and cypress and fir balsam the epitome, when skilfully blended, of exhilarating winter.  Ah he felt the touch of vine and cypress that tall dark harbinger of shade and shadows to another place and the woods of the forest sharp and dark. Could that be the intense cologne of that London persona Jo Malone simply called Cypress and Grapevine. Then he had it! Something yet beyond cypress, it was simply a top aromatic note overlaying the woods and greens, fresh and spicy an element there for sure of Christmas citrus, more sharp than orange. All held in the embrace of musk and warming spices and the leaves which doth wilt in the warmth of the great hall. What else could it be, he mused, but the great Chanel Allure in  its Extreme Sports perception, yet at that time still to come. 

The Knight roared a challenge. “I am not here for idle chatter. I have come in search of the bravest knight of the land, for this Round Table, I heard, is where one can find the most valiant of the land. By this holly berry branch of red and green you must know that I come in peace.
I challenge that knight to strike the first blow with my axe. Know only that if I survive the first blow, I may return a stroke in kind one year and a day from now." 

Gawaine the nephew of the king and Champion stood forward. With one fell stroke, Gawain's axe clove through the stranger's s neck, the head falling to the herb strewn stone paviours, to be sure, yet the body of the Green Knight remained firm, as sturdy as if the head were still there. The body strode over to claim it’s head; and holding it by the hair with one hand, the body grabbed hold of the horse's reins.
Stepping in the stirrup, the body strode aloft and the head, still dangling, turned to Gawaine, raised one eyebrow and its mouth said, "Gawaine, in one year and one day, find me at the Green Chapel. I am known as the Knight of the Green Chapel.”

This Christmas tale of course is drawn from The Arthurian cycle best exemplified by the medieval literature entitled ‘the Matter of Britain’ and the troubadour Chrétien de Troyes. In essence it is the enactment of the death of winter that comes each year.
In English tradition Holly King and Oak King fight it out at each of the solstices.

The previously mentioned cypress was, along with vetiver, my introduction to the pungent smells of aromatherapy.  I love those two smells. Cypress has a fresh, clean aroma that is herbaceous, spicy, with a slightly woody evergreen coniferous scent. The uplifting aroma has a very soothing emotional quality that provides comfort during times of grief and sadness. Cypress trees are often found planted near burial grounds. I feel it to be fresh, lingering, pine-like, resinous, slightly smoky with a sweet, balsamic undertone. The scent is very evocative of a forest setting, bestowing a soothing and refreshing ambience.
In aromatherapy according to Valerie Worwood in her book the Fragrant Mind, the personality of Cypress is characterised by wisdom, strength, and uprightness like the tree. In practice, cypress is most often associated with upper respiratory issues. A less well-known property of cypress essential oil is the ability to stem bleeding, promoting blood clotting so having haemostatic and astringent qualities. The astringent properties allow cypress oil to tighten tissues, strengthening hair follicles and making them less likely to fall out! The haemostatic properties in cypress oil reduce the flow of blood and promote clotting where needed. These two beneficial qualities work together to promote healing for wounds, cuts and open sores quickly.
As with Jo Malone’s Cypress & Grapevine this cypress note features strongly in Gucci’s’ Winter Melody Scented Water and others seeking to achieve the smell of this season. As with our folk romance hero, the green knight, it is the gloss green colour of the season that draws us to the base of the accords where ‘spikiness’ gives way to the sense of repose and renewal such as the surprising rose used by Gucci. Any therapeutic benefit must lie within the genuine essential oil or absolute and certainly that fleeting sense of coniferous reality will only come from natural materials.