The Secrets and Science of Scented Plants
THE SECRETS AND SCIENCE OF SCENTED PLANTS a talk by Emma Desmier
On a dull April afternoon Emma Desmier gave an interesting zoom talk to EAGG members and friends which certainly lived up to its title. Doing a talk without the essential element of scent was a challenge for Emma but she rose to the occasion and her descriptions were evocative and her enthusiasm for her subject shone through.
Emma is a Fragrance and Sensory Research Scientist who has worked with many international brands including Vidal Sassoon, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. She lectures at The Plant School and is a member of the British Society of Perfumers. She gave us a fascinating insight into how scent is made up of different combinations of perfume (some roses being made up of 300 different ones). Their scent is used to either encourage specific pollinators or to warn and ward off predators. Plants also use scent to alert neighbours to dangers so they can defend themselves. Many ideas were given for placing scented plants in our gardens to enjoy at different times of the day and telling us about scented roots and leaves that we might miss. For instance, cutting up fig roots and placing them in a dish on a radiator to scent a whole room, and making Pelagonium Vodka using the scented leaves. We were given a list of plants she recommended to grow in our gardens to enjoy scent all year round. Emma also suggested some book titles we might like to read about scented plants and gardens and plant collections to visit
Gardens for scent: Sir Harold Hillier Garden and Anglesey Abbey for winter scented plants, Wakehurst Place for Daphne and Skimmia, Chelsea Physic Perfumery Garden, Mottisfont Abbey for Roses, Downderry for Lavender and Rosemary, and Hamamelis National Collection (both in Kent) for Which Hazel. RHS Hyde Hall has the National Collection of Viburnum.
Books about scent: RHS Companion to Scented Plants by Stephen Lacey
Scented Magic by Isabel Bannerman
Fragrant Plants by Lucy Summers
The Scentual Garden by Ken Druce
The Aromatherapy Garden by Kathi Keville
The Fragrance of Old Garden Roses by Robert Calkin
review by EAGG member Josephine Mitson